Best Westerns

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) by George Roy Hill

Loosely based on two real bandits, this film shows a story of friendship and courage. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are on the run from the law after some robberies, and try to flee from the United States to escape. Paul Newman and Robert Redford are a great duo, whose chemistry is essential for this film. The Oscar-winning soundtrack by Burt Bacharach is also an important element, and the song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" has become a classic.

True Grit (2010) by Joel & Ethan Coen

The Coen brothers are great at creating tense, somber and dramatic worlds on screen, so a Western is naturally a good fit for them. A remake of an original with John Wayne from the late Sixties, the Coens have made  this film into something modern and fresh. The story in both films is that of a young girl who hires an ageing U.S. Marshal to find the murderer of her father. This film lives from the humour and great chemistry between the unusual duo, played masterfully by Jeff Bridges and a young Hailee Steinfeld. Josh Brolin and Matt Damon complete the stellar cast.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) by Sergio Leone

(originally C'era una volta il West

One of the best films ever made. Cinematography and music (by Ennio Morricone) are perfection. The plot, which is often rather secondary in Westerns, makes sense and creates suspense which is unparalleled. A battle for land leads to a devastating loss for a young woman (the amazing Claudia Cardinale), and a three separate mysterious men with their own motivations are somehow involved. Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda and Jason Robards create some of the best Western moments.

River of No Return (1954) by Otto Preminger

As this is a very male-dominated genre, a bit of a female touch can't hurt. No-one better at that than Marilyn Monroe, who gives a beautiful performance here. A widower is released from prison and picks up his son from a bar girl who has looked after him. The three get into some trouble and need to flee down a dangerous river. Adventurous and with some charming musical performances by Monroe.

Django Unchained (2012) by Quentin Tarantino

A film of a genre sometimes called Post Western, in which there is no clear good and bad anymore. Rather, like in all films written and directed by genius Quentin Tarantino, there is an unusual mixture of characters which might be evil, funny, calculating, insincere, or basically anything - often in unexpected ways. Django is a former slave who rides to a plantation to rescue his wife, aided by a German bounty hunter. Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz are a hilarious duo, and Leonardo DiCaprio as antagonist gives a great performance.

The Searchers (1956) by John Ford

One of Hollywood's most successful and iconic directors, John Ford, created this cinematic masterpiece. Western hero John Wayne plays a war veteran who goes on a difficult mission to find his niece, who has been abducted by Indians. Famous for its stunning cinematography, this film is a visual feast and still entertaining to watch.

The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017) by Jared Moshe

A cowboy witnesses the murder of his friend, in whose shadow he has always been. He decides to avenge him, even though he is not really equipped for it. A film about an underdog always has its charm, and even though this was not a very successful film, it is beautiful in many ways. The cinematography is beautiful, and the performances by Bill Pullman, Peter Fonda and the great Kathy Bates are very convincing.

Unforgiven (1992) by Clint Eastwood

A former killer, who has settled down and lives peacefully with his children after his wife's death, gets an offer to make some money catching two wanted men. They have brutally hurt a woman, so there is extra motivation to take them down. But there are other men after the reward, and the local sheriff is not to be underestimated. An interesting ensemble of characters (played by Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and Richard Harris) and some unexpected twists make this an entertaining watch.

The Magnificent Seven (2016) by Antoine Fuqua

Ok, the original from 1960 is also great (with Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson), but the remake is pretty nice as well as has a great cast, such as Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. When some men in a small town are killed by a gold mining tycoon, the widow of one of the victims enlists a group of men to take revenge. The classic story and a great antagonist played by Peter Saarsgard make this worth watching.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) by Sergio Leone

(originally Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo)

Another classic by the master Sergio Leone, who deserves to be in this list twice. This film is set during the American Civil War, when three men work together to find a treasure and encounter many dangers on the way. Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef are a great trio, and their mutual distrust is an element of comedy. The cinematography and tension are equally good as in Once upon a Time in the West,  and the music by Ennio Morricone is magnificent as always.