The Western genre has been around since before TV had color. The Western genre was an American staple, absolutely dominating the silver screen during the 50s and 60s. Over the decades the Western genre has changed and evolved, serving as a fictional mirror to the times when it was created.

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From the heroic, white-hat-wearing cowboys during the period of Post-War America. Leading to the complex anti-hero who strayed between the line of good and bad during the era of the Vietnam War. Eventually leading into modern times when the Western genre was deconstructed from its usual mythological elements and instead focused on the harsh realities of the time. Each era has its unique take on the wide-spanning genre, which oftentimes says more about the time it was made than the period it is portraying.

'Appaloosa' (2008)

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Directed by and starring Ed Harris, this exciting traditionalist Western sees two friends (Harris and Viggo Mortensen) tasked with protecting a small town from a villainous rancher (Jeremy Irons) which becomes all the more complicated when a young widow (Renee Zellweger) walks into town.

Appaloosa plays on the usual western tropes and never strays far from the formula, but it doesn't need to. Brought together by two great leads with Harris and Viggo Mortensen, the chemistry they share on-screen is enough to keep you watching. With some classic Western shootouts and an interesting romantic triangle plotline, Appaloosa is a solid western of the modern era.

True Grit (2010):

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Image via paramount pictures 

This Coen Brothers adaptation of Charles Portis' novel is an entertaining tale of revenge that manages to stay more faithful to its source material than the original. When a determined teenage girl's (Hailee Steinfeld) father is murdered by an outlaw, she enlists the help of a grumpy U.S Marshal (Jeff Bridges) to help her track down the killer.

This remake brings a gritty, down-and-dirty take on the Western genre that deals more with the harsh reality of living on the frontier opposed to the more mythological elements the genre usually provides. Expertly acted with beautiful cinematography that only the Coen Brothers could provide, True Grit is an enjoyable hard-nosed western tale of revenge.

'The Magnificent Seven' (2016)

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Antoine Fuqua's remake of the 1960s classic is a fun, action-packed ride filled with likable characters, dastardly villains, and plenty of good old-fashioned shootouts. When a town is invaded by a murderous industrialist that seeks to buy all their land, the townsfolk enlist a group of seven gunmen to protect them.

With an all-star cast and non-stop action, The Magnificent Seven brings all the joy and thrill of a classic western. It may not bring anything new to the table for the genre, but this remake is extremely entertaining nonetheless. Bringing a perfect mix of comradery and action that ends with an explosive finale shootout.

'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' (2018)

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The Coen Brothers take another crack at the western genre, this time telling the tale of six separate stories taking place in the Wild West. This anthology film has everything you could want from a western, from exciting gun duels to bank robbing, to long debates about morality in a stagecoach.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs varies greatly in emotion from story to story, focusing on different aspects of the western genre ranging from humorously over-the-top saloon fights to a dark and depressing tale of a wandering stage show. Buster Scruggs is the Coen Brother's love letter to the genre.

'Hateful Eight' (2015)

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Quinten Tarantino's second outing with the western genre takes a derivative direction from the usual sand-drenched towns and horseback journeys across the American west to a more contained story inside a small haberdashery on a snow-covered mountain.

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Inspired by John Carpenter's The Thing, Tarantino cranks up the tension by pitting eight strangers together in a small space as they wait out a blizzard. What unfolds next is a chaotic, bloody, monologue-heavy extravaganza that only a madman director like Tarantino could provide. With twists and turns at every corner and characters dropping left and right, The Hateful Eight is a wild Western tale you don't want to miss.

'Hostiles' (2017)

Chief Yellow Hawk and Captain Joseph Blocker talking in Hostiles

Hostiles tells the unforgiving story of a soon-to-retire Army captain (Christian Bale) as he escorts his old enemy, a dying Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi), and his family, to Montana. Along the way they run into a widow (Rosamund Pike) who just lost her husband to attacking Comanches'.

Their harrowing journey leads to a tale of redemption and acceptance as two men struggle to reconcile their differences after fighting one another for so long. Bale is amazing as always in his role as the conflicted Army captain, with Pike doing an excellent job as well, bringing a well-rounded performance to a genre that usually lacks nuanced female characters.

'The Harder They Fall' (2021)

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This stylish, action-packed western is a non-stop thrilling adventure of revenge. When young Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) watches his parents get brutally murdered right in front of him by the remorseless Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) he makes it his life's mission to hunt that man down and bring him to justice.

Hosting a star-studded all-Black cast, with an incredible-looking production design, this Netflix Western directed by Jeymes Samuel, is slick, stylized, and an overall good time. Every character in this movie is well-developed and interesting. The slow-mo action might be a little overdone here and there , but the action overall is fast-paced and exciting. Match that with two great leads in Majors and Elba and you have one gripping western.

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

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The infamous tale of Jesse James and his gang of outlaws may be one of the most well-known legends of the Wild West. The James—Younger gang sweep across the American West robbing and killing as they please, gradually building their legendary status as outlaws. The film focuses on the relationship between James (Brad Pitt) and Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) as the latter grows resentful of the infamous outlaw.

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Showcasing an introspective look about fame and infamy, this slow moody western delivers a complex story about idolization and the consequences that come with it. With outstanding performances by both leads and a slow-paced, beautifully shot atmosphere, Andrew Dominik's film is a mature, captivating work that will linger in the back of your mind long after finishing it.

'3:10 to Yuma' (2007)

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A second adaption of the shorty story of the same name (the first adaptation being the 1957 classics), this film tells the story of a small-time rancher (Christian Bale) who agrees to help transport a notorious outlaw (Russell Crowe) to the 3:10 train to Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the cunning outlaw tries to deter his captors as his gang works to break him free.

With incredible performances by both its leads and expert direction by James Mangold, this Western is a much darker and far more cynical adaption than its predecessor. Blending thought-provoking themes of loneliness and redemption with exciting action sequences mark this film a quintessential modern Western.

'Django Unchained' (2012)

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This bombastic, highly-stylized, explosive tribute to Spaghetti Westerns is one of a kind. Being the spiritual successor to the 1966 spaghetti Western classic Django, Django Unchained sees recently freed slave, Django (Jamie Foxx), work with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to track down his long-lost wife, who's being held by a sadistic slave owner.

Quentin Tarantino is at his best here, bringing an over-the-top, violent, colorful tale of love and revenge. Foxx and Waltz's chemistry on-screen is unmatched, but it's the evil slave owner, Calvin Candie, played by the legendary Leonardo DiCaprio that steals the show, bringing one of the most truly despicable film villains of all time to life.

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