The best Western films of all time combine intense action with a narrative packed with themes about justice, betrayal, philosophy, and societal issues.

There are many tropes that define the Western genre, such as resilient heroes or complex and layered villains, epic tales of showdowns at high noon, or more focused and nuanced portrayals of cowboy characters, these are Westerns that open the door to so many others. Movies like Unforgiven and The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly capture a snapshot in time of Wild West brutality, while others like Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid provide a look into the lives and camaraderie of Western relationships. The best Western movies leave you hooked on the genre and wanting to see more.

10 Silverado (1985)

Starring Kevin Kline And Scott Glenn

Produced and directed by Lawrence Kasdan, Silverado is a true 'modern' homage to the Western classic of old, which follows a group of four misfit cowboys who put grievances aside for the greater good. The four men, played by Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, and Kevin Costner, help track down a pack of thieves for a group of settlers before descending on the titular troubled town, which has been corrupted and controlled by a greedy rancher and unscrupulous sheriff.

With a rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.2 on IMDb, Silverado has been critically acclaimed and reached a cult classic status since its release. It is a fantastic entry for new Western fans, as it has a blistering pace and intriguing storyline that keeps the action flowing. Its slightly more modern feel and cast of A-list actors make it the perfect film for younger fans who want to experience their first Western shootouts.

9 Tombstone (1993)

Starring Kurt Russell And Val Kilmer

An iconic Western film directed by George P. Cosmatos partially based on true events of the time, including the infamous O.K. Corral gunfight. Tombstone tells the story of the legend of Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) as they all aim to settle down and start a legitimate business in the town. Before long, trouble springs up, and they find themselves embroiled in a growing war against a hostile Cowboy gang who want to settle a score.

Tombstone is the perfect balance of action and character development that makes up the foundation of an iconic Western.

The chemistry between the lead actors, particularly Russell and Kilmer, is truly brilliant to watch, and the fact it's based on real-world events adds another layer of intrigue. Tombstone is the perfect balance of action and character development that makes up the foundation of an iconic Western. Filled with witty one-liners and action throughout, including one of the coolest saloon scenes in any Western, it builds suspense perfectly to the epic finale and fiery shootout at the O.K. Corral. Newcomers to the genre will get to grips with all the key elements of a classic Western, expertly executed.

8 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Starring John Wayne And James Stewart

In this 62-year-old iconic Western, John Wayne and James Stewart team up for their best movie, directed by the legendary John Ford. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance tells the flashback tale of Ransom Stoddard (Stewart), now a U.S. Senator, who arrives in a small Western frontier town and faces off against notorious criminal Liberty Valance. John Wayne plays Tom Doniphon, a gritty and rugged cowboy who holds traditional Western values close and who helps Stoddard in his war with Valance.

In one of John Wayne and John Ford's most epic acting and directing collaborations, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is an iconic tale and the director and actors are some of the biggest and most famous figures in Western cinema. The story itself is a classic story of the moral complexities involved in many old West standoffs, with the good guys vs the bad guys, and it is absolutely essential viewing for anybody looking to explore more into the genre.

7 A Fistful Of Dollars (1964)

Starring Clint Eastwood And Marianne Koch

In this 1964 spaghetti Western, legendary figure Clint Eastwood stars in one of his best films, in his first major breakthrough role as the infamous "The Man With No Name", a mysterious and confident gunslinger who cleverly instigates two smuggler families against each other to capitalize on the chaos. This is one of the first films to really spotlight the 'Spaghetti Western' (Westerns shot and produced in Italy) and have it garner critical acclaim through the mainstream.

A Fistful Of Dollars, directed by icon Sergio Leone, is one of three 'The Dollars Trilogy' movies that can be connected and watched together to further the enjoyment and interest of each and all featuring the character made famous by Eastwood. This film put a fresh look on the genre, with its antihero leading star and more minimalist approach. Rather than over-the-top theatrics and stories, it instead has more rich visuals, less dialogue, and more realistic action that is a right of age for any Western fan to see.

6 The Searchers (1956)

Starring John Wayne And Jeffrey Hunter

The Searchers stars retelling of a similar plot of the first Western ever made, Edwards embarks on the incredibly dangerous mission to enter enemy territory and rescue his surviving family.

The film was an incredible commercial and critical success, being hailed as a masterpiece of modern cinema and put forward as the greatest American Western ever made by the American Film Institute. It touches on serious topics such as racism, loyalty, and revenge and offers a unique look into frontier life. The story is expansive and consistently intriguing throughout, the acting is layered and executed perfectly, and the action is fast-paced with excellent choreography and is everything you want in a Western film.

5 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

Starring Paul Newman And Robert Redford

In one of the most well-known and classic Westerns ever made, Paul Newman and Robert Redford play two train-robbing outlaws, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, who flee a posse attempting to track them down and bring them to justice for their crimes. They play one of the most iconic duos in cinema history, and their friendship and antics throughout the runtime give the film a beautiful balance of acting and relationships.

Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid won Academy Awards for Best Story and Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score For A Motion Picture, and Best Song.

In one of one of the best opening scenes in Western history. The film perfectly encapsulates the ambiguous nature of heroes and villains and balances tense, brutal moments with levity, making it an excellent choice for those new to watching Westerns.

4 Rio Bravo (1959)

Starring John Wayne And Dean Martin

John Wayne plays plucky and courageous Sheriff John T. Chance, who, alongside a makeshift crew including other iconic actors like Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson, must defend their town and jail from a powerful group who hope to break their leader from hold-up after Chance arrests the brother of a local rancher for murder. The film has a star-studded cast and has been acclaimed as one of John Wayne's finest-ever Westerns.

Rio Bravo is the first installment in Rio Bravo is still inspiring films with its narrative to this day and makes it one of the most talked about Westerns in history.

3 Unforgiven (1992)

Starring Clint Eastwood And Gene Hackman

Directed and starring Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven is a dark and brooding Western about William Munny (Eastwood), who, after settling down and working at his farm for many years, is pulled back into his old outlaw and criminal life. He takes on one last job, hunting down a group of men who attacked and permanently disfigured a prostitute. The film, like many iconic Westerns, finds the balance between good guy turned bad or bad guy turned good and presents a morally complex character and story overall.

A film that many people rank among storyline and narrative structure that transcends the genre. The acting throughout is absolutely superb, and it's a film that goes further into character development and personal philosophy, which offers a more unique and mature take on the Western genre. The film's tone, atmosphere, and spectacular visuals make it another essential view for anybody interested in Westerns.

2 Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)

Starring Claudia Cardinale And Henry Fonda

In another classic Western by Sergio Leone, Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the integral parts of the Once Upon a Time trilogy is an epic narrative that tells the story of a precious piece of land in Flagstone that is worth its weight in gold and blood. With the film exploring many themes, such as land disputes, murder, and surviving against the odds in the gritty and often-times lawless American Frontier.

The film is endlessly quotable with many amazing back-and-forth one-liners and it is one of the most visually stunning pieces of cinema ever created.

With all-out action and an ensemble cast that sees iconic moments like endlessly quotable with many amazing back-and-forth one-liners, and it is one of the most visually stunning pieces of cinema ever created. It is almost the number one film that any newcomer to the genre must watch to get fully immersed in it.

1 The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1966)

Starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, And Lee Van Cleef

Known as the best Spaghetti Western of all time, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly tells the infamous story of three gunslinging outlaws, portrayed by Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and Lee Van Cleef. After begrudgingly forming a necessary partnership during numerous violent and clever escapades, the men have to re-team in order to find gold that a soldier has buried in the desert, creating one of the best stories and character combinations in history.

Without doubt, this film is the perfect introduction for anybody at all interested in the Western genre. It has absolutely everything that makes the Western genre one of the cornerstones of American cinema, with part of a trilogy that has done what no trilogy has ever done before and is not just one of the best Westerns of all time, but one of the greatest films in cinematic history.