Westerns have always been a hugely popular genre of movies, but they’re often celebrated for their exciting, complex storytellingabove all else. However, the Westerns that are still discussed today are those that effortlessly combine these high-stakes narratives with sharp, beautiful cinematography that helps bring the natural backdrop of the American West to life on the screen. These are the films that are still remembered asthe best Westerns ever made.
Westerns were hugely popular throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s, and this is the era during whichdirectors fully took advantage of the advances in filmmaking technologyto give their movies a unique visual flair. Filmmakers like Clint Eastwood and John Ford pioneered this kind of storytelling, essentially monopolizing the Western genre and creating the classics that are still watched today. While modernneo-Westerns are growing in popularity, there will always be a space for those undeniable classics that use gorgeous cinematography to make their stories timeless.
The Revenant
Cast
Inspired by the true events in the life of Hugh Glass, The Revenant is an action-drama movie that sees Leonardo DiCaprio in the starring role. Betrayed and left for dead by one of the members of his hunting group, Glass finds himself contending with some of the harshest elements imaginable while tending to his deadly wounds, as his will to carry on and need for revenge push him to carry on in this gripping tale of survival.
WhileThe Revenantisn’t always thought of as a Western, the film fits all the criteria of the genre. It’s an expansive, sprawling adventure that follows a legendary frontiersman who uses his skills to survive in the wild after the rest of his team is killed in a lethal bear attack. It’s one of themost visually stunning Westerns ever made, going so far as to win theAcademy Award for Best Cinematography.
Shane
Shane is a classic Western directed by George Stevens. Released in 1953, the film stars Alan Ladd as a mysterious drifter who becomes embroiled in a conflict between homesteaders and a ruthless cattle baron. Jean Arthur and Van Heflin co-star as a frontier couple who find themselves drawn into the escalating tensions. Shane examines themes of heroism and sacrifice set against the backdrop of the American frontier.
Another winner of the Best Cinematography Oscar,Shanefollows a Wild West bounty hunter who decides to help a family of local farmers being terrorized by local criminals. It’s a very simple story, but the way that Stevens weaves this narrative together with interesting characters and revolutionary visuals is the reason it has so easily survived the test of time.
Fort Apache
Fort Apache, directed by John Ford, follows Owen Thursday’s assignment to a remote post as he pursues military glory. Despite his obsession with protocol, Thursday’s actions lead to conflict with Apache chief Cochise, against the counsel of his junior officers.
Undeniably one ofJohn Ford and John Wayne’s best Westerns,Fort Apachetells the story of a military colonel at the titular outpost in the American West, whose life is turned upside down when he clashes with his ambitious and self-interested deputy. It’s an interesting story about the personal conflicts within the lawlessness of the Wild West, andit perfectly captures the beautiful scenerythat drew so many people there in the first place.
Wind River (2017)
Set on a remote Native American reservation, Wind River follows Cory Lambert, a wildlife tracker, as he teams up with FBI agent Jane Banner to solve the murder of a young woman. With the community’s cooperation elusive, they confront the harsh environment and buried secrets.
Wind Riveris one of the most recent Westerns to truly focus on the cinematography and dynamic visuals, painting a stunning portrait of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.The story follows a wildlife officer who teams up with an FBI agentto solve a violent crime, hoping it will relieve him of his own unrelated guilt.
Hell or High Water
Hell or High Water is a modern Western crime thriller directed by David Mackenzie. Starring Chris Pine and Ben Foster as two brothers who embark on a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch, the film delves into themes of economic hardship and justice. Jeff Bridges plays a Texas Ranger nearing retirement, determined to catch them.
Hell or High Wateris definitely a Western, butit succeeds primarily thanks to its ability to blend so many other genres togetherat the same time. It’s a heist movie, it’s a family drama, and it’s a psychological thriller all at once, using the backdrop of the American West as its signature visual style. The story centers around two brothers who resort to robbing banks when they’re unable to provide their mortgage payments.
The Searchers
The Searchers, released in 1956, stars John Wayne as a Civil War veteran who embarks on a years-long quest to rescue his kidnapped niece. Directed by John Ford, the film delves into themes of obsession and racial tension as the protagonist’s motivations become increasingly complex.
Another of John Ford’s classic Westerns,The Searcherswas famously John Wayne’s favorite Westernthanks to its innovative visual style and captivating storytelling. The movie follows a man named Ethan, who joins a group of rangers to help find their lost cattle, but this new lifestyle brings its own dangers that Ethan later seeks vengeance for.
The Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch is a Western drama film by director Sam Peckinpah, released in 1969. A group of aging outlaws decides to take on one last heist before retiring from their lives of crime. However, Pike Bishop, the head of the gang, discovers that they’ve been betrayed by a former partner, forcing them into a final standoff.
The Wild Bunchwas a fairly controversial movie that never shied away from displaying the truth of the Wild West’s violent style of life, centering around a group of older outlaws who organize an expensive heist on a local railroad office.The film became extremely popular thanks to its advanced cinematography, which helped usher in a whole new generation of visually focused Westerns in the ‘70s.
Unforgiven
Unforgiven follows retired gunslinger Will Munny as he is drawn back into his former life for a final mission, seeking justice with his old partner and a young outlaw called The Schofield Kid.
Unforgivenwon the Academy Award for Best Picture and was nominated in the Best Cinematography category, making it one of the most criticallysuccessful Westerns of the 1990s. It was one of the few films that made Westerns cool again, using a blend of breathtaking visuals and captivating performances to suck audiences into this well-plotted narrative of morality and revenge.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
“She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” follows Captain Nathan Brittles as he embarks on his final mission before retirement. Tasked with preventing an Indian uprising in the aftermath of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Brittles must lead his cavalry troop through dangerous territory. Alongside his men, he escorts Abby Allshard and her niece Olivia Dandridge to safety. As they face hostile encounters and treacherous landscapes, Brittles imparts wisdom and guidance to his younger officers, including Lieutenants Cohill and Pennell.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbonwas among the very first Westerns to become known for its distinct visual style, helping John Ford create his own image as the father of the genre.The story follows a military Captain whose mission to stop a Native American attack is divertedand he’s instructed to escort two local women to safety instead. It’s a touching and captivating Western that was entirely different from everything else, which helped it stand out from the crowd.
Dances With Wolves
Dances With Wolves, directed by Kevin Costner, follows Civil War soldier John Dunbar, who is sent to a remote post on the Western frontier. There, he forms an unexpected bond with a Sioux tribe, challenging his own beliefs and understanding of culture and identity.
Dances With Wolvesis another ‘90s Western that helped revitalize the genre in a period of relatively low audience interest, using sweeping visuals and grandiose locations to help create a distinct sense of scale and magnitude. The story centers around an American officer stationed at a Civil War outpost whose life changes when he meets the Lakota tribe of American Indians.
