Though the genre might be overlooked at times, the best Netflix Westerns offer a wide range of brilliant movies and shows. The Western is one of the oldest genres in Hollywood. Tales of outlaws and lawmen fighting for survival in a dangerous land have been among some of the best films and TV shows of all time. While Westerns might not be as popular as it once was, there are still plenty of films and shows in the genre to enjoy. Among all streaming platforms, the lineup of Westerns on Netflix is incredibly strong.
While some may dismiss Westerns as simple stories of heroic cowboys and vicious outlaws, these various movies and shows give a glimpse at how versatile the genre can be. Modern Westerns might not be the guaranteed box-office smashes they were in the days of John Wayne, but many of the best Westerns on Netflix prove the genre can even exist outside the Old West timeline, using the Western style and tropes to create modern versions of these stories.
You are watching: The 25 Best Westerns On Netflix
25
Django (2023)
Matthias Schoeneart’s Taken On The Classic Gritty Hero
While Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained may have brought the name to the mainstream, Django is a Western hero who has been around since his debut in the 1966 movie Django. The 2023 Western series on Netflix reimagines that story with Matthias Schoenaerts starring as the gunslinger who seeks out his long-lost daughter in an idyllic town where she fears his reputation will bring trouble. While the Django series on Netflix wasn’t hugely successful with critics, the return of the character in a new violent adventure makes for a solid Western.
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24
Time Hustler (2022)
Quirky Brazilian Comedy That Brings Many Genres To The Western Setting
The mix of wacky comedy and the Western setting has made for some hilarious classics, most notably with Blazing Saddles. However, the Brazilian comedy Time Hustler attempts to strike that tricky balance in television form with this seven-episode series. The show follows a loving but struggling father in modern times who suddenly wakes up in 1927 and is mistaken for a legendary bandit. The various genre mash-ups happening can be off-putting, but it is also fun to see a show take a chance at the Western comedy format.
23
El Camino Christmas (2017)
A Neo-Western Crime Comedy
Finding a Western with a holiday twist is a rare enough occurrence that it makes El Camino Christmas instantly intriguing among the Westerns on Netflix (or anywhere else). Yellowstone actor Luke Grimes stars as a young man passing through the small desert town of El Camino where he is harassed by police, leading to a hostage situation at a small liquor store with the local police out of their depth in dealing with the situation.
Though it failed to get much notice as a quirky Christmas movie or a modern Western, the talented ensemble, which includes Vincent D’Onofrio, Jessica Alba, and Tim Allen, adds a lot of fun.
22
Ridiculous 6 (2015)
Adam Sandler’s Western Spoof
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Yet another comedic take on the genre, Ridiculous 6 marked the first collaboration between Adam Sandler and Netflix. The star-studded satire follows Sandler’s brave hero who was raised by a native tribe and meets his five half-brothers who all work together to save their father.
The movie is not one of Sandler’s best comedies and caused controversy for some of its offensive depictions. However, the cast have great comedic chemistry and there are some hilarious gags, such as the band of outlaws meeting Abner Doubleday (John Turturro), who attempts to teach them his new confusing game of baseball.
21
The Killer (2017)
The Gritty Western From Brazil About A Boy Raised As A Bandit
Another Western movie from Brazil shows the country has a surprising output from the genre. The Killer tells the story of a young child named Shaggy (Diogo Morgado) who was abandoned as a baby and raised in isolation by a bandit. As an adult, Shaggy finally has to travel into civilization when his surrogate father goes missing. With an interesting protagonist and a different setting for a Western story, The Killer is an overlooked Western on Netflix that’s worth seeking out by subscribers looking for something new in the genre.
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20
Thar (2022)
Bollywood’s Taken On Neo-Westerns
Though many Netflix subscribers who are self-professed Western fans will find the classics they know and love, the platform provides a glimpse at entries in the genre from other countries. Thar is an Indian movie starring international star Anil Kapoor in a neo-Western tale. Set in 1985, the movie follows a mysterious drifter who comes across a desert town where he crosses paths with an inspector investigating a series of murders. The tense crime thriller mixed with a Western vibe makes for an exciting genre mash-up, even if there is a predictable story at its center.
19
Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher (2021)
The True Story Of America’s Greatest Cattle Ranch
There are plenty of true stories to be told in the Western genre, from the iconic legends to the lesser-known tales. Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher falls into the latter category as it is inspired by the story of Montford T. Johnson, a cattleman who overcame attacks and hardships in order to build one of the greatest ranching empires in America. It is an interesting new approach to the genre with an inspiring underdog story instead of one featuring gunslingers and shootouts.
18
The Ranch (2016-2020)
Ashton Kutcher Learns The Old West Isn’t Dead
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the ranch
Release Date
April 1, 2016
Cast
Ashton Kutcher
, Sam Elliott
Seasons
4
Though set in modern days, The Ranch is a sitcom that takes a look at how the Old West cowboy ways have yet to die away in certain parts of the country. Ashton Kutcher stars in the show as a former football star whose injury ends his career, sending him back home to help run the cattle ranch owned by his father (Sam Elliott). While the series was never critically acclaimed, its Western cinematography earned it several Emmy nominations, while Elliott’s performance was seen as a bright spot.
17
White Fang (2019)
The Classic Tale Reanimated
Based on the book by Jack London, White Fang is a Western adventure that has been adapted several times. One of the best adaptations is the 2019 French animated take on the story of a free-spirited wolfhound who meets and forms various bonds throughout his fight for survival in the Alaskan wilderness. Though it is a familiar story for many, the beautiful animation is enough to make it a worthwhile retelling of the tale of White Fang. The English version also features voice roles by Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, and Paul Giamatti.
16
Frontier (2016-2018)
The Canadian Fur Trader Drama Starring Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa seems like the kind of action hero who fits perfectly in the wilderness setting, and the Netflix Western Frontier shows exactly why. Frontier is a Canadian adventure series and historical drama centering on the fur trade of the early 1800s. Momoa stars as a Canadian outlaw who fights against the corruption of the Hudson Bay Company’s fur trade in his land. Momoa gives a powerful performance in the lead role, elevating the series and its action. The show was nominated for several Canadian Screen Awards, including for Momoa’s performance.
15
Song Of The Bandits (2023-)
K-Dramas Meet Westerns In This Acclaimed Netflix Show
South Korean Netflix content includes some of the platform’s most popular shows, and the country has its own Western entry as well. Song of the Bandits serves partially as a historical drama, taking place during the Japanese occupation of the 1920s. With a number of Koreans fleeing to parts of China, they develop a lawless community. The new series has received critical acclaim for its action and well-rounded characters that fill out this epic story.
14
Wynonna Earp (2016-2021)
The Western Horror That Brings The Supernatural To The Wild West
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Wynonna Earp
Release Date
April 1, 2016
Cast
Melanie Scrofano
, Tim Rozon
, Shamier Anderson
, Katherine Barrell
, dominique provost-chalkley
Seasons
4
Another Western project that has a lot of fun bringing in other genre elements is the series Wynonna Earp. Based on a comic book series, the show follows a descendant of legendary Western lawman Wyatt Earp who is tasked with fighting off the resurrected outlaws and criminals that Earp killed in the Old West. The Western-horror series was praised as one of the best new shows on television when it premiered in 2017. It makes for a fun and silly supernatural adventure that shares a spiritual kinship with shows like Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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13
Free State Of Jones (2016)
Matthew McConaughey Leads A True Western Story
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The Free State of Jones
R
DramaActionBiography
Free State of Jones is a 2016 war film starring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, and Keri Russell. The film is inspired by Newton Knight, who was a real person that led a group of former Confederate soldiers to fight back against the Confederacy. The film is helmed by Oscar-nominated director Gary Ross.
Release Date
June 24, 2016
Runtime
140 Minutes
Cast
Liza J. Bennett
, Christopher Berry
, Jacob Lofland
, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
, Jessica Collins
, Matthew McConaughey
, Sean Bridgers
, Kerry Cahill
, Keri Russell
, Mahershala Ali
Director
Gary Ross
There have been a number of Western movies set around the events of the American Civil War, but Free State of Jones tells a lesser-known yet incredible true story of this time that makes for a thrilling adventure. Matthew McConaughey stars in the film as Newt Knight, a farmer from the South who becomes disillusioned with the fight against the Confederacy and decides to defy them by creating his own “free state” in Mississippi alongside other farmers and freed slaves.
The movie tells a complex true story about a controversial figure, but while historians may disagree with aspects of the film, it does make for an intense Western. McConaughey was in the midst of his amazing Hollywood comeback and delivered a grounded role as the hero while being backed by the likes of Mahershala Ali and Keri Russell.
12
Concrete Cowboy (2020)
A Coming-Of-Age Western Starring Idris Elba
Concrete Cowboy
Release Date
April 2, 2021
Director
Ricky Staub
Cast
Idris Elba
, Caleb McLaughlin
, Byron Bowers
, Lorraine Toussaint
, Jharrel Jerome
Runtime
111 minutes
Though the modern Western genre is a way of keeping the genre feeling fresh, Concrete Cowboy takes a unique approach to this kind of story. Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin stars as a rebellious teen who is sent to live with his estranged father in Philadelphia, where he finds kinship within the city’s community of Black cowboys. Though a lesser-known Idris Elba movie, the actor is great as the boy’s father and the movie itself is a charming coming-of-age story with a Western twist.
11
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)
Kevin Costner’s Western Flop Could Find An Audience On Netflix
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8.5/10
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
R
DramaWestern
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is a Western film directed by Kevin Costner, and sees him in the starring role. The film explores multiple generations surrounding the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. Horizon is the first in a series of four films, all of which were greenlit by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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*Availability in US
Release Date
June 28, 2024
Runtime
181 Minutes
Cast
Kevin Costner
, Sienna Miller
, Sam Worthington
, Luke Wilson
, Giovanni Ribisi
, Thomas Haden Church
, Jena Malone
, Abbey Lee
, Michael Rooker
, Danny Huston
, Isabelle Fuhrman
, Jeff Fahey
, Will Patton
, Tatanka Means
, Ella Hunt
, Jamie Campbell Bower
Director
Kevin Costner
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Kevin Costner is one of the biggest names in the Western genre and news of his return to the big screen for a new epic he also wrote and directed got many Western fans very excited. Horizon: An American Saga is a sweeping story of the American frontier in the days of the Civil War. Costner leads the massive ensemble as a horse trader who gets involved in the dangerous and ambitious search for a new life in the ever-changing country.
A lot of the news surrounding Horizon was about the various controversies, such as Costner’s self-financing method, the box office disappointment, and Costner leaving Yellowstone in order to make this movie. However, that should not distract from the film itself which is a flawed yet engrossing epic that is rarely seen in Hollywood anymore.
10
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
An Underrated And Surprising Star-Studded Western
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The Sisters Brothers
R
Western
The Sisters Brothers is a 2018 Western film directed by Jacques Audiard. Set in 1851, it follows assassins Eli and Charlie Sisters, played by John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix, as they pursue a gold prospector accused of stealing from their boss. The film intertwines themes of loyalty, family, and survival against the backdrop of the American Frontier.
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Release Date
September 21, 2018
Runtime
122 minutes
Cast
Riz Ahmed
, Carol Kane
, Jake Gyllenhaal
, Rutger Hauer
, Joaquin Phoenix
, Rebecca Root
, John C. Reilly
, Ian Reddington
Director
Jacques Audiard
The Sisters Brothers is a sadly underseen Western from the last 10 years despite the fact that it features an incredible all-star cast. Based on the novel by Canadian author Patrick deWitt, The Sisters Brothers stars Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly as two gunslinger brothers who work as hired guns for a crime boss. When the boss’ associate absconds with some of his money, he sends the brothers on a quest to find the man and make him pay.
Phoenix and Reilly have wonderful chemistry as the two brothers…
Phoenix and Reilly have wonderful chemistry as the two brothers who are ruthless and flawed protagonists but entertaining to follow on this journey as they bicker and learn more about each other. They are also joined in supporting roles by Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed. It is a beautiful and surprisingly quaint Western movie that takes a lot of pleasure in subverting expectations about where the story is heading, ultimately settling on a surprisingly moving conclusion.
9
Silverado (1985)
One Of The Last Classic Westerns Lives On Through Netflix
By the 1980s, the Western genre had been fading in Hollywood, with Silverado being one of the bright spots before the genre underwent a much-needed change. Written and directed by legendary Hollywood figure Lawrence Kasdan, Silverado follows a band of misfits who join forces to protect a small town from injustices. The fun sense of humor and great action is elevated further by a star-studded cast that includes Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum, and Kevin Costner, all shining in their standout roles.
8
Legends Of The Fall (1994)
The Emotionally Heavy Western That Helped Launch Brad Pitt’s Career
Legends of the Fall combines a family drama, an epic romance, and a Western tale all into one ambitious movie. Directed by Edward Zwick, Legends of the Fall is set in Montana and stars Anthony Hopkins as a colonel who lives in the wilderness with his three sons. When one of the sons dies in combat, a love triangle forms between his brothers and his widow.
The movie helped solidify Brad Pitt as a Hollywood A-Lister with his charismatic performance as the middle child Tristan. It effectively balances its large story with an emotional center, more than earning it a place as one of the best Western movies on Netflix.
7
The Harder They Fall (2021)
The Star-Studded Netflix Original Western Movie
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The best Western movies on Netflix aren’t just existing titles the streaming platform acquired the rights to, as they’ve made plenty of their own forays into the genre. The Netflix original Western The Harder They Fall is a star-studded action adventure that feels like an homage to Sergio Leone.
Idris Elba once again steps into the Western genre as a vicious villain whose ambitious plans for the future leave a trail of bodies in his wake while the movie’s heroes, led by Jonathan Majors, seek to take him down. The cast also includes Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo. It was a big hit with audiences and the ending sets up The Harder They Fall 2 in an exciting way.
6
Godless (2017)
Standout Limited Series Led By A Female Cast
It is rare to find a female-led Western story, but Godless pulls it off wonderfully. The limited series follows a deadly gang leader pursuing one of his former colleagues who betrayed him. The hunt leads him to a small New Mexico town that has been left almost entirely run by women following a mining disaster. The show is a captivating and exciting Western on its own, but it is further elevated in the genre by a powerful story and a sensational cast that includes Michelle Dockery, Merritt Weaver, and Jeff Daniels in a terrific villain role.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment