Though westerns produce a surprisingly small number of sequels, there are a few films from the genre that were practically screaming for a follow-up. From the early days of Hollywood filmmaking, the western was the go-to for popular blockbusters. Even as the sound era began, the gunslinging cowboys remained must-see cinema.

During the Hollywood Golden Age, many of the best westerns of all time were produced, and stars like John Wayne became synonymous with their cowboy personas. However, unlike other popular genres such as horror or action, western films aren’t usually continued in sequels. Instead, the stories are typically wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion.

Even when sequels were produced, such as in the spaghetti western Dollars Trilogy, they were loosely connected and not as straightforward as the usual cinematic continuation. However, this has always been a big missed opportunity for filmmakers, because they create such amazing characters only to abandon them after one exciting movie.

As the heroes ride off into the sunset after saving the day, there’s always more opportunities for adventure on the other side of the credits. Some westerns establish such an interesting dynamic and fictional universe, that a bounty of possible sequels could spring up from the first film. Nevertheless, Hollywood is content to leave them standalone movies.

8

Silverado (1985)

The 1980s were a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ period for westerns, and it seemed as if the genre was bound to finally fade away completely. However, Silverado arrived and kept hope alive, and delivered a charming and fun adventure with a classic feel. The playful western ᴀssembled an all-star cast, and was headlined by genre stalwart Kevin Costner.

Though the heroes won the day, there was ample opportunity to reunite the disparate characters again for another adventure. With Kevin Kline’s Paden installed as sheriff, there’s no telling what sort of disasters the lawman would need to prevent. This could have brought in new characters, and an even bigger A-list cast.

7

Wild Wild West (1999)

There’s no denying that 1999’s Wild Wild West was a bad movie, but it showed so much potential that a sequel could have fixed a lot of the issues of the original. Adapting the ’60s TV show, the movie’s steampunk approach and humor was exactly what the western genre needed after a decade of nostalgic films like Tombstone.

Will Smith and Kevin Kline were a strong duo, and the retrofuturistic technology opened the door for endless sequels. There were plenty of other western tropes left to skewer, and the best parts of the first film were pretty strong compared to other blockbuster movies from that era. Sadly, its high cost made it nearly impossible to be profitable.

6

Quigley Down Under (1990)

Shortly before westerns were revived in the 1990s, the Tom Selleck film Quigley Down Under missed the boat by a few years. Selleck was the perfect choice for the sharpshooting Quigley, and his trip to the Australian Outback was a clever subversion of many classic western concepts. Though it isn’t perfect, it should have been a bigger hit.

The movie draws comparisons between the persecution of the Aboriginal people of Australia and the Indigenous nations of North America, and it’s able to comment on historical wrongs without getting bogged down. There’s still plenty of exciting western-style action, and Quigley himself is a fun throwback to classic cowboy characters from earlier generations.

Unlike a lot of its contemporaries, Quigley Down Under leaves a few threads untied, and seems to hint at a sequel. Quigley and Cora leave Australia and return to America, but Quigley is still a wanted man Stateside. A sequel could have caught up with the pair as they evaded the law, or even tried to clear Quigley’s name.

5

Hell Or High Water (2016)

Taylor Sheridan’s Hell or High Water is more of a neo-western than a classic tale of gunslingers and cowboys, but it still earns its western credibility. Now regarded as one of the best films of the 2010s, it features Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine in roles that were completely against type.

Though the film ends on a strong note, a sequel could have continued the so-called conversation that Hamilton and Howard promise to have. It would have been a tricky prospect to get right, but a continuation of the universe could have been just as riveting as the original. Perhaps the adversaries could have worked together to stop some greater threat.

4

True Grit (2010)

Because the 2010 remake of True Grit stuck closer to the Charles Portis novel, it made crafting a sequel a lot more difficult. Nevertheless, the Coen brothers film was still ripe for a continuation, especially since there is a precedent. Jeff Bridges ᴀssumed the sainted role of Rooster Cogburn, but it was Hailee Steinfeld who stole the show.

The film wraps up the story succinctly with a flashforward, but there was still a lot of time in the middle that could have made for excellent cinema. John Wayne reprised the role of Cogburn for a sequel, and it only seems fitting that Bridges could have gotten his own second film playing the part.

25 years is a long time, and a lot of exciting things could have happened in the interim. Since the characters like Mattie and Rooster are so dynamic, a well-written screenplay could have made for terrific cinema. Even if the adventure had fewer stakes than in True Grit, more time with the characters is always welcome.

3

Tombstone (1993)

After a decade where the genre floundered, the 1990s brought the western back with a vengeance thanks to films like Tombstone. Dramatizing the events of the shootout at the O.K. Corral and other Earp exploits, the film revived the popular folk heroes with some slightly anachronistic twists. Tombstone was a hit, and has only gotten bigger since.

The movie is nostalgic and hearkens back to classic westerns, but it also has a faster pace and exaggerated tone which adds touches of modernity. It plays fast and loose with the truth, but what it lacks in accuracy, it compensates with a lot of fun action and strong performances from the cast.

Tombstone only covered a small swath of Wyatt Earp’s life, and he embarked on plenty of other exciting adventures which could have made for great sequels. Earp lived long enough to see the Old West fade away, and he even served as a consultant on western movies in the years before his death.

2

The Quick And The ᴅᴇᴀᴅ (1995)

The Quick and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ was not a hit, but it has since become one of the hidden gems of Sam Raimi’s filmography. Taking the revisionist aspect of westerns to the extreme, the Sharon Stone vehicle is over-the-top and exciting, and it never takes itself too seriously. It also introduces Stone’s gunslinging hero, something cinema needs more of.

Though her mission was accomplished, Ellen could have easily come back for yet another action-packed installment. The American West presents an endless number of possibilities, and Raimi’s tongue-in-cheek style introduces even more chances for storytelling. Sadly, the movie’s poor financial performance ruined any sequel hopes.

1

The Harder They Fall (2021)

Westerns are becoming rare in the 21st century, but Netflix’s The Harder They Fall is rarer still. The movie features an all-Black cast, and is loosely based on real-life figures from American history. It uses humor and anachronism to have fun with the tropes of westerns, but it still delivers a lot of what the genre is expected to have.

With so much going on in the first film, The Harder They Fall could have spawned any number of sequels, and the possibility isn’t entirely off the table. Though several years have pᴀssed since the western debuted, the movie’s cast is still very active, and a follow-up could be in the works at any moment.