The Western may be the archetypal American film genre. It’s been around practically since the earliest days of cinema and has evolved dramatically over the decades. The more simplistic “Golden Age” Westerns of the ’40s and ’50s gave way to grittier and more revisionist versions from the ’60s onward, with the modern-day producing exceptional genre films likeKillers of the Flower MoonandThe Power of the Dog. However,an often overlooked era for Western cinema came during the 1980s.
A definite low point for the genre in terms of sheer mass, studios pivoted away from traditional cowboy movies throughout the 80s, and the popularity of revisionist Westerns didn’t ignite untilClint Eastwooddirected and starred in the all-time classicUnforgivenin 1992. Search hard, though, and a few gems from this era can still be found (even if none come near the heights of some of the genre’s defining achievements). These are the finest of the ’80s Westerns, ranked.
13’Bronco Billy' (1980)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Bronco Billymay not beClint Eastwood’s magnum opus as a star and filmmaker, but it is a worthy credit that helps solidify his standing as one of thegreatest directors the Western genre has seen. Blending Western tropes with comedy, it follows Bronco Billy (Eastwood), the leader of a struggling Wild West show who meets a spoiled runaway bride in Antoinette Lily (Sondra Locke). Bad luck seems to bloom when she joins the troupe, leaving many of the crew unhappy with her presence.
The film’s modern-day setting gives an urgency toits exploration of the fading light of the great American myth the Western so often portrayed. Charming and offbeat, its tonal imbalances and occasional strays into the ridiculous are easy to overlook. While of its time, it remains innocent and vibrant enough to have aged more gracefully than many other 80s comedies, and presents Eastwood at his most entertaining and freewheeling.
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12’Barbarosa' (1982)
Director: Fred Schepisi
A Western-action film,Barbarosafollows a young farm boy, Karl Westover (Gary Busey), as he takes flight after accidentally killing his brother-in-law. As he makes for Mexico, he encounters Barbarosa (Willie Nelson), a fellow runaway who teaches him how to survive in the desert while also aiding him in robberies. Throughout their ventures, the two men form a bond as they try to stay one step ahead of the law.
An intriguing yet underappreciated Western that explores essential genre concepts like honor, dignity, personal vendettas, and the loyalty and betrayal of criminals on the run,Barbarosaoccupies a fascinating middle ground between outright Western thrills and the grit of revisionist takes on the genre. The satisfying Western romp marked the American cinematic debut of Australian filmmakerFred Schepisi, and made for one of the decade’s most underrated Western films as well.
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11’The Grey Fox' (1982)
Director: Phillip Borsos
A gripping Western that sensationalizes a real-life story,The Grey FoxfollowsBill Miner(Richard Farnsworth),a fearless though aging stagecoach robber, as he is released from jail after 30 years and adjusts to a bustling world vastly different from the one he remembers. Rambunctious by nature, he carries out a successful train robbery and hides in a small town in British Columbia where he falls for progressive photographer, Katherine Flynn (Jackie Burroughs), but the allure of another heist beckons him.
The film was warmly received upon release asa fun-fuelled adventure that used its inoffensive simplicity to cast an enchanting spell, even if it did sacrifice some of the genre’s trademark poignant weightiness in the process. Coasting on Fairbanks’ central performance,The Grey Foxmore than lives up to its name as a wily, deft, and charmingWestern that has become underratedas it presents the genre at its most exuberant fun.
10’Tom Horn' (1980)
Director: William Wiard
“I’m thinking I want a drink.”The legendarySteve McQueenstars here as the real-life figureTom Horn, a scout, outlaw, and gun-for-hire believed to have killed some 17 people. Horn also famously played a role in tracking down the Apache military leaderGeronimo. The movie finds an aging Horn drifting around the frontier. Hard up on cash, he secures work catching and confronting cattle rustlers. However, after he is framed for shooting a young boy, Horn finds himself persecuted by the law.
It makes for a cold, bleak tale of injustice and the dying days of the West, which is certainly not for everyone but should satisfy die-hard Western fans.Tom Hornis also notable for being one of McQueen’s last movies before his death in late 1980, adding a poignant and elegiac quality to the whole affair. It’s far from his best work, but nevertheless, his performance does bear flashes of his famous charm.
9’Heaven’s Gate' (1980)
Director: Michael Cimino
Thissprawling 217-minute-long epiccenters on the conflict between Wyoming land barons and European immigrants who have moved into Jackson County. Mercenary Nathan Champion (Christopher Walken) starts working for the barons, while Sheriff James Averill (Kris Kristofferson) tries to maintain order. Things get even more complicated when both men are pursued by the same woman, the gun-toting Ella Watson (Isabelle Huppert). The crowded supporting cast is rounded out byJohn Hurt,Sam Waterson,Brad Dourif, andJeff Bridges.
Heaven’s Gatewas directorMichael Cimino’s follow-up to the Best Picture-winningThe Deer Hunter, so it was highly anticipated. He clearly aimed for this to be an ambitious, gritty, wide-ranging statement on the genre. However, a difficult production process, cost overruns, and creative disagreements between Cimino and the studio marred its release.The theatrical release version cut by the studio was a commercial and critical disaster, but later re-edits more in line with Cimino’s vision have been acclaimed.
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8’The Milagro Beanfield War' (1988)
Director: Robert Redford
The Milagro Beanfield Waris a neo-Western set in a small New Mexico town that property developers want to turn into a luxury resort. Through a crooked deal, the land development company buys the rights to the local water supply. However, struggling farmer Joe Mondragon (Chick Vennera) defies this and begins irrigating his little bean field anyway. His act of rebellion stirs the residents to make a stand, leading to rising tensions, the appearance of a hired gun, and eventually a fiery showdown.
The film seems to have been something of a passion project forRobert Redford, who was reportedly fascinated by the geography and customs of northern New Mexico. Overall, the film is solid, if not especially memorable.It’s a feel-good story that plays it safe, sticking to narrative conventions and unfolding as one would expect. Nevertheless, the cinematography and the score byDave Grusinare commendable. Plus, there’s an entertainingly menacing performance from Christopher Walken as the land company’s main henchman.
7’Young Guns' (1988)
Director: Christopher Cain
“Alex, if you stay they’re gonna kill you. And then I’m gonna have to go around and kill all the guys who killed you. That’s a lot of killing.” This action Western follows iconic gunslingerBilly the Kid(Emilio Estevez) and his crew of outlaws known as the Regulators. They join forces with cattle rancher John Tunstall (Terence Stamp), who is soon murdered by a rival faction led by Lawrence Murphy (Jack Palance).Billy and his companions embark on a quest for vengeance, sparking a violent feud that engulfs the territory.
It’s a stacked cast, also includingKiefer Sutherland,Lou Diamond Phillips,Dermot Mulroney, andCharlie Sheen. The characters and themes may not be especially complex or ambitious, butYoung Gunsmakes up for it with a fast-paced plot and a steady supply of well-crafted action set pieces. Compared to most other Westerns of the 1980s, it was a major box office success,grossing $45 million in the U.S.alone against a $11m budgetand even earning aYoung Gunssequel.
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6’Near Dark' (1988)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Near Darkstands somewhat apart asit’s a neo-Western with horror elements, but it packs more of a bite than most Westerns of the 1980s. The movie centers on Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar), a young man from a rural town in Oklahoma who joins a group of roaming vampires after a chance encounter with the enigmatic Mae (Jenny Wright). Caleb struggles to come to terms with his new existence, caught between his desire for human connection and his new predatory instincts. He must also adapt to the violent, nomadic lifestyle of Mae’s vampire family, led by the charismatic but ruthless Jesse Hooker (Lance Henriksen).
The film didn’t connect with audiences on release but went on to become a cult classic. It towers over most other vampire movies of the era with its grim atmosphere, visceral action sequences, abundant gore, and complex characters.Kathryn Bigelow cunningly fuses vampire tropes with Western iconography, resulting in a lean, mean, bloody, good time.
5’Death Hunt' (1981)
Director: Peter Hunt
“Well, well, well. Look who just got uncivilized.“Death Huntis headed by some action-heavy hitters, includingCharles Bronson,Lee Marvin, andCarl Weathers. Bronson plays Albert Johnson, a solitary trapper who is falsely accused of murder. He retreats into the wilderness, with a posse of lawmen in pursuit. The mounties are led by Sergeant Edgar Millen (Marvin), a tough but honest man. He’s willing to deal with Johnson peacefully - that is, until some of his compatriots open fire, leading to a wild shootout and a dynamite explosion.
Johnson shoots his way out of the situation and must marshal all his survival skills to outsmart the mounties and bounty hunters. So begins a tense game of cat-and-mouse, elevated by unusually three-dimensional lead characters.Death Huntmay not break any new ground, but it’s a comforting and enjoyable exercise in the genre’s most beloved conventions.Not to mention, Weathers is effortlessly cool and likable as the veteran tracker Sundog.
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4’The Long Riders' (1980)
Director: Walter Hill
“Ah, hell. We played a rough game… and we lost.“The Long Ridersrecounts the famous story of infamous outlawJesse James(James Keach), though the movie tries to approach it from fresh angles. In particular, it looks at the interwoven tales of theJames brothers, theYounger brothers, and theFord brothers,played by real-life sets of acting siblings, the Keaches,the Carradines, andthe Quaids. DirectorWalter Hillhoped the casting decision would lend itself to the family-driven narrative in an authentic manner.
Jesse robs banks and attempts to stay one step ahead of the authorities, but betrayal from within threatens to spell his doom. The powers that be put pressure on Jesse’s associates to give him up. The question is whether their bonds of brotherhood will hold or break.With its unconventional narrative structure, its artistic violence, and its powerful atmosphere,The Long Ridersis a true American Westernand an underrated gem of the genre.
