12 Modern Western Films That Honor Classic Cowboy Traditions

There's a reason why Western films are treasured across the globe. They depict a not-so-far-flung past full of adventure, lawlessness, violence, and intrigue. They demarcate archetypes of good and evil along clear lines, tapping into a very human sense of conflict and resolution. There are cowboys, gunslingers, sheriffs, and prospectors. Romanticizing the Old West and its traditions is easy, especially when decades of filmography reinforce that lawless enchantment.

The truth of the Old West, however, is more mundane and brutal. Unlike movie depictions, it was like life anywhere else. Sure, there were moments of abject violence, chaos, and good-hearted gunslingers triumphing over sinister malcontents, but most of those dusty old towns functioned like any other. Luckily, some of the best Western films manage to find the middle ground between excitement and authenticity. Let's explore 12 of the best modern Western films that honor classic cowboy traditions.

Based on the novel by Ron Hansen, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" is a beautiful but stark depiction of outlaw Jesse James during the tail end of the Old West. While many Westerns depict the period as almost magical, this film captures the brutal reality of being an outlaw. It takes chances with its somewhat revisionist history of Jesse James, but its attention to finer details like costumes, dialogue, and setting honors the reality of the Old West.

Though many critics considered it an "Acid Western" upon release, "Bad Company" eschews glamorous portrayals of gunslingers and folk heroes. Instead, it shows the harsh reality of life in the Old West. There are no triumphs of good over evil, just lawlessness, loneliness, and resorting to small crimes to survive. "Bad Company" dispels the misguided notion that the West was a land of pure freedom and opportunity.

Directed by Michael Cimino and starring Kris Kristofferson, "Heaven's Gate" centers on a brutal, historical conflict between immigrants and cattle barons in 1890s Wyoming known as the Johnson County War. It's grim but compelling and accurate to traditions. While it falls just short of being a Western masterpiece, it honors the period with its accurate depictions of class hierarchies and the social tensions they produce.

Director Michael Mann set out to make a sweeping, historical epic detailing the French and Indian War. For the most part, Mann succeeds. While "The Last of the Mohicans" takes place decades before the traditional Old West era, it portrays the conflict between natives and newcomers with stunning accuracy, especially when it comes to costume and warfare tactics.

Many Westerns depict a relatively frictionless pursuit of its characters finding glory and success in the Wild West. "The Culpepper Cattle Co." instead opts for a grim, unflattering depiction of those who went out West and found nothing but hardship. Upon release, the film was praised for its attention to detail, traditions, and realistic portrayal of the backbreaking work and lawlessness that the average person experienced during the period.

This stunning depiction of the Wild West earned critical acclaim and high ticket sales upon release. It centers around a crime, the steps taken to rectify it, and the authority that stands in the way. While its finer details involve a bit of revisionism, "Unforgiven" succeeds in deglamorizing the Old West. It shows that even when people create their own myths about their lives, greater forces compel their journeys in unexpected, unwanted directions.

Other films on this list depict the themes of the Old West with gritty realism, but no film comes close to accurately illustrating the traditions of the period like Ang Lee's "Ride with the Devil." Every aspect of the character's costumes could be taken directly from old photos. Furthermore, the film immerses the viewer in real-life locations: the rolling planes of Kansas and the leafy-green Missouri woods.

Geronimo has been portrayed in many movies, but "Geronimo: An American Legend" provides the most authentic depiction of the world from which he came. Indeed, the film crew did serious research to get the set and setting right including Apache Technical Advisor Michael Darrow's accurate reconstruction of an Apache village. What's more, Costume Designer Dan Moore's research resulted in quite possibly the most accurate of the period costumes ever filmed.

Several movies have depicted the storming of the Alamo, but none do it as accurately as 2004's "The Alamo." Almost every aspect of the movie matches the historical event, from the role of the Mexican Empresario system in the battle to the time of day, and the length of the brutal fight. Even the actor's ages line up with the real figures they portray. Ironically, "The Alamo" bombed at the box office. Perhaps moviegoers weren't prepared for the hopeless reality of the often-mythologized battle.

Though it's the most recent film to be made, "Killers of the Flower Moon" might be the most accurate one on this list. Spearheaded by legendary director Martin Scorcese, the film depicts the brutal murders resulting from a conspiracy to steal oil. While it takes place decades after the Old West period, it uses hundreds of pages of archived information to show the last vestiges of Native power being surreptitiously conquered by sinister settlers. It's violent and unforgiving, but utterly accurate to the real-life Osage murders.

Not to be confused with the original, the 2007 remake of 3:10 to Yuma hits all the right marks when it comes to morally ambiguous action/chase films. It's arguably the least accurate and most conventional movie on this list, yet it succeeds in depicting the tension of the time. Plus, "3:10 to Yuma" provides subtle nods to contemporary issues that shine through without taking away from the bristling action and adventure.

A decidedly unconventional Western film, "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" opts to depict business sense and wit instead of violence and morality. Nevertheless, it portrays the traditions of the small mining towns that popped up all over the Old West quite accurately. It shines through its exploration of the unflinching opportunism that ran through Western settlements and the consequences that spring from greed.