The best western movies ever made include some true popular classics from the early days of cinema, and more modern day films that captured our imagination and took us to the days of the wild, wild West. From Sergio Leone's classics like The Good, The Bad and the Ugly to the 2010 Joel and Ethan Coen remake of True Grit, the western movies listed here are considered some of the greatest of all time. Be sure to vote for your favorite westerns and vote down any you don't like.
What makes a great western? Aside from casting Clint Eastwood (he's in so many of these) or John Wayne, an outstanding western offers movie goers fantastic characters, lots of action, drama and tension, and certainly a nasty, memorable villain or two. Setting is obviously important in top western movies as well. Throw in a High Noon-style standoff and you simply can't miss. Those are really the most important elements in the best western and cowboy movies (while faithfulness to history is a plus, you might be surprised how many famous westerns aren't historically accurate).
What are you favorite western films? Which ones might convince you to stay home for the evening and relax in front of the tube? Vote for the greatest western movie ever made and be sure to add any of your favorite western movies that might be missing! Giddyup, and enjoy!
- 16,7732,299
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood, Morgan FreemanReleased: 1992
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
- 28,3161,857
Tombstone
Val Kilmer, Kurt RussellReleased: 1993
Directed by: Kevin Jarre, George P. Cosmatos
- 37,4722,762
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Clint Eastwood, Eli WallachReleased: 1966
Directed by: Sergio Leone
- 46,4402,280
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Clint Eastwood, Sondra LockeReleased: 1976
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
- 54,4741,642
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
John Wayne, James StewartReleased: 1962
Directed by: John Ford
- 65,5542,188
The Searchers
John Wayne, Natalie WoodReleased: 1956
Directed by: John Ford
- 75,5691,591
True Grit
John Wayne, Robert DuvallReleased: 1969
Directed by: Henry Hathaway
- 85,4852,102
The Magnificent Seven
Steve McQueen, Charles BronsonReleased: 1960
Directed by: John Sturges
- 94,4431,582
Rio Bravo
John Wayne, Dean MartinReleased: 1959
Directed by: Howard Hawks
- 105,4022,239
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Paul Newman, Robert RedfordReleased: 1969
Directed by: George Roy Hill
- 114,0741,436
Pale Rider
Clint Eastwood, Chris PennReleased: 1985
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
- 123,5151,236
The Shootist
John Wayne, Lauren BacallReleased: 1976
Directed by: Don Siegel
- 133,7851,414
High Plains Drifter
Clint Eastwood, Geoffrey LewisReleased: 1973
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
- 143,9791,218
Jeremiah Johnson
Robert Redford, Tanya TuckerReleased: 1972
Directed by: Sydney Pollack
- 154,0491,184
Open Range
Kevin Costner, Robert DuvallReleased: 2003
Directed by: Kevin Costner
- 164,4271,797
A Fistful of Dollars
Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria VolontéReleased: 1964
Directed by: Sergio Leone
- 173,1361,190
Hang 'Em High
Clint Eastwood, Dennis HopperReleased: 1968
Directed by: Ted Post
- 183,7131,589
High Noon
Grace Kelly, Gary CooperReleased: 1952
Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
- 193,7271,550
Shane
Jack Palance, Jean ArthurReleased: 1953
Directed by: George Stevens
- 204,3722,017
For a Few Dollars More
Clint Eastwood, Lee Van CleefReleased: 1965
Directed by: Sergio Leone
- 214,6092,063
Dances with Wolves
Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnellReleased: 1990
Directed by: Kevin Costner
- 224,0191,839
Once Upon a Time in the West
Henry Fonda, Claudia CardinaleReleased: 1968
Directed by: Sergio Leone
- 232,9821,309
Stagecoach
John Wayne, John CarradineReleased: 1939
Directed by: John Ford
- 242,7431,165
Red River
John Wayne, Montgomery CliftReleased: 1948
Directed by: Howard Hawks, Arthur Rosson
- 253,2591,304
Silverado
Kevin Costner, John CleeseReleased: 1985
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
