The 25 Best Westerns of the 21st Century

“Seraphim Falls” is a riveting Western in which a Confederate colonel (Neeson) relentlessly pursues a Union soldier, (Brosnan), post-Civil War. The film explores themes of violence, survival, and war, woven into a tense bounty hunt narrative. It premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews.

This epic biographical Western transported to the Middle East tells the tale of real-life Wyoming-born horseman Frank Hopkins and his mustang, Hidalgo. The narrative unfurls as they compete in a gruelling 3,000-mile race in Arabia against Bedouins on pure-blooded Arabian horses.

In this dramatic tale of border crossings and misjudgments, Miguel, an illegal immigrant, is accused of murdering a former sheriff’s wife. As the truth unravels, the film explores tensions and tragedies along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Woman Walks Ahead” follows portrait painter Catherine Weldon (Chastain), who travels from New York City to the Dakotas in 1890 to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull. The narrative delves into the Lakota people’s struggle over their land rights.

In the waning days of the Civil War, two white sisters and an enslaved African-American must defend their home against rogue Union soldiers. The film is a stark portrayal of survival, revealing the brutal realities faced by women during war.

A mysterious loner passing through a small town gets pushed too far, setting off a violent chain of events. “In a Valley of Violence” was a commercial failure, but received critical acclaim for its compelling story of revenge in the Old West, led by strong performances from Hawke and Travolta.

A retired gunfighter goes back to his hometown to repair his relationship with his estranged father. However, he soon gets entangled in a murderous plot involving a corrupt preacher, his followers, and the woman he once loved.

“The Ballad of Lefty Brown” is a 2017 Western directed by Jared Moshe. It tells the story of Lefty Brown, a lawman who embarks on a quest for justice after his partner’s murder, despite obstacles and betrayal. The film captures the gritty and lawless era of 1889 Montana.

Set in the 1850s Midwest, “The Homesman” is a heart-wrenching historical drama based on Glendon Swarthout’s 1988 novel of the same name, explores the harsh realities of frontier life, taking the audience on a journey with a spinster and a claim jumper tasked with escorting three mentally ill women back home.

The narrative here unfolds in 1882 New Mexico, where two lawmen are hired to regain control of a town terrorized by a ruthless rancher. Romance, power struggles, and gunfights ensue, cloaked in the harsh realities of the Old West.

“The Magnificent Seven” is a modern remake of the 1960 classic Western. It follows an eclectic band of seven gunfighters, hired to protect a beleaguered Mexican village from recurring bandit raids. With a mix of courage and camaraderie, they defend the villagers in an epic showdown against the bandits.

In this Western drama, Bale stars as a U.S. Army officer tasked with escorting a Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their Montana homeland in 1892 – a perilous journey, marked by old grudges and new alliances.

Set during the Gold Rush, “The Sisters Brothers” is a darkly comedic Western about two notorious assassin brothers – Reilly and Phoenix – as they pursue two men who have joined forces in a quest for gold. Despite receiving critical acclaim, it was a commercial disappointment.

“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” is a revisionist Western epic featuring Pitt and Affleck as Jesse James and Robert Ford, respectively. A tale of fame and infamy, based on a 1983 Ron Hansen novel, it explores the complex relationship between the infamous outlaw and his eventual assassin, focusing on the buildup to the pivotal killing.

In this Western mystery thriller, eight strangers – portrayed by a cast also including Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, and Walton Goggins – seek refuge from a blizzard in a post-Civil War stagecoach stopover. The film showcases director Tarantino’s signature blend of suspense, violence, and complex racial dynamics.

“Bone Tomahawk” (is a chilling Western horror film, featuring Russell as a small-town sheriff leading a rescue mission into a desolate wilderness to save captives from a cannibalistic Native American clan. It’s a well-received blend of genres, now considered a cult classic.

This gritty tale of cattle herders in 1882 Montana unfolds as the herders face off against a ruthless rancher who controls the local town. A stirring blend of romance, deception, and revenge, the film was both a box office hit and a critical success.

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is a Western anthology film by the Coen brothers. It stars an ensemble cast and features six tales from the American frontier. The film, which clinched the Golden Osella Award for Best Screenplay at the Venice International Film Festival, also scored three Academy Award nominations.

In this neo-Western, a Texas rancher forces a Border Patrol officer to exhume the body of his friend, an undocumented Mexican worker he accidentally killed. The journey across Mexico to fulfill a burial promise reveals the harsh realities of the border conflict.

“News of the World” is a compelling Western that follows an aging Civil War veteran tasked with returning a young girl, raised by the Kiowa after being kidnapped, to her surviving relatives. The film has been lauded for excellent performances, cinematography, and musical score.

“3:10 to Yuma” – a modern remake of a 1957 classic based on an Elmore Leonard story, is a gripping 2007 action drama about a rancher braving the odds to deliver a notorious outlaw to justice. Despite its $48-$55 million budget, it grossed $71 million worldwide, a testament to its critical acclaim.

“The Rider” is a poignant Western brilliantly depicting the life of Brady, a former rodeo star from the Lakota Sioux community, battling poverty and brain damage. It garnered critical acclaim for its authentic storytelling and compelling performances.

This update of the 1969 John Wayne classic tells the tale of 14-year-old Mattie Ross, who hires trigger-happy lawman ‘Rooster’ Cogburn to hunt down her father’s killer.

In this neo-Western crime drama, Pine and Foster play two brothers who orchestrate a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch from foreclosure while being pursued by Texas Rangers. The film earned four Oscar nominations.

Set in the Old West and Antebellum South, “Django Unchained” is the story of an enslaved man (Foxx) who becomes a bounty hunter in a bid to reunite with his long-lost wife. This Tarantino tribute to spaghetti Westerns is the director’s highest-grossing movie to date.