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15 Most Rewatchable Western Movies Of All Time

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15 Most Rewatchable Western Movies Of All Time

Summary

  • The most rewatchable Westerns offer depth beyond surface enjoyment, with spectacular filmmaking and enduring storytelling.
  • Films like The Wild Bunch revolutionized the Western genre and stand the test of time.
  • From iconic classics like The Searchers to modern hits like Django Unchained, these films deliver unforgettable characters and compelling narratives.

The Western genre has had countless classic releases over the decades, but some stood above the rest in terms of rewatch value. Although there were incredibly exciting Westerns that stood as fantastic cinematic viewing experiences, this was not always enough to ensure that audiences returned to them repeatedly throughout the years. However, other Western movies delivered just the right kind of action, strong characterization, and deeply nuanced storytelling that meant Western lovers would decide to return to those characters and find new aspects to enjoy with each subsequent viewing.

The most rewatchable Westerns all had something in common: They offered more than just surface-level enjoyment when it came to repeat viewing. The most rewatchable Westerns also included some of the greatest Westerns ever made, where truly spectacular filmmaking was the gift that kept on giving. From powerfully poignant character studies of dangerous Wild West outlaws to hilarious satirical send-ups of the genre itself, the most rewatchable Westerns ever have truly stood the test of time.

15 The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Directed by Andrew Dominik

Despite bombing at the box office, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford was among the great Westerns of the 21st century. As an expertly crafted period piece about one of the most enduring figures of American folklore, it had a moody style, stunningly unique visuals, and an incredible cast, including Brad Pitt as Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford. The Assassination of Jesse James was a slow burn that revealed hidden meaning upon each viewing and could be enjoyed repeatedly.

14 The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Directed by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

As an anthology Western film made up of six vignettes set on the American frontier, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs was a highly enjoyable film from the Coen Brothers full of humor, pathos, and style. With a powerful blend of black humor and dark drama, each story offered something unique and paid homage to the vast and varied appeal of the Western genre. Full of notable stars, such as Liam Neeson, James Franco, and Tom Waits, this modern Western film captured the essence of classic Western aesthetics in a way viewers had not seen before.

13 High Noon (1952)

Directed by Fred Zinnemann

Although High Noon was controversial upon its original release due to its perceived political themes, this has also contributed to its enduring appeal more than 70 years later. With a story told in real-time about Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper), High Noon addressed themes of duty and justice and was an early example of the revisionist Western genre. As a film that sheds light on the changing societal values of 1950s America, High Noon can be viewed repeatedly, not just for its historical significance but because it was a highly engrossing film.

John Wayne in John Ford's The Searchers

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12 The Wild Bunch (1969)

Directed by Sam Peckinpah

The epic revisionist epic The Wild Bunch was not only among the best Westerns of the 1960s but also one of the greatest films ever made. With the use of intricate, multi-angle cuts and a trailblazing slow-motion style, The Wild Bunch was a revolutionary film when it was first released, and its influence can still be felt in the Western genre to this day. As an extremely violent movie that paid homage to the dying days of the Wild West, The Wild Bunch has maintained its enduring power all these decades.

11 The Searchers (1956)

Directed by John Ford

The Searchers was the crowning achievement of director John Ford and Western star John Wayne’s collaborations and stood as a definitive release in American cinematic history. As a hugely influential release, The Searchers told the story of a Civil War veteran who spent years searching for his abducted niece. Although it must be admitted that some aspects, such as the representation of Native Americans, may feel outdated, the technique prowess on display, the power of its filmmaking, and the extraordinary performances made this a film to be rewatched and enjoyed by every subsequent generation of film lovers.

10 The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood with two guns in The Outlaw Josey Wales
The Outlaw Josey Wales

Missouri farmer Josey Wales joins a Confederate guerrilla unit and winds up on the run from the Union soldiers who murdered his family.

Release Date
July 14, 1976

Cast
Clint Eastwood , Chief Dan George , Sondra Locke , Bill McKinney , John Vernon , Paula Trueman

Runtime
135 minutes

Clint Eastwood directed and starred in The Outlaw Josey Wales, the highly rewatchable story of a bandit out for revenge. As a revisionist Western based on a novel by Asa Earl Carter, The Outlaw Josey Wales saw the bandit outlaw join a Confederate guerrilla band as he embarked on a bloodthirsty quest driven by a need to avenge his murdered family. As the story of a man with nothing left to lose, Josey Wales was an explosive and unpredictable anti-hero who led one of the greatest Westerns of the 1970s.

9 The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Directed by John Sturges

When it came to star-studded Western movies, it did not get any more iconic than The Magnificent Seven, the Old West remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic Japanese film Seven Samurai. With its highly influential gathering-a-team narrative, this story of gunslingers hired to protect a small village from Mexican bandits has endured through the decades. Although The Magnificent Seven was remade in 2016 with modern stars, the original was leagues ahead when it came to rewatch value and was the version that had truly stood the test of time.

8 Django Unchained (2012)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

As director Quentin Tarantino’s homage to the Spaghetti Western genre, Django Unchained helped modernize this style of Western for a new generation and updated it with a contemporary soundtrack, action sequences, and plenty of his signature style. Django Unchained was a wild ride from start to finish, full of incredible characters and fantastic performances. With a runtime of 165 minutes, Django Unchained was epic in scope, but in terms of pure style, it could be rewatched endlessly.

7 Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)

Directed by Sergio Leone

After revolutionizing the Western genre with his Dollars Trilogy, director Sergio Leone returned to the style that made him famous for Once Upon a Time in the West. With a classic score by Ennio Morricone and a compelling story of a harmonica-playing stranger, a notorious desperado, and a beautiful widow, Leone delivered everything a Western lover could want and more with this release. Although it was a financial flop upon release, Once Upon a Time in the West has since been regarded as a true classic.

once upon a time in america in the west charles bronson robert de niro

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6 True Grit (1969)

Directed by Henry Hathaway

True Grit John Wayne (1)

Western acting legend John Wayne took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. As the story of a hard-drinking U.S. Marshal and a Texas Ranger trying to track down a murderer on Indian territory, True Grit was a powerful Western driven by vengeance that featured a fantastic late-career performance from Wayne. Although some say the 2010 remake by the Coen Brothers beat the original, when it came to rewatchability, Wayne’s legacy made this version come out on top.

5 Unforgiven (1992)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Unforgiven Movie Poster
Unforgiven (1992)

Unforgiven, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, is a Western that delves into the myths of the American West. The film follows William Munny, a retired and widowed outlaw, who takes on one last job with his old partner and a young gunslinger. They aim to avenge a disfigured prostitute in a corrupt town controlled by a brutal sheriff. The film explores themes of redemption, the brutal realities of frontier justice, and the consequences of violence.

Release Date
August 7, 1992
Runtime
130 Mins

The Best Picture winner Unforgiven not only acted as the summation of Clint Eastwood’s entire career in Westerns but also stood as a powerful aggregation of the genre itself as it addressed themes of heroism, revenge, and the wicked ways of the Wild West. As a powerful statement on the nature of violence, Unforgiven was a nuanced film that begged to be rewatched and appreciated as carefully crafted cinema. Unforgiven was made even better when watched with an appreciation for all the Western movies that came before it and can be viewed through the lens of the genre’s legacy.

4 Blazing Saddles (1974)

Directed by Mel Brooks

After 50 years since its release, it’s a testament to the enduring power of Blazing Saddles that it still ranked among the greatest comedies ever produced. Not only was Blazing Saddles a clever satirical look at the Western genre, but it also used this concept to poke fun at racial prejudices and, through subverting racial ignorance, created comedy gold. Blazing Saddles was packed to the rafters with gags, as stars like Cleavon Little, Gene Hackman, and Mel Brooks have kept audiences laughing as they continually rewatched this classic across the decades.

3 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

Directed by George Roy Hill

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid gave Hollywood one of Western’s greatest cinematic pairings through the extraordinary performances of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. As a Western buddy film based on Wild West outlaws, Butch Cassidy expertly bridged the gap between the classic Westerns of the 1950s and 1960s and the modern filmmaking styles that were starting to take hold as the New Hollywood era began. Full of action, friendship, and humor, Butch Cassidy has stood the test of time and can still be enjoyed all these years later.

2 Tombstone (1993)

George P. Cosmatos

Loosely based on real Wild West events like the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Tombstone was truly among the most rewatchable Western movies ever made. Although it was a box office flop upon release, Tombstone has since gained a reputation as a Western classic full of extraordinary performances, such as Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. With exceptional acting, directing, and writing, Tombstone just delivered on all fronts and actually got better with each subsequent viewing.

tombstone-movie-doc-holliday-this-is-funny-final-line-meaning

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1 The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1966)

Directed by Sergio Leone

While all of Sergio Leone’s Dollar Trilogy had incredible rewatch value, the final entry. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly stood as the most iconic and has earned its spot as the definitive Spaghetti Western. From the cool confidence of Clint Eastwood as the Man with No Name to the iconic score from Ennio Morricone, this was among the greatest Westerns ever produced and the film that propelled Eastwood to international stardom. With intense close-ups, impressive long shots, and its powerful three-way Mexican stand-off scene, the most rewatchable Western ever made was The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

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