The western genre is so popular that the established classics are well-known, but there are many other great films that are a perfect next step for any movie fan. Since the beginning of cinema, the western has been a go-to genre to entice audiences. With brash heroes and larger-than-life action, westerns offer an idealized view of the American West.

Though the genre’s heyday ended with the collapse of the studio system after Hollywood’s Golden Age, the classics have never gone out of style and continue to inspire modern filmmakers. Movies like The Searchers and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly have transcended the genre, but there are plenty of other highly-regarded westerns that deserve attention.

Streaming allows movie fans to watch all the most beloved westerns on demand, but even the greatest films get old eventually. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of critically acclaimed movies just waiting to be discovered from every era. From spaghetti western gems to underrated John Wayne flicks, there’s almost no end to great westerns.

Bad Company (1972)

The 1960s and ’70s gave way to a new era of westerns that intentionally deconstructed many of the established tropes of the genre. 1972’s Bad Company concerns two Civil War draft dodgers and their lives as they traverse the West. Firmly planted in the acid western subgenre, Bad Company is a gritty and unflinching look at history.

It eschews the Hollywood gloss of older westerns, and is clearly making subtle commentary about contemporary events such as the Vietnam War. Bad Company is not as тιԍнтly-plotted as many other westerns, but at only an hour and a half, it’s a brisk little film that packs a big punch.

Johnny Guitar (1954)

The best westerns from Hollywood’s Golden Age are myriad and often discussed, but the subversive drama, Johnny Guitar, is sometimes left out of the conversation. Joan Crawford leads the story of jealousy and intrigue in the Old West, and the Nicholas Ray film exemplifies the glitz and glamor of mid-’50s cinema.

Though it has the usual conventions of a western, Johnny Guitar also borrows the story structure of the noir film. Beneath all of its stunning visuals is a well-crafted tale that rivals and even exceeds the plots of the more recognizable westerns from the era. The characters are rich and complex, and it illustrates the power of Golden Age cinema.

I SH๏τ Jesse James (1949)

The story of outlaw Jesse James has been memorialized in cinema on numerous occasions, but Samuel Fuller’s directorial debut is certainly one of the best. I SH๏τ Jesse James is not about the тιтular outlaw, but about Robert Ford, the man who gunned him down. Fuller crafts a shockingly effective character portrait as the ᴀssᴀssin faces an increasingly hostile world.

Modern westerns never shy away from deconstructing mythology, but I SH๏τ Jesse James is quite unique for the 1940s. There’s nothing idealized about the movie, and it hits on larger social themes like violence in a way that only Fuller could. Many classic westerns are very similar, but I SH๏τ Jesse James is fiercely original.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man (1995)

The 1990s saw a western renaissance, with films like Tombstone returning to the genre to its roots. Jim Jarmusch’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man is nothing like that, and is a psychedelic acid western with a heaping dose of fantasy thrown in for good measure. Johnny Depp gives one of his characteristic chameleon-like performances, and the movie eschews nearly everything recognizable about westerns.

The black and white pH๏τography is stark and beautiful, and the plot is a meditation about the inevitability of death. Plenty of classic westerns illustrate how dangerous the Old West was, but ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man takes a philosophical approach to the idea. Jarmusch’s films are an acquired taste, but ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man is a great middle ground between mainstream and arthouse cinema.

Tall In The Saddle (1944)

It’s impossible to talk about westerns without bringing up John Wayne, but 1944’s Tall in the Saddle isn’t usually ranked among his classics. Cinema’s greatest cowboy transitions to a slightly different role as he is tasked with solving a murder in the Old West. The noir influences on Tall in the Saddle are obvious, though it’s a good western too.

Wayne’s swaggering cowboy hero is a bit more complex than usual, but he’s almost bowled over by a memorable femme fatale performance from Ella Raines. Tall in the Saddle is a quintessential next step movie for western fans because it represents the possibilities of the genre, without being held back by cliches or tropes.

A Man Called Horse (1970)

The western genre isn’t perfect, and the classics have aspects that haven’t aged very well. A Man Called Horse is a unique movie for its time, and it deserves credit for trying to do better. Essentially a lower-budget Dances with Wolves, the film concerns an Englishman who is captured by an indigenous tribe and slowly adopts their lifestyle.

The execution is sincere, and it’s one of the first American movies to show indigenous people as protagonists instead of villains. While its white savior narrative is tired and problematic, A Man Called Horse is still an exciting film with a lot of action. Most classic ’70s westerns were trying to tear down traditions, but A Man Called Horse embraced them.

Cat Ballou (1965)

Because it’s a comedy, Cat Ballou‘s place among the other classic westerns is somewhat complex. The movie was one of the first to outright spoof the genre, and it specifically pokes fun at popular films that helped shape the trajectory of westerns. It also represents a changing of the guard, with the new generation starring alongside the old.

Cat Ballou is a funny film on its own, but it’s even more rewarding for fans of westerns who can pick out all the references. Lee Marvin steals the show playing two disparate roles, and he even snagged an Oscar for his performance. What really shines is the music, and Cat Ballou juxtaposes modern styles with exaggerated western flare.

The Great Silence (1968)

Spaghetti westerns take the common themes of the genre and exaggerate them to great effect, and The Great Silence is slowly earning its spot among the all-time greats. Set in the snowy mountains of Utah, the violent and dour flick pits bounty hunters against outlaws in a battle of wits and unflinching violence.

Sergio Corbucci isn’t as famous as Sergio Leone, but his direction is just as energetic and unique. The harsh conditions are a stark departure from most western environs, and it makes for a compelling backdrop for the action. Thanks to filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, The Great Silence is finally getting recognized as a classic.

Hostiles (2017)

Modern westerns are rare, and high quality films like Hostiles are even rarer still. The Christian Bale vehicle casts him as an Army officer who must escort a Cheyenne war chief back to his tribal lands. Westerns have come a long way since the Golden Age, and the portrayal of indigenous people in Hostiles is accurate and complex.

The movie creeps along at a methodical pace, but it builds a rich world around the characters that is unmatched in the contemporary western genre. While the story is not entirely original, the performances elevate the film, as do the stunning visuals. Hostiles doesn’t completely reject the strictures of the genre, but merely builds upon them to create excellent cinema.

3:10 To Yuma (1957)

Though the Russell Crow remake from 2007 is considered a classic, the original 3:10 to Yuma is something of an underrated gem. The movie’s plot involves a suspenseful ticking clock element, and it deals with themes like honor and moral responsibility. The temptation to do evil lurks throughout the story, and it’s surprisingly thoughtful for a film from the ’50s.

Other popular westerns deliver action and bravado, but 3:10 to Yuma challenges the notion of perfect justice. After seeing all the best western films, the 1957 gem is a perfect companion because it stands like a counterpoint to the idealism of its contemporaries. It isn’t the best western to start with, but it’s a must-see deep cut for genre aficionados.