The Western is a genre that can find a place in any cinephile's list of favorites. No fan can ignore the raw action set in the barren landscape of the Arizona-Utah border, the intense close-ups of faces that make our skin crawl, the rough editing, and those gun-slinging, deceitful outlaws trying out their luck in the largely lawless environment.
The genre has evolved substantially over the years, adapting to the ever-changing needs and nature of society and accommodating filmmaking sensibilities that range from the subtle aesthetics of John Ford to the loud, acrobatic style of Quentin Tarantino and Sam Raimi. These are some of the best Westerns streaming right now on Netflix.
Silverado - 76%
Directed and co-written by four-time Academy Award nominee Lawrence Kasdan, this movie is credited with reviving the classic Western genre in the 80s. The plot follows the classic tale of a band of good-guy outlaws who venture into a lawless town for luck and revenge.
The violence is largely bloodless and most of the action takes place in saloons where the cowboys drink, smoke, gamble, and fight. The cast includes Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Rosanna Arquette, Jeff Goldblum, and a young Kevin Costner.
Let The Bullets Fly - 76%
This flick is a prime example of the genre’s influence on filmmaking beyond the frontiers of America. This violent, fast-paced Chinese Western is tailored with exemplary performances, dashing camerawork, and black comedy and has already earned a cult following with critics who described it as full-fledged entertainment and as a phenomenon that may earn homages in the future.
Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jiang Wen, the movie remains one of the highest-grossing movies in China.
The Homesman - 80%
This Western period drama, set in the decade preceding the civil war, occupies an important place in this list and in the history of the genre with its unsettling yet twist-packed plot and feminist undertones. The movie, which stars Hilary Swank and Meryl Streep in pivotal roles, takes a daring approach by making women not only the ‘damsel in distress’ but also the savior and protector of the former, thus subverting the role of the good-natured outlaw that is traditionally reserved for males.
Director Tommy Lee Jones, aided by the gorgeous cinematography of Rodrigo Prieto, successfully captures the harsh geography of the Midwest and the difficulties faced by early settlers in the 1850s.
Django Unchained - 87%
This stylish Western, with strong anti-racist undertones from master writer-director Quentin Tarantino, contains everything that can be categorized as ‘Tarantinoesque’ - bloody yet stylish violence, unusual choice of music, crash zooms, and non-linear storytelling techniques.
The movie, which earned Tarantino his second Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, also houses an ensemble cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Leonardo Di Caprio, Samuel L Jackson, and Christoph Waltz.
News Of The World - 88%
A Western about a retired civil war captain and his quest to take an orphaned girl to safety from the human and natural dangers of the American frontier seemed to be an unlikely entry in the filmography of a director who has given us thrillers like Captain Phillips, United 93, and The Bourne Trilogy.
Nonetheless, Paul Greengrass delivers a heartwarming but action-packed period piece with rich detailing, that becomes even more effective with a charismatic performance from the great Tom Hanks.
Rango - 88%
This Academy award-winning animated movie with an anthropomorphic chameleon in the titular role may seem like a kids movie, but Rango elevates itself from the obvious with a strong screenplay and a visual style through which the filmmakers pay homage to the best movies of the genre, ranging from Sergio Leone's Fistful of Dollars to Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
The intense detailing of faces, costumes, and props, a terrific score composed by Hans Zimmer, and beautiful visuals framed by none other than the legendary Roger Deakins, make the movie extremely memorable.
The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs - 89%
This Western anthology (composed of 6 vignettes) saw the Coen Brothers returning to the genre after their much-acclaimed western, True Grit. This masterfully crafted flick showcases the filmmaker duo’s signature style of effortlessly blending dark drama with black comedy and the movie often adopts a tongue-in-cheek approach.
The movie also acts as an example of the Coens’ mastery at creating quirky characters, majestic visuals, and situations where the plans of the lead characters go awry due to absurd factors.
No Country For Old Men - 93%
Another masterpiece from the Coen Brothers, this movie won Best Picture at the 80th Academy Awards and earned the duo a long-awaited Best Director Award. Critics categorize the movie as a neo-Western, which accommodates the pessimistic sensibilities of the filmmakers while housing their usual tropes.
The movie also stands out with its breathtaking cinematography from the duo’s long-term collaborator Roger Deakins, and Javier Bardem’s performance as Anton Chigurh, which has been rated by psychiatrists as the most realistic portrayal of a psychopath ever on the big screen.
True Grit - 95%
The Coen Brothers followed up their dark and gloomy drama, Serious Man, with this moving tale of a young girl and her quest to avenge her father's murder with the help of a ranger and a bounty hunter.
With an ensemble cast of Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin, and Matt Damon, this heartwarming movie finds a special place in the Coens' otherwise dark drama/black comedy dominated filmography with its portrayal of warm human relationships and commitments.
Unforgiven - 96%
No true fan of the genre can forget Clint Eastwood’s dashing yet rough "man with no name" in the Dollars Trilogy. So it will not come as a surprise to find that the top movie on the list was produced and directed by the star himself.
Clint Eastwood stars with Morgan Freeman in this deeply contemplative Western that follows two washed-out outlaws on their way to do their "last job." The movie is noted as Eastwood’s latest stint in the genre and it earned him the Best Picture and Best Director Awards at the Oscars.
