Movies set in the American West, typically from the mid-to-late 1800s, are commonly referred to as Westerns. They’re movies I grew up with as my dad loved Louis L’Amour and Zane Gray. books and any Western he could find.
When people think of Westerns, actors like Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper, Henry Fonda, and John Wayne come to mind. The settings often found people in old Gold Rush towns, cattle drive trails, rail lines, and popular stagecoach routes.
In the days of the Wild West, lawmen were trying to stop bandits and gangs from robbing banks, cattle ranchers, people, stagecoaches, and trains. As a national crime-fighting agency like the FBI didn’t exist, there was often a cat-and-mouse game between sheriffs and Pinkerton agents and the criminals they were trying to stop.
The film industry captures these stories in movies, focusing on the fine line between good and evil, heroes and the villains they aimed to stop, and life in the Old West with settlers trying to start a new life on the other side of the Mississippi, despite the dangers.
Some of these movies are based on true crimes or people, such as movies about Wild West gang members like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Other movies focused on fictional stories that fit for the time, such as “True Grit” and Rooster Cogburn, a lawman determined to seek justice for a murder after a young teen asks for his help.
While Westerns were abundant in past decades, the genre isn’t gone. Movies like “Blood Meridian,” “The Pinkerton,” and “The Thicket” prove Hollywood hasn’t turned its back on the classic Westerns of the past. Explore some of the best newer Westerns released since 2010. (Meet “11 of the Greatest Western Characters” and see how many are in newer Westerns.)
To determine the best newer westerns, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only western films released since 2010 with at least 5,000 ratings on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
40. The Kid (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (8,816 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 47% (284 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 43% (46 reviews)
- Directed by: Vincent D’Onofrio
39. Chaos Walking (2021)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 5.7/10 (32,320 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (1,170 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 22% (143 reviews)
- Directed by: Doug Liman
38. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012)
Source: Courtesy of ARC Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (5,202 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (28,154 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 20% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Dean Wright
37. Brimstone (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Momentum Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (38,510 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 53% (1,946 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 43% (77 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Koolhoven
36. The Longest Ride (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (79,607 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (30,184 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (124 reviews)
- Directed by: George Tillman Jr.
35. The Last Stand (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (136,285 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 53% (40,464 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 61% (167 reviews)
- Directed by: Jee-woon Kim
34. Frontera (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (7,732 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (1,788 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 54% (24 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Berry
33. Woman Walks Ahead (2017)
Source: Courtesy of A24
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (7,562 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 61% (352 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 53% (38 reviews)
- Directed by: Susanna White
32. Free State of Jones (2016)
Source: Courtesy of STX Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (58,912 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 64% (20,890 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 48% (191 reviews)
- Directed by: Gary Ross
31. The Keeping Room (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Drafthouse Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (6,782 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50% (1,804 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (86 reviews)
- Directed by: Daniel Barber
30. The Wind (2018)
Source: Courtesy of IFC Midnight
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 5.6/10 (7,188 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50% (267 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (70 reviews)
- Directed by: Emma Tammi
29. In a Valley of Violence (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Focus World
- IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (17,051 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (4,127 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (69 reviews)
- Directed by: Ti West
28. The Beguiled (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (55,191 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 48% (14,017 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (326 reviews)
- Directed by: Sofia Coppola
27. Forsaken (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Momentum Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (11,075 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (4,214 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: Jon Cassar
26. The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)
Source: Courtesy of A24
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (6,038 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 54% (604 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (29 reviews)
- Directed by: Jared Moshe
25. The Dressmaker (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Broad Green Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (63,570 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (10,053 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 59% (144 reviews)
- Directed by: Jocelyn Moorhouse
24. The Homesman (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (32,085 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 52% (14,247 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (156 reviews)
- Directed by: Tommy Lee Jones
23. The Hero (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (8,945 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (6,992 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (115 reviews)
- Directed by: Brett Haley
22. The Highwaymen (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (93,357 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (1,456 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 58% (140 reviews)
- Directed by: John Lee Hancock
21. Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013)
Source: Courtesy of IFC Films
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (21,280 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 61% (12,243 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (133 reviews)
- Directed by: David Lowery
20. Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Oscilloscope
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (14,321 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 53% (9,338 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (130 reviews)
- Directed by: Kelly Reichardt
19. The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (199,147 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (49,291 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 64% (315 reviews)
- Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
18. Hostiles (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (77,767 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (5,554 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (224 reviews)
- Directed by: Scott Cooper
17. The Sisters Brothers (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Annapurna Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (59,919 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 69% (2,624 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (208 reviews)
- Directed by: Jacques Audiard
16. Let Him Go (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (20,705 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (1,212 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (192 reviews)
- Directed by: Thomas Bezucha
15. Rango (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (248,597 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 69% (120,344 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (222 reviews)
- Directed by: Gore Verbinski
14. The Hateful Eight (2015)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (550,683 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (73,769 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (337 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
13. First Cow (2019)
Source: Courtesy of A24
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (14,747 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (521 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (208 reviews)
- Directed by: Kelly Reichardt
12. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Source: Courtesy of RLJ Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (93,087 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (13,750 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (98 reviews)
- Directed by: S. Craig Zahler
11. The Power of the Dog (2021)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (191,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (50 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (362 reviews)
- Directed by: Jane Campion
10. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (133,130 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (3,708 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (234 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
9. The Revenant (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (809,924 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (105,559 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (401 reviews)
- Directed by: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
8. News of the World (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (74,696 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (1,590 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (263 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul Greengrass
7. Lucky (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Eureka Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (21,622 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (4,352 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (151 reviews)
- Directed by: John Carroll Lynch
6. The Rider (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (17,308 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (2,068 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (185 reviews)
- Directed by: Chloé Zhao
5. Wind River (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Ascot Elite Entertainment Group
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (223,961 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (29,613 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (253 reviews)
- Directed by: Taylor Sheridan
4. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (155,013 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (449 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
3. True Grit (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (323,355 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (158,421 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (275 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
2. Hell or High Water (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (214,372 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (40,252 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (283 reviews)
- Directed by: David Mackenzie
1. Django Unchained (2012)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,427,183 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (429,752 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (291 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino