5 Brilliant Neo-Westerns You Can Find on Netflix Right Now
Oscar-winning movies are among those too.
Westerns have long had ruling power among Hollywood’s most popular genres, though viewers’ demand for more stories like this on the screen increased significantly in the past several years.
Having initially gained momentum in the movie industry, the Western has later on submerged into the TV format as well, paving the way for plenty of successful shows like Taylor Sheridan ’s ongoing series Landman and 1923 or his already wrapped hit project Yellowstone.
However, the genre is still going strong when it comes to new epic stories in films, and many of these are an easy find on Netflix, with the list also including some highly acclaimed Oscar nominees and winners.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Based on Thomas Savage's 1967 novel of the same name, The Power of the Dog is one of the best Westerns released in recent years and one of Benedict Cumberbatch ’s finest works in cinema.
Also starring Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst, the movie follows the story of Phil Burbank, a cruel wealthy rancher whose life is thrown upside down when his brother George brings home his new wife and her young son from past relationships.
The Power of the Dog received universal acclaim which later on secured the movie 12 Oscar nominations; it eventually won one statuette for Best Director.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
Coming as a sequel to Vince Gilligan’s hit TV show Breaking Bad, El Camino once again stars Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman who had a key role in the creation of his chemistry teacher Walter White’s crystal meth empire.
The movie takes a closer look at Jesse’s life after the events of the series’ final season and serves as a perfect way to wrap the entire story up.
Just like its TV predecessor, El Camino had raving success with both critics and viewers, receiving praise for Paul’s performance and its overall compelling narrative.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Quentin Tarantino ’s hit movie that he wrote and directed, The Hateful Eight features a star-studded cast that comprises Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern as a group of people getting into a trap while looking for some shelter from a blizzard.
Tarantino’s movie was exceptional in many ways back in the day, receiving everyone’s praise and eventually securing 3 Academy Award nominations.
At the 2016 ceremony, it won the statuette for Best Original Score, which was the first and only Oscar for legendary composer Ennio Morricone.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Starring Kurt Russell in the leading role, the movie might not be the best choice for those who have just started getting familiar with the genre.
Bone Tomahawk is an exceptional Western, though it also masterfully blends the genre’s typical features with truly astounding horror sequences, making it hard for audiences to follow through all the violence on-screen.
However, the film is definitely worth the shot as it remains one of the best movies released back in 2015 and was praised for performances, writing and directing.
Strange Way of Life (2023)
Directed by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, Strange Way of Life is a Western short movie starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as two gunslingers and former lovers who reunite after 25 years apart.
Just like any other movie helmed by Almodóvar, Strange Way of Life is a hilariously profound story about people’s complex relationships. Hawke and Pascal’s unmatched chemistry on the screen is also a benefit for those who keep seeking character-driven storylines among Western flicks.
