The Best '80s Western Movies

Ranker Film
Updated September 15, 2023 11.7K votes 1.3K voters 25.2K views
Over 1.3K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best '80s Western Movies
Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite Western films that were released in the 1980s.

On this list of the best ‘80s western movies, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of classic westerns, genre-bending mash-ups, and hilarious comedies, all set against a backdrop of dusty saloons, long horse rides, and lone guns.


One of the best and most interesting ‘80s western films is Near Dark, acclaimed director Kathryn Bigelow’s second feature film. A tale of a midwestern man and his involvement with a family of American vampires, Near Dark was part of a batch of darker vampire films released in the late ‘80s. Although it fared poorly at the box office, the film has since gone on to achieve cult status among critics and film fans alike.


Also on this list, you’ll find Three Amigos! One of the most iconic comedy-westerns of all time, Three Amigos! stars Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short as the titular amigos. The film parodies both Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, as well as its American remake The Magnificent Seven. Did your favorite ‘80s western make the cut? Vote up the best 1980s western films below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section. 
Most divisive: Old Gringo
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  • Lonesome Dove
    1

    Lonesome Dove

    Anjelica Huston, Timothy Scott, Robert Duvall
    240 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Simon Wincer
    In the sweeping landscape of television dramas, few can compare to the epic tale woven in Lonesome Dove. Set against the backdrop of the American West, this Emmy Award-winning miniseries masterfully delves into the lives and relationships of its richly drawn characters. The series follows former Texas Rangers Augustus "Gus" McCrae (Robert Duvall) and Woodrow F. Call (Tommy Lee Jones) as they embark on a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Along the way, viewers are treated to a compelling narrative that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the harsh realities of frontier life. With its top-tier performances and stunning cinematography, Lonesome Dove remains a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.

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  • Silverado
    2

    Silverado

    Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner
    231 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
    Rambling man Emmett (Scott Glenn) assembles a group of misfit cowboys (Kevin Costner), (Kevin Kline, Danny Glover). After helping a group of settlers track down a pack of thieves, Emmett and his men descend on the troubled town of Silverado to seek their fortunes. Soon after arriving, they discover that the town has fallen into the grasp of greedy rancher Ethan McKendrick (Ray Baker) and corrupt Sheriff Cobb (Brian Dennehy) with whom many of Emmett's men have unfinished business.

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  • Pale Rider
    3

    Pale Rider

    Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress
    255 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: Clint Eastwood
    When property owner Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) starts using a band of hooligans to terrorize a group of small-town gold miners into giving up their territory, an enigmatic man named "Preacher" (Clint Eastwood) arrives in town. Preacher fends off the attacks, and then goes directly to LaHood to negotiate. When the miners, led by Hull Barret (Michael Moriarty), refuse the terms, LaHood sends in Marshall Stockburn (John Russell) to take down Preacher and the others.

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  • Young Guns
    4

    Young Guns

    Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips
    241 votes
    • Released: 1988
    • Directed by: Christopher Cain
    John Tunstall (Terence Stamp), a distinguished British gentleman, employs downtrodden youths to tend his herd on the New Mexican frontier. When Tunstall is gunned down by the crooked Lawrence G. Murphy (Jack Palance), a ragtag group of cow hands -- including Doc Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland), Richard Brewer (Charlie Sheen) and young William "Billy the Kid" Bonney (Emilio Estevez) -- ride forth in search of bloody vengeance for the death of their beloved mentor.

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  • Tom Horn
    5

    Tom Horn

    Steve McQueen, Linda Evans, Richard Farnsworth
    191 votes
    • Released: 1980
    • Directed by: William Wiard
    A renowned gunslinger with a storied past, Tom Horn (Steve McQueen) opts for a reclusive life until he starts working for rancher John Coble (Richard Farnsworth). Though Horn begins seeing pretty local teacher Glendolene Kimmel (Linda Evans), he remains restless. Investigating livestock theft, Horn is brutal when dealing with criminals, and while his presence is initially appreciated, eventually the community grows concerned about the enforcer's violent methods.

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  • The Long Riders
    6

    The Long Riders

    David Carradine, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine
    210 votes
    • Released: 1980
    • Directed by: Walter Hill
    During a bank robbery by the legendary James-Younger Gang, Ed Miller (Dennis Quaid) impulsively kills a man, much to the displeasure of leader Jesse James (James Keach), who insists that the gang scatter until the heat is off. The groups of brothers go their separate ways, with Cole Younger (David Carradine) considering settling down with his feisty girlfriend, Belle Starr (Pamela Reed). But they soon regroup for an ill-fated bank job in Northfield, Minn., that results in an epic chase.

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