The best rodeo movies take you deep inside a lifestyle most of us are unfamiliar with. These are tales of men and women with very specific skills, working a job in which there's always an element of danger. That allows for drama, but also some romance and even a little comedy at times. The top rodeo movies include The Electric Horseman, 8 Seconds, and, on a lighter note, Stir Crazy. Other examples go back to the 1930s, while a few, like The Rider, are very recent. All of the rodeo films on this list provide entertainment by giving audiences a look at the behind-the-scenes operation of rodeos.
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3868 Seconds
Renée Zellweger, Luke PerryReleased: 1994
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
8 Seconds is a 1994 American biographical drama film directed by John G. Avildsen. Its title... more2
255Junior Bonner
Steve McQueen, Ida LupinoReleased: 1972
Directed by: Sam Peckinpah
Junior Bonner is a 1972 film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen, Joe Don... more3
211J. W. Coop
Cliff Robertson, Geraldine PageReleased: 1972
Directed by: Cliff Robertson
J. W. Coop is a 1972 Western film set in the world of the modern American rodeo circuit. It... more4
171The Rounders
Henry Fonda, Glenn FordReleased: 1965
Directed by: Burt Kennedy
The Rounders is a lighthearted 1965 film starring Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda. The comedy was... more5
132When the Legends Die
Richard WidmarkReleased: 1972
Directed by: Stuart Millar
When The Legends Die is both a novel, by Hal Borland, and a film released by Twentieth... more6
121The Honkers
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156Pure Country
George Strait, Lesley Ann WarrenReleased: 1992
Directed by: Christopher Cain
Pure Country is a 1992 American dramatic musical western film directed by Christopher Cain and... more8
2115The Longest Ride
Scott Eastwood, Britt RobertsonReleased: 2015
Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.
The Longest Ride is a 2015 American romantic drama film directed by George Tillman, Jr., based... more9
148My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Kate Capshaw, Scott GlennReleased: 1991
Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys is a 1991 Western drama film starring Scott Glenn and Kate... more10
115The Electric Horseman
Jane Fonda, Robert RedfordReleased: 1979
Directed by: Sydney Pollack
The Electric Horseman is a 1979 adventure-romance film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda... more11
82The Great American Cowboy
Larry MahanReleased: 1973
Directed by: Kieth Merrill
The Great American Cowboy is a 1973 documentary film by Kieth Merrill. The film, which won the... more12
106Cowboy Up
Kiefer Sutherland, Daryl HannahReleased: 2001
Directed by: Xavier Koller
Cowboy Up is a 2001 film directed by Xavier Koller. It stars Kiefer Sutherland and Marcus... more13
107The Rider
Brady Jandreau, Tim JandreauReleased: 2018
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
The Rider is a 2017 American drama film directed by Chloé Zhao. After suffering a near fatal... more14
52The Ride
Michael Biehn, Jennifer O'NeillReleased: 1997
Directed by: Michael O. Sajbel
The Ride is a 1997 western, sports, drama, family film written and directed by Michael O.... more15
52The Man from Utah
John Wayne, George "Gabby" HayesReleased: 1934
Directed by: Robert N. Bradbury
The Man from Utah is a 1934 Western movie starring John Wayne, Polly Ann Young, Lafe McKee,... more16
12Born Reckless
Mamie Van Doren, Jeff RichardsReleased: 1958
Directed by: Howard W. Koch
Born Reckless is a 1958 western drama film starring Mamie Van Doren and released through... more17
86Stir Crazy
Richard Pryor, Gene WilderReleased: 1980
Directed by: Sidney Poitier
Stir Crazy is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Sidney Poitier and starring Gene Wilder... more18
54Convict Cowboy
Jon Voight, Marcia Gay HardenReleased: 1995
Directed by: Rod Holcomb
Convict Cowboy is a 1995 TV film directed by Rod Holcomb....19
14Rodeo
Wallace Ford, Gary GrayReleased: 1952
Directed by: William Beaudine
Rodeo is a 1952 American sports drama film directed by William Beaudine and starring Jane... more20
66Rodeo Girl
Katharine Ross, Wilford BrimleyReleased: 1980
Directed by: Jackie Cooper
Rodeo Girl is a 1980 American family drama film directed by Jackie Cooper. Sammy Garrett, the... more21
05The Desert Trail
John Wayne, Paul FixReleased: 1935
Directed by: Lewis D. Collins
The Desert Trail is a 1935 Western film starring John Wayne and directed by Cullin Lewis. The... more22
55The Lusty Men
Robert Mitchum, Susan HaywardReleased: 1952
Directed by: Robert Parrish, Nicholas Ray
The Lusty Men is a 1952 western film made by Wald-Krasna productions and RKO Radio Pictures.... more23
44Smoky
Fess ParkerReleased: 1966
Directed by: George Sherman
Smoky is a 1966 film directed by George Sherman....24
44Arena
Gig Young, Harry MorganReleased: 1953
Directed by: Richard Fleischer
Arena is a 1953 3-D film directed by Richard Fleischer.... more25
56Black Rodeo
Archie Wycoff, Clarence GonzalezReleased: 1972
Directed by: Jeff Kanew
Black Rodeo is a 1972 documentary by filmmaker Jeff Kanew.... more
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