The Best Western Movies Ever Made That Shaped An Entire Industry

Even though it seems that the time of good westerns is gone, it must be said that they had a significant influence on modern cinema and storytelling. They are still loved and regularly rewatched by many movie fans. Westerns showed a romanticized image of the Wild West and the life of cowboys. At the same time, creators of those movies revolutionized how people look at cinema in general. Westerns introduced stuntmen to Hollywood, mixed drama with comedy, and proved that a good story could be worth millions of dollars. Here are the top westerns movies ever made that shaped an industry and changed the movie-watching experience.

The Searcher

This movie, based on the novel with the same title, was a great hit. With a $3.75 million production budget, it quickly earned $5 million, which was a significant sum in 1956. Since that date, Warner Bros made several more millions on this production.

The Wild Bunch – Doubled Budget

The ’60s brought a revolution in the cinema, and westerns became one of the most profitable genres. Sam Peckinpah, director of this movie, proved that the $6 million budget could be doubled just within few months after the premiere.

Stagecoach

It was in 1939 when a not yet known young actor named John Wayne appeared. This $531,000 production was also a milestone in the career of John Ford. This film would become John Wayne’s first great Western.

More About Stagecoach

The great film Stagecoach that tells a story of strangers traveling along the dangerous Apache trail brought them both international fame and money. It is considered to be one of the most important works in the Western genre.

High Noon

Beautiful women, ruthless killers, and a conflicted small town in the middle of nowhere – High Noon creators knew how to make a good western. Even though it brought bankruptcy for the United Artist studio that released it, it gave extra millions for MGM that got right for this production.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Created in 1962, this western brought fame to Paramount studio. So far, this is one of the most revered films of this genre. The estimated production cost reached $3.2 million, and ticket sales brought over $8 million for Paramount.

Rio Bravo

The presence of two of the greatest western actors, John Wayne and Dean Martin, highlighted the movie with the biggest box office in the ’50s. Warner Brothers invested $1.25 million into this production, but the studio got much more in return from sales of the tickets to watch this epic tale.

How the West Was Won

This movie closed the great era of MGM Studios. MGM’s investors needed to get a profitable movie to remain competitive. Fortunately for them, $15 million invested turned into a $50 million box office. For that time, it was an enormous amount! How the West Was Won became the last profitable MGM Western.

McCabe and Mrs. Miller

Warren Beatty and Julie Christie played leading characters in this $1 million production. Created in 1979, it was not considered a Western back in the day and was mainly missed by critics. Investors got their money back mostly because of Leonard Cohen’s soundtrack.

McCabe and Mrs. Miller

A short time ago, this beautiful story was again introduced to the public and nowadays is considered a revisionist Western. It is now considered one of the top 10 best Western films of all time. It is even part of the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, which says it is: “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

True Grit

This production is proof that Westerns can earn big money. With an estimated budget just under $1 million, True Grit went on gross well over $30 million. That means that this film brought 30 times more than investors spent on the production.

The Big Country

Even though the United Artists Studio no longer held the right to this production, it took special pride in this movie. The plot is considered ahead of its time, but surprisingly, the film was not very profitable.

Why Was Profit Lost?

While filming The Big Country, William Wyler, the director, was re-taking scenes all over again, continually surpassing the budget. Despite this fact, the film became a critical success, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting actor, and also the Golden Globe Award.

Fort Apache

John Ford is an actor who does not have to be introduced to anyone. He also was a star of the Cavalry Trilogy. The first part, Fort Apache, wasn’t a financial success for the production, but it certainly secured John Ford’s title of the Western star.

Blazing Saddles

Mel Brooks, the main actor and co-writer of this movie, brought new, witty humor to the genre. $2.6 million of estimated production budget turned into a $119.6 million box office, making Blazing Saddles one of the most profitable westerns ever.

A Little Satire Never Hurt Anyone

Rather than being classical western, Blazing Saddles is a satirical interpretation and production based on stereotypes around this genre. It showcases Mel Brooks’ deep understanding of the genre in his genius satirical take on these movies. Its main stars are Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder.

The Magnificent Seven

Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Yul Brynner, and Steve McQueen were the main actors of this revolutionary production. Even though it was a great success, it didn’t bring in a huge box office. However, its legendary status remains, and it was selected as a part of the United States Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

A Recent Remake

The Magnificent Seven was recently remade in 2016. The reboot was very profitable and acclaimed by critics. It starred actors like Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, and Chris Pratt. Despite the success of the original, the remake received mixed reception from critics.

McClintock!

In this witty western, John Wayne played the role of a rich mining baron, interested in local women, except his ex-wife, played by  Maureen O’Hara. This production made $4 million, and it gave John and his son Michael, who was a producer of McClintock!, a little fortune.

The Outlaw – a Beauty on a Haystack

It was 1943 when Jane Russell gave a new, more glam spark to westerns movies. An iconic picture of the actress on a haystack was very controversial for those times. The Outlaw actually brought $5 million box office, with a budget of $3.4 million.

A Big Win For Westerns

The Outlaw‘s success proved that Westerns could be a big Hollywood production. This was only one of the movies that was able to do this. The movie also marked a shift in the reception of promiscuity in Hollywood films and Westerns alike, as Jane Russell became a sex symbol after the film’s release.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Robert Redford and Paul Newman were the main reason people rushed to theaters to see this western. Because of this, $6 million of the estimated cost of production gave a $102.3 million return. The story about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid became another blockbuster.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The story of three men who are looking for gold became legendary. Close-ups and long shots that Sergio Leone used in that movie are considered unique, and modern filmmakers often take inspiration from this film. This masterpiece’s production budget was $1.2 million, but it brought much more in profits.

Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West, or in Italian: C’era una volta il West, is an epic Spaghetti Western, which refers to the successful subgenre of films of Westerns that were directed by Italian directors. Once Upon a Time was directed by Sergio Leone and featured Henry Ford as the villain, which was a cast against type.

Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West was a tremendous financial and artistic success, after which the famous director decided to retire. A budget of $5 million allowed Sergio Leone to create a nearly three hours long movie. It was cut down to 166 minutes to make theaters play it more times per day and bring higher revenue.

Red River

Red River is considered the best in John Wayne’s career. The 1948 film told a fictional account of the first cattle drive that spanned from Texas to Kansas running along the Chisholm Trail. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards.

Red River

Red River cost producers $2.4 million, but it turned into a big success, bringing a lot more to their pockets. It was chosen as the 5th best Western film of all time by the American Film Institute, solidifying its place in Western film history.

Shane

The director of this western was basing a cinematic story on the book from 1949, with the same title. It was a notable Western for many reasons, and most notably it was one of the first westerns in technicolor.

Shane – Yet Another Commercial Success

Paramount studio decided to invest $3 million into this western. When all tickets were sold out, the studio announced Shane a great success as it brought over $8 million of profit.

Dances with Wolves

Anyone who said that the era of good westerns is long gone was wrong.  Dances with Wolves not only was a financial success but also brought fame for its creators. This profitable production won a few Oscars, too.

It Earned Huge Profits

Around $19 million was invested in the production this modern western, which turned back as $400 million at the box office, proving that this good old genre is not dead yet. Dances with Wolves proved that people were still interested in the genre, opening up the door to even more Western films in the future.

Johnny Guitar

Most of the western productions were male-centric. This is why it was so shocking for the public to see a female lead in the 1950s. Joan Crawford played Vienna, a brave bar owner who faced Johnny Guitar without fear. Investors put $500,000 into production and were very happy to receive around $21 million in the box office.

The Shootist

In the ’70s, people started to be bored with westerns that were trending for years. hanks to the excellent cast, including John Wayne, he Shootist, was a great success anyway. Don Siegel’s work was nominated for few prizes, including Golden Globes.

A Small Budget

With an estimated production budget of $1 million, The Shootist gained not only a lot of money, but also a title of the Last Truly Great Western. It has received the National Board of Review award of one of the Top Ten Films of 1976. It holds a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

It was the second movie of John Ford’s “cavalry trilogy.” The visionary film cost a lot of money, so the director had to put in a lot of effort to convince the studio to invest $1.6 million. Such a vast amount was never before put into a movie. $2.7 million in a box office was proof that John Ford knew what he was doing.

Unforgiven

This production stands out in the long career of Clint Eastwood. It not only gave this actor and director another Oscar but also was a tremendous financial success. Unforgiven began with an impressive production budget of $14,400,000 and ended up with a breathtaking box office estimated at $159,157,447.

Bonanza

While talking about the most successful western productions, it is necessary to mention Bonanza. Millions of people followed the adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons. This unique series was on air from 1959 till 1973.

Still A Success

Each episode cost around $100,000-150,000, but the whole Bonanza brought a lot of money for actors and producers. The show was so massively successful that it is still in syndication today, with reruns playing on several TV stations to this day. It remains the most successful TV show in the Western genre.

Giant

This western from 1956 was the last James Dean’s leading-role movie. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see it as he was killed by a car before the film was released. Giant was also significant production for Elizabeth Taylor, who played the lead female role.

Geronimo: An American Legend

This western was a financial disaster, as for a $35 million budget, it earned only $18 million. Even though, it is worth to mention it on the list of the greatest westerns of all time. This modern western is unique because it says a Wild West story from the Native Americans’ perspective rather than cowboys’ and gangsters’.

Destry Rides Again

The combination of Jimmy Stewart playing lawman Tom Destry and Marlene Dietrich as Frenchy the bawdy singer is enough to bring so many memorable scenes in Destry Rides Again. The movie is quite short, but that’s because many lines were cut due to censorship at the time.

One-Eyed Jacks

This 1961 classic features Marlon Brando in the starring role as well as its director. Though the film had a complicated backstory that led it to have a lackluster reception when it was first released, it is finally fully appreciated now. The film exhibits just how effortlessly cool Brando was at the time.

The Great Train Robbery

The Great Train Robbery is notable for the fact that it marked the beginning of the age of the Western film. Released in 1903, it retold the popular story of Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, which took place just a few years before the film was released.

Tombstone

Tombstone, which was released in 1993, featured Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer portraying Doc Holliday. This is a great example of one of the great Western films of the later half of the century. Though it was overshadowed by Kevin Costner’s own take on a Wyatt Earp biopic, Tombstone still holds its own.

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger was one of the most beloved characters for generations. Played by Clayton Moore, along with his sidekick Tonto, played by Jay Silverheels, the two became the go-to Cowboy and Indian duo that inspired racial harmony. Of course, whenever “William Tell Overture” plays we can’t but think of the masked ranger.

The Virginian

Based on the western novel, The Virginian has been remade countless times. It was made into two films but its most notable iteration came when it was made into the first “talking” western film, featuring Gary Cooper as the titular character.

Winchester ’73

Winchester ’73 is yet another western film featuring Jimmy Stewart. The film tells the story of “the gun that won the West,” and showcases Stewart’s character tracing down his stolen rifle, meeting many unsavory characters along the way.

Angel and the Badman

Angel and the Badman is a classic starring the king of westerns, John Wayne, playing Quirt Evans who is seeking out vengeance after his father has been murdered. He must choose between avenging his father’s death or settling down with his sweetheart, played by Gail Russell.

City Slickers

City Slickers tells the story of three New York City buddies played by Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, and Bruno Kirby, as they discover the secret of life after joining Jack Palance’s cattle drive. That performance earned Palance the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Dallas

TV Series Dallas ran from 1978 until 1991, and showed a slightly Hollywood sanitized version of the western. The “Corporate cowboys” of the show drove Mercedes Benz couples and were seen in glass and steel skyscrapers. Still, the show was wildly popular, making J.R. Ewing the most popular cowboy in America for over a decade.

The Naked Spur

Jimmy Stewart stars in The Naked Spur as a bounty hunter who is known for the line “it’s him they’re payin’ the reward on.” Robert Ryan also stars as the film’s villain. The film is yet another collaboration from Stewart and Anthony Mann that would become another psychological drama.

The Big Trail

The Big Tail is quite notable for the fact that it took John Wayne from being an extra to a headlining star. Director Raoul Walsh was told by John Ford that he “liked the looks of the new kid with a funny walk,”and Walsh cast Wayne, who would eventually be known as one of the greatest names in western films.

Oklahoma!

This western musical is based on the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein show, which features classic songs like “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning,” “Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” and “People Will Say We’re In Love.” Who else will get tired of seeing Cult, Laurie, and Ado Annie?

A Fistful of Dollars

The main role of A Fistful of Dollars was offered to Henry Fonda, James Coburn, and Charles Broson who all passed. That led to Director Segio Leone to take a chance and settle for TV actor Clint Eastwood, who was paid $15,000 for the role. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Wild, Wild West

The Wild, Wild West featured Robert Conrad and Ross Martin as the dynamic duo leading in this action-packed, spoof western TV series. Secret Service agents James West and Artemus were up to shenanigans over the show’s run that spanned from 1965 until 1970.

The Man From Snowy River

The Man From Snowy River is one of Australia’s contribution to the western film genre. Based on the revered Australian legend, the film showcased horses galloping through vast landscapes which made audiences around the world fall in love with this flick.

The Ox-Bow Duel in the Sun Incident

1943’s The Ox-Bow Duel in the Sun Incident was almost completely filmed using painted backdrops and artificial lighting. The only exception were the film’s opening scenes. This was actually perfectly suited to the dark film’s story of a lynching of innocent and the toll it took on the local town people.

The Man From Laramie

Once again, we see a collaboration from James Stewart and Anthony Mann that leads to a western drama. In this final film from this director-actor duo, Stewart’s character hunts down men who are selling guns in the Apaches. This is the closest thing to a Shakespearean western that we’ll ever get.

Blood On The Moon

1948’s Blood on the Moon is a neo-noir take on the western film. Robert Mitchum plays the long-haired drifter that finds himself in between the struggle between homesteaders and ranchers.

Duel In The Sun

Duel In The Sun‘s producer David Selznik said it was “a picture of a thousand memorable moments.” Gregory Peck and Jennifer Jones star in the Gone with the Wind style western film. The film was nicknamed “Lust in the Dust,” and was loved by many despite its melodramatic tendencies.