Best Western Films

If you’re in the mood for western movies here’s a list of ten of the best which are a must see delight

10. A Fistful of Dollars (1964) – this launched what is known today as spaghetti Western and was also the movie that catapulted Clint Eastwood to stardom. This movie also introduced the world to its director Sergio Leone’s fondness of extreme close ups and long build-up to duels with a sharp finish. Gone are the western movie clichés of making the streets safe for women and children in this groundbreaking classic. The emphasis is on violence, and an almost balletic gunfight, which makes this a tremendous film that’s one of the best western movies ever made

9. Shane (1953) – “there never was a man like SHANE. There never was a picture like SHANE” reads the film’s tagline. This is another classic starring Alan Ladd as the title character in this simple yet evolving story that sees a buckskin knight riding into the middle of a range war between farmers and cattlemen and quickly siding with the farmers. The use of shadows is used to excite movie viewers, but the beauty of the movie is the parting scene at the end where Shane separates with the child actor Brandon de Wilde’s character Joey.  This scene is guaranteed to draw tears from even the most stone-hearted movie viewer

8. True Grit (1969) – the only role for which John Wayne won an Oscar Academy Award sees him at his best playing a one-eyed, broken-down marshal tracking down the killers of an adolescent’s father. This is a perfect western that features one of the most memorable lines in movie history, “Fill your hands, you son of a bitch.”

7. For a Few Dollars More (1965) – Clint Eastwood reunites with Sergio Leone for another spaghetti western masterpiece that sees him teaming up with gunslinger Colonel Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef) in pursuit of a sadistic killer and his crew. This is undeniably a great western with a superb score by Ennio Morricone

6. The Searchers (1956) – Director Henry Ford and John Wayne depicts why they are one of the most successful director/actor duo to ever come out of Hollywood. The gorgeous scenery and excellent story ranks this movie high in most people’s list of best western movies

5. The Magnificent Seven (1960) – this is a remake of Director Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai movie that effortlessly transforms samurai into cowboys. Starring Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, and James Coburn, this movie is a classic cowboy western movie

4. Unforgiven (1992) – arguably Clint Eastwood’s best film both as a Director and an Actor, this movie is one of three other westerns to win a Best Picture Oscar Award. This movie has complex characters and no clear ‘good and bad guys’, which makes it a unique western

3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – Robert Redford and Paul Newman collaborate on one of the greatest western movies. The film begins with the two buddies robbing trains but becomes a chase movie that sees you routing for the two characters. This movie, with its classic ending is clearly the inspiration of Thelma and Louise

2. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) – the best of the Dollars movies, Sergio Leone created this masterpiece that features ‘the best showdown scene’ ever filmed. This is groundbreaking, brilliant, and simply put – quintessential Leone!

1. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) – some consider this to be THE greatest western movie that solidified Sergio Leone as the master of the western genre. Featuring Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale and Jason Robards, this epic surpasses the Leone’s dollars trilogy and delivers beauty as the end result. Get this now!