5 Best TV Westerns to Watch on Streaming Right Now

Having found its ways to engage with modern audiences, the Western genre has been one of the most compelling movie branches for decades now.

These stories inspired by the world-famous tough rules of life in the Wild West first found their spotlight almost a century ago, but since then were never really left out of their prime, mostly due to the genre’s ability to adapt the seemingly outdated Western-y narrative to what modern viewers are excited to see in theatres and on streaming.

However, despite its growing popularity among filmmakers, the Western genre isn’t a worthy piece in the movie industry only, with time having expanded its influence to the TV world as well.

You might know this thanks to Taylor Sheridan and a solid handful of his Western series, but the genre has way more options to offer for those who crave something else.

Song of the Bandits

Taking the genre out of the Wild West’s territories quite literally, the show sees the events unfolding during the Japanese occupation of South Korea in the 1920s.

Lee Yoon, a Japanese soldier who changes his mind after witnessing his country’s atrocities against others, joins the South Korean refugees in their attempt to flee to the Gando region located in China.

Trying to find redemption for his past mistakes, Lee embarks on a mission to save as many people as he can from Japanese oppression, becoming a bandit that would pursue his fellow countrymen. Song of the Bandits is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

American Primeval

One of Netflix’s biggest hits this year, the miniseries explores complex relationships between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several local cultural communities during the Utah War in the 1850s.

Created by Mark L. Smith who previously worked as a writer for Leonardo DiCaprio ’s hit Western The Revenant, American Primeval gets as violent as it could ever be, showing that there was a time when everything was at stake and no one would stop before anything in their fight for power.

The series was released on Netflix back in January and is still stored on the streamer’s platform.

Godless

Another hit Western among Netflix’s originals, Godless makes the tables turn radically when it offers a different perspective and follows the outcome of a severe clash between a gang of outlaws and a local female community.

Starring Downton Abbey ’s lead actress Michelle Dockery, Godless gives the power into the hands of women, cracking the most annoying code of the genre traditionally dominated by male protagonists.

The show also stars Jeff Daniels as the criminal mind and the gang’s leader Frank Griffin, delivering a fear-inducing performance as the main villain, just like Dockery fully embodies her character set to protect the town community from ruthless invaders. Godless can also be found on Netflix.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Produced by current Western hitmaker Taylor Sheridan, the miniseries premiered back in 2023, introducing the story of one of the first black U.S. Marshals Bass Reeves whose career counts thousands of criminals caught and convicted in the 19th century.

The show was originally thought to be another extension to Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe, but ultimately went on a journey of its own and, naturally, couldn’t get any better solution.

Based on Sidney Thompson’s two historical novels, Lawmen: Bass Reeves delves into the life of its eponymous character from different perspectives, offering a glimpse into not only the hardships of his profession, but also Reeves’ quiet time at home, though still leaving no doubt about his work’s major impact on family life. The show is available for streaming on Paramount+.

Gunsmoke

One of the longest-living TV shows at the time, Gunsmoke was initially released all the way back in 1955 and ran for 20 seasons until 1975. Thanks to that, the series remained the longest TV project for years before it was eventually surpassed by The Simpsons in 1989.

With an introduction starring none other than true Western star John Wayne, Gunsmoke opened to raving success among the audiences, engaging viewers more and more as it followed James Arness’ U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon trying to keep things in order in Dodge City sometime in the 1870s.

The series also starred Harrison Ford who went on to expand the genre’s limits in many more Western shows, including Taylor Sheridan’s 1923. Gunsmoke is available for streaming on Paramount+ and Peacock.