classic western movies list
The western is a very popular branch of cinema and has been since the first emotions of American cinema. Subsequent generations continued to use the Wild West as a background to explore and raise awareness of social issues related to their respective eras. Thus many films, among the first dumb of the early twentieth century, were already in appearance westerns, the most famous remaining The Great Train Robbery of 1903. In the 1920s, the genre became popular, supported by early Hollywood superstars such as Tom Mix and William S. Hart. With this historical focus being made, Toolito invites you today to (re)dive into a founding genre of the 7th art, and to enjoy our selection of the 30 most beautiful westerns.
A major cinematic genre of American cinema, the Western has been experiencing a new lease of life in recent years, as if the myth of the Conquest of the Great West has regained a new vitality in opposition to superhero films. Here are our Top 10 Best Western Movies 2024 and All times that are 100% subjective.
There are hundreds and hundreds of them… From the classic American of the 50s to the spaghetti of the 70s, the western never ceases to fascinate. Violent, flamboyant or psychological, these films are usually odes to nature and the great outdoors… All the great directors are fascinated by the conquest of the West. The first was called THE VOL OF RAPIDE and was produced in 1903 and the next one will be called TRUE GRIT. It will be directed by the COEN brothers and will be starring Jeff BRIDGES. The list is not exhaustive, so necessarily some will not find their happiness there.
Top 10 Best Western Movies 2024 and All times
These are the Top 10 best western movies you need to see in 2024:
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – 1966
- The Red River -1948
- The Magnificent Seven – 1960
- Butch Cassidy et le Kid- 1969
- The Man of the Lost Valleys – 1953
- Ruthless (Unforgiven) – 1992
- Lonesome Dove -1989
- The Searchers- 1956
- The Stagecoach -1939
- The High Noon -1952
13. The Assassination of Jesse James
A sublime photo, beautiful natural decorations, music by Nick CAVE and a Brad PITT who offers us his best performance… In short, a masterpiece. It is one of the best western movies on Netflix.
12. Rio Bravo
John WAYNE’s response to the TRAIN SIFFLERA THREE TIMES (he found it indible that Gary COOPER would find himself alone for the final duel, after trying to get help). Howard HAWKS delivers a hymn to camaraderie, with a superb cult song performed by Dean MARTIN and RICKY NELSON.
11. Open Range
After the terrible failure of the POSTMAN, COSTNER came back in great shape behind and in front of the camera with this slow but superb film. Unforgettable the final gunfight with one of the best-supporting roles in the cinema, MR Robert DUVALL.
10. The High Noon 1952
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
With Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell
The film is about being torn between duty and love, doing what we believe in, especially when everyone abandons you. The tension rises as the film progresses, until the final mano a mano, the quintessence of the western.
9. The Stagecoach 1939
Directed by John Ford
With John Wayne, Claire Trevor, John Carradine
The Horse is fantastic in more ways than one: already because it will make John Wayne a star for decades to come and also because this film sets the standards for the westerns that followed. Filmed in 1939, it is still as current and committed as it was then.
8. The Searchers 1956
Directed by John Ford
With John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunters, Natalie Wood
John Ford again, John Wayne always, for what remains his most intense acting performance to date, dark and vengeful as ever. Despite the more than questionable ambiguity about the cowboy vs. Indian rivalry, the film deals with the complexity of the conflict against a background of racism and revenge.
7. Lonesome Dove,1989
Directed by Simon Wincer
With Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover
It’s not really a movie, it’s more of a miniseries, but whatever, Lonesome Dove is a western that we should all have seen at least once. The themes of friendship, regret and love will resonate with you, the action scenes being just the icing on the cake.
6. Ruthless, 1992 (Unforgiven)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
With Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman
Cinema often glorifies the Great West, a time when the Good Ones were all dressed in white while the Villains were auctioned off in black. Ruthless highlights the violent and dark aspects of life on the American border, in a western that detaches itself from daddy’s movies.
5. The Man of the Lost Valleys, 1953 (Shane)
Directed by George Stevens
With Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin
This western is particularly touching, especially in the way he shows the relationship and relationship between Shane and his adoptive family. He constantly struggles to avoid being dragged into conflict, a conflict he will embrace to defend what is dear to him. This is one of the top 10 cowboy movies.
4. Butch Cassidy et le Kid, 1969 (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
Directed by George Roy Hill
With Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katherine Ross
A classic of the genre-based approximately on real facts, this film tells the adventures of two friends who are trying to change the world. The funny thing about all this is that you will have forgotten in the end that these two guys are criminals, the magic of cinema.
3. The Magnificent Seven, 1960
Directed by John Sturges
With Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson
Inspired by the Japanese cult film The Seven Samurai, the film follows a group of seven crazy triggers coming together to defend an oppressed Mexican village. It’s all there: great story, breathtaking casting, one of the greatest commercial successes of its kind. It is one of the best modern western movies to enjoy.
2. The Red River, 1948 (Red River)
Directed by Howard Hawks and Arthur Rosson
With John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan
What happens when a man is devoured by his obsessions? The answer is in the film, and it is the character of John Wayne, both rude and determined who will provide it to you. The Red River is a brutal fresco, to see and see again. It is clearly one of the best western movies 2024.
1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, 1966
Directed by Sergio Leone
With Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach
The latest addition to Sergio Leone’s trilogy, the film is self-sufficient. Because you may not have seen it, but you certainly already know something: the legendary music or images of Clint with this poncho and cigar so characteristic. No disappointment possible. This is one of the best western movies of all time.
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