5 Gene Hackman Westerns Taylor Sheridan Can Look Up to

The Western genre has always been a certain place for groundbreaking roles and outstanding acting performances, but Gene Hackman’s movies were a truly unique and remarkable addition to the legacy of the genre.

The actor died at the age of 95 a couple of weeks ago, and though he remained in retirement for a past couple of decades, Hackman’s Westerns from years ago are still an exemplary work for current-day filmmakers sticking to the genre.

One of those in the forefront of modern Westerns is Taylor Sheridan whose shows like Yellowstone and Landman defined the new era of such stories and brought Western movies and shows to a new level of popularity.

Though Sheridan’s own TV legacy might have already been inspired by Hackman’s movies, the latter has plenty of Western masterpieces for his younger colleague to delve into even deeper.

Wyatt Earp (1994)

Starring alongside another genre vet Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman took on the role of Nicholas Porter Earp, the father of Costner’s Wyatt Earp, a lawman pursuing the justice so hard he eventually becomes a respected sheriff in Dodge City and Tombstone.

Despite bombing in the box office and receiving mostly negative reviews from critics, Wyatt Earp wasn’t that bad and most likely fell victim to some certain circumstances that retained it in the shadows.

Both Hackman and Costner’s performances were on top, proving that the actors can bring some spotlight to a movie even if it didn't do well with audiences.

The Hunting Party (1971)

One of those movies that should be on a prohibited list for the genre amateurs, The Hunting Party is a violent, gory and pretty reckless flick that might have been a starting point of when exactly Westerns started delving into much darker matters.

The film primarily follows Hackman’s Brandt Ruger, a rich cattle rancher embarking on a revenge mission after his wife gets kidnapped. Things get complicated as Ruger’s wife realises she’d be doing better with her kidnapper rather than with her violent and possessive husband, but the latter is unstoppable at this point.

The Hunting Party is a solid watch for those striving for more sneak peeks into how ordinary things used to be in the Wild West, which is, honestly, quite a wild ride itself.

Bite the Bullet (1975)

Based on some real events, the movie is a pure gem of the genre that for some reasons remains hidden from wider audiences.

Following a group of strangers entering a horse race competition to win a big amount of money, Bite the Bullet is a cultural phenomenon that still keeps the long-gone era alive by uniting some typically Western-ish figures on the screen.

The movie is also a touching tribute to the genre tortured by stereotypical notions, gradually unraveling its seemingly tough characters’ sensitive nature.

The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Sam Raimi ’s revisionist Western has so many merits that it’s hard to believe the movie remains one of the most overlooked pieces of the genre in the past several decades.

With a star-studded cast that comprises Gene Hackman, Sharon Stone, Russell Crowe, young Leonardo DiCaprio and Roberts Blossom among others, The Quick and the Dead features Hackman in one of his most remarkable roles as corrupt and ruthless outlaw-turned-mayor John Herod.

The actor’s fans were definitely enjoying him as a really bad guy on the screen, so it’s a shame the movie has been kept a hidden gem all these years.

Unforgiven (1992)

Clint Eastwood’s masterpiece that brought Hackman his second Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category, Unforgiven is a pure genre classic that became one of few Best Picture winners and ultimately gained a cult status.

With a masterfully built story that has to be followed through Eastwood’s entire relationship with the Western genre, the movie turned into a massive hit also thanks to Hackman’s unique and powerful performance which the Academy was right about, honouring it as one of the actor’s best works in his long-standing career.