TheWesterngenre is one that has seen its fair share of ups and downs—both in volume and in quality—throughout the history of film. Huge throughout the Golden Age ofHollywood, dying down for a good period of time, and reviving in the form of the neo-Western, it’sone of the movie genres with the longest and most interesting history.
Over the course of the last 30 years, there has been no shortage of exceptional Westerns. From traditional outings in the old-school Western style to more subversive arthouse fare,these are movies which prove that these films are far from extinct. Cinephiles onIMDbhave been more than happy to sing their praises on the platform, leading them to be among the genre’s highest-rated success stories. Neo-Westerns are very much their own thing and deserving of a list of their own, so they will not be included here.
10’Open Range' (2003)
IMDb Rating:7.4/10
Kevin Costnerwon Best Director and Best Picture Oscars forDances with Wolves, one of the greatest and most iconic traditional Westerns of the 1990s. 13 years later, he went back to directing Westerns withOpen Range, a film that’s not quite up to the level ofDances, but isnevertheless one of the best outings of the genre of the 2000s.
With some excellent performances, a compelling story, and several unforgettable scenes (including a wild, must-see shootout),Open Rangeis definitely not a perfect revisionist Western, but it sure is an entertaining one. Confident in its old-school roots and anchored by a pair of powerhouse performances by Costner andRobert Duvall,it’s an outstanding modern example of the genre done traditionally.
Open Range
IMDb Rating:7.5/10
The cult filmmakerJim Jarmuschhas been one of the biggest exponents of modern American indie cinema, and the mind behind underrated masterpieces of the caliber of the acid WesternDead Man. One ofthe most overlooked Westerns ever,it’s been described by its director as a “psychedelic Western,“and that’s a descriptor that definitely fits it like a glove.
With a partly improvised guitar soundtrack byNeil Young, it’s postmodern filmmaking at its most engaging and innovative. It’s not a traditional Western by any stretch of the imagination,but that’s precisely where its magnetism lies. It’s strange, slow, and certainly not fit for every palate, but its aesthetic and genre subversions make it thrilling from start to finish.
8’The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' (2007)
For people who like their Westernsbrutal, slow-burning, and with cinematography so hauntingly gorgeousthat several shots are bound to sear themselves in their memory,The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordis a must-see. One of themost powerfully subtle moviesin recent memory, it’s a modern masterpiece that shouldn’t be ignored.
The film is a remarkablyintelligent deconstruction of the figure of the traditional Western character archetype, which makes perfect use of its daunting 2-hour-and-40-minute runtime. A classic American ode that never feels overstuffed, it’s one of the greatest Westerns of all time—let alone of the past 30 years.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
7’Aferim!' (2015)
IMDb Rating:7.6/10
Romanian voices in cinema aren’t exactly among the most commonly seen in the mainstream. This is all the more reason to check outRadu Jude’s brilliant Western comedyAferim!and realize thatthere are plenty of exciting genre films to discoverin countries whose filmographies aren’t often seen in Hollywood’s proximity.
It’s also a well-thought-out exploration of themes of class discrimination in Romanian society and existentialism.
Aferim!is both hilarious and satisfyingly bleak,anchored by beautiful black-and-white visuals that tend to rely on sprawling vistas. It’s also a well-thought-out exploration of themes of class discrimination in Romanian society and existentialism. Though it’s definitely best appreciated by audiences who speak the language, that’s in no way a requirement to watch and thoroughly enjoy this underrated gem.
6'3:10 to Yuma' (2007)
The 1957 Western3:10 to Yumais a great example of classic Hollywood’s way of approaching the genre, but definitely not one of the era’s most quintessential entries. Some—including IMDb users—might argue that its 2007 remake of the same title is considerably better. StarringRussell CroweandChristian Bale, it’s one of the most memorable Westerns of the 2000s.
Based on a 1953 short story,3:10 to Yumais one of themost deliriously entertaining Westernsever made. Boosted by Crowe and Bale’s sharp performances,James Mangold’s memorable direction, and a fast pace,it’s a stunning revival of the Western that those who grew up watching classic Wild West outlaw filmsare guaranteed to love.
3:10 to Yuma
A small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who’s awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher.
5’True Grit' (2010)
Movie remakes often struggle to justify their existence; but Western remakes have a decent track record, and as far as “justifying its own existence” goes, it doesn’t get much better than theCoen brothers' take on the 1969John Wayne-starring classicTrue Grit. With a standout cast (includingHailee Steinfeldin her film debut and first Oscar-nominated role) and some of the Coens' most fun work, it’s a modern Western for the ages.
Intended by its directors as more of their take onCharles Portis' 1968 novel than a direct adaptation of the 1969 film, this new version ofTrue Gritis even better than the original.Fun, emotionally resonant, and with some excellent production qualities(includingCarter Burwell’s unforgettable score andRoger Deakins' gorgeous camerawork), it’s one of the Coens' best 21st-century works.
A stubborn teenager enlists the help of a tough U.S. Marshal to track down her father’s murderer.
4’Killers of the Flower Moon' (2023)
Martin Scorsese, hailed by many as the single greatest living filmmaker,loves to dip his toes into all sorts of different genres and subgenres. Before 2023, however, the then-80-year-old director had never made a Western. That all changed withKillers of the Flower Moon, which surprised the world by proving to be one of the auteur’s best-ever outings.
Killers of the Flower Moonis also one ofthe best gangster films in recent years, but at its core, it’s a Western through and through,exploring themes of exploitation and greed in all manner of fascinating ways. Scorsese’s direction is flawless and the cast is amazing, withLily Gladstonein particular delivering one of the strongest and most complex performances in the director’s filmography.
Killers of the Flower Moon
When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.
3’The Hateful Eight' (2015)
IMDb Rating:7.8/10
Quentin Tarantinois a filmmaker loved by most, and that includes cinephiles on IMDb, who have rated his work tremendously highly. The fact that the terrificThe Hateful Eight(whose extended version the director later released as a miniseries) isone of his lowest-rated movies on the platformjust shows the quality of this legendary auteur.
As far asalmost-perfect Westerns go,The Hateful Eightis remarkable. Full of Tarantino’s typical mastery of quippy dialogue, over-the-top violence, and flawless balance between drama and humor, it’s one of his most underappreciated works. Technically exceptional and structured in a way that feels delightfully reminiscent of a stage play,it’s one of the director’s most distinct and memorable movies.
The Hateful Eight
2’The Revenant' (2015)
IMDb Rating:8.0/10
The modern classic that turned the then-three-time Academy Award winnerAlejandro G. Iñárrituintofour-time Academy Award winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu,The Revenantis better known asthe film that finally earnedLeonardo DiCapriothe Best Actor Oscarthat he had been hunting for so long.
The Revenanthasfarmore going for it than just a tour-de-force lead performance, though. Thanks toEmmanuel Lubezki’s striking cinematography (based pretty much entirely on natural lighting and on-location shooting), hand-in-hand with Iñárritu’s jaw-dropping direction, it makes this one ofthe most effectively bleak Westernsin history.It’s a unique character study that’s difficult to stomach, but oh so worth the effort.
The Revenant
A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.
1’Django Unchained' (2012)
IMDb Rating:8.5/10
Django lights a cigarette and stands among the ruins of the Candyland mansion in Django Unchained.
“No one does it like Tarantino"is a phrase that can reasonably be said in many situations, including when talking about the highest-rated Westerns of the last 30 years on IMDb. Users evidently love the director, as they have madeDjango Unchainedthe 53rd highest-rated movie on the site overall—an achievement that’s nothing if not well-deserved.
Jamie Foxx,Christoph Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio offer unforgettable performances; Tarantino’s writing and direction are as clever and gleefully pastiche as ever; andhis distinct take on the epic Western genre is an absolute delight, which is precisely what makes it—at least according to IMDb—the singlegreatest Western of the last three decades.
Django Unchained
With the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.
