Westerns 101: 5 Movies to Watch if You Are New to the Genre

Who doesn’t like a good old western? Well, it seems that the question is rather rhetorical, because while we know that the genre is becoming popular with each coming day (thanks to Yellowstone, Landman, and some other comparatively new flicks), there’s still a lot people don’t understand about them.

And while the temptation to tune into these popular series might be high, we still recommend finding your way into the genre with something more fundamental. So here we have a list of 5 movies that are perfect to get acquainted with the Western genre.

1. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966)

The perfect Western to start your journey into the genre. In this legendary film by acclaimed director Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood plays the most enigmatic drifter "Blondie," the best protagonist a Western has ever offered. The dynamics of him, the bad and the ugly are amazing to watch. And for the actor, starring in this Leone film was a perfect start to a bright future.

“It’s now one of my favorite movies of all time. I’ve been thinking about it constantly the last 48 hours since I watched it. Something about all of the characters unified around a singular goal with the same motives, made it electric to see. The focus of the plot carved so much room for the actors to do their thing with their characters. Simple stories let heroes, villains, and misfits shine,” Redditor b1ackfyre said.

2. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

It's a three-hour Sergio Leone Western with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, so you know it's something epic.

The drama takes place on the edge of the American West. A woman arrives there to meet her new husband and his children, only to find them dead. Later she meets a mysterious man with a harmonica, played by Charles Bronson, and the prime suspect of the murder, Cheyenne, who was framed for something he didn't do. And the three of them try to get revenge.

3. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)

The remake of the 1957 movie that turned out to be even better than the original version. And for that we should thank the director James Mangold and the brilliant cast of the movie, including Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.

The story in the movie revolves around a small-time rancher who agrees to hold a captured outlaw while he waits for a train to take him to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych the rancher out. And while there's still some controversy about the ending, we're sure you'll have to see the movie to make up your own mind if it was silly or just the best ever.

4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

This western's Rotten Tomatoes score isn't that high, but don't let that scare you away, because we promise you, despite its 77% rating, this is one of the best modern westerns ever made. Although it is nearly three hours long, the story of Robert Ford's attempt to get closer to the bandit he admires keeps you invested every minute.

“Probably the most underrated western in cinema history. This movie is a masterpiece. The cinematography is gorgeous (especially the train robbery scene, and the scenes shot in the wheat fields shades of days of heaven). The characters are complex and well fleshed out, specifically the titular characters of Jesse James and Bob ford,” Redditor The_DeWeese said.

5. Open Range (2003)

Of course, the list wouldn’t be full if we didn’t add a Kevin Costner movie to it. So we decided to stop on Open Range, because in this one he was not only the main character, but the director as well.

Open Range tells the story of a former gunslinger who is forced to take up his guns again when he and his cowboy crew are threatened by a corrupt landowner. Sounds like nothing new, but we still can’t recommend it enough.