Best known for his part in creating the wildly successful television showYellowstoneand its prequels,1883and1923, Taylor Sheridan’s work has dominated theWesterngenre’s landscape for the last decade. However, whileSheridan’s television showsform the vast majority of his work, the American has also written a number of prominent Western films in recent years. As such, Sheridan boasts writing credits on the acclaimed likes ofSicario,Hell or High Water, andWind Riverto name but a few.
However, while Sheridan’s projects have arguablydefined the Western genrethroughout the past decade, he has decidedly not been the only talented filmmaker plying his trade with this particular brand of film. The last ten years have seen the debuts of several first-rate Western movies and television shows devoid of Sheridan’s involvement, staking their claim as the genre’s new standouts without the guiding influence of the man that many consider to be thebest Western directorcurrently plying his trade in popular culture today.
Bone Tomahawk
Cast
Bone Tomahawk is a Western film that follows Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who gathers together a group of fighters to save three kidnapped victims from a clan of cannibals. After the town’s doctor is kidnapped along with two others, forcing the sheriff to partner with the town’s Native American professor and find the tribe before it’s too late.
FeaturingTombstonestar Kurt Russell in the leading role,Bone Tomahawkserves as an inspired cocktail of the Western and horror genres.Depicting an Old West town where the inhabitants are terrorized by a gang of sadistic cannibals,the 2015 movie’s cast features the likes of Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins, and David Arquette to complement Russell’s gravitas and assured screen presence.
Kurt Russell’s Thriller With 91% On RT Has The Hardest-To-Watch Scene In Any Western I’ve Ever Watched
After watching Kurt Russell’s critically acclaimed Western from 2015, I’ve finally found the hardest-to-watch scene in the entire Western genre.
Earning a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes,Bone Tomahawkwas well-received by fans and critics alike. Utilizing a slow-burn approach to cultivate an immense aura of tension, Steven Craig Zahler’s feature film directorial debut is also renowned for featuring some of themost gruesome death scenesof all time, highlighting the terrifying nature of the movie’s cannibals in sharp relief. Throw in some superb performances from the remainder of the movie’s cast, andBone Tomahawkstands as a notable hidden gem for the genre.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon is the next film from director Martin Scorsese, based on the non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, initially captured by David Grann. When members of the Osage tribe are murdered in the 1920s via mysterious circumstances shortly after the discovery of oil on Native-American soil, the FBI is established to uncover the true reason behind them.
Following his work on 2019’s gangster epicThe Irishman, Martin Scorsese’s next project proved to be one of theacclaimed director’s best moviesin a long and storied career. This movie took the form of 2023’sKillers of the Flower Moon, a revisionist Western boasting an ensemble cast. The film is based on a remarkable true story,concerning a series of murders perpetrated against Osage Nation members after oil is discovered on their tribal land.
Killers of the Flower Moonwas released to highly positive reviews, with many critics labeling Scorsese’s latest work as one of his finest. Receiving ten Oscar nominations across various categories at the 96th Academy Awards, the Leonardo DiCaprio-led enterprise holds a stellar 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Clocking in at 206 minutes, Scorsese’s film is decidedly not light viewing, but it’s an absolutely masterful piece of cinema for anybody patient enough to wait and find out.
Westworld
Westworld is a television series set in a futuristic Wild West-themed amusement park where advanced android hosts cater to human guests' desires. The series explores the themes of artificial consciousness and human morality as the lines between reality and artificiality begin to blur.
Loosely based on the 1973 film of the same name,Westworlddepicts a dystopian reality where high-paying guests visit huge period-themed “parks”. Indulging in their wildest and most depraved fantasies, this takes place at the expense of the hosts, androids who are indistinguishable from human beings on the outside. The show’s most iconic park is undoubtedly its Western themed offering, serving as the backdrop for the first and much of the second season.
WhileWestworldfell off in jarring fashion the instant that the action left the parks, the quality of the show’s first two seasons is stellar. An array of nuanced performances and intricate story lines set to an exemplary score renderWestworlda must-see for any fans of the genre. One of thebest Western shows from the last decade,Westworld’sbrand of television couldn’t be any more different to Sheridan’s creative style, but still lands for a visually arresting and awe-inspiring viewing experience.
The English
A woman seeks revenge against the man she believes is responsible for the death of her son.
An epic tale of revenge set against the backdrop of the Old West, limited seriesThe Englishstars Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer. Hugo Blick’s 2022 offering seesBlunt’s character travel to America in search of retribution against the man she believed to have killed her son,calling on the help of Chaske’s Eli Whipp, a former cavalry scout and member of the Pawnee nation, who is looking to claim the land that he is owed.
…The Englishisn’t flawless, but the leading duo’s performances make it easier to gloss over some of the series' more prevalent shortcomings.
The Englishis just as captivating as the series' array of glowing reviews would indicate. Painting a beautifully ruthless picture of life at the time, Blunt and Spencer shine in their roles, producing two award-worthy performances to carry this polished miniseries across six electrifying episodes. A devastating story complemented by some notably impressive cinematography,The Englishisn’t flawless, but the leading duo’s performances make it easier to gloss over some of the series' more prevalent shortcomings.
Godless
Godless, released in 2017, is a western drama series that follows a notorious outlaw seeking revenge on a former gang member. The series is set in a unique town inhabited solely by women, where the past catches up with the peaceful community amidst the harsh backdrop of the American West.
Blessed with a cast befitting of a blockbuster, 2017’sGodlessstars the big name likes of Jack O’Connell, Jeff Daniels, and Michelle Dockery. The 2017 miniseries sees O’Connell’s character find himself in an Old West town populated almost entirely by women following a mining accident,attempting to flee from the sadistic proclivities of his former boss, Daniels' Frank Griffin.
Featuring on several prominent critics' top 10 lists for the year,Godlesslanded excellent reviews.
Featuring on several prominent critics' top ten lists for the year,Godlesslanded to excellent reviews; Scott Frank’s miniseries holds a rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Featuring all the traditional bells and whistles required for a quality Western offering, the series' unique female-driven premise helps elevateGodlessabove the rest of its contemporaries without sacrificing any of the stylized violence and ice-cool dialogue that have traditionally attracted many Western fans.
The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog is a Western drama film adapted from the novel by Thomas Savage. When a widow and her son move into a ranch, she captures the attention of a kindly gentleman named George, much to the chagrin of his brother, Phil. After they marry, Phil’s temper begins to flare, and he begins to torment the two – but his behavior may spell disaster when his new nephew’s darker side comes to light.
Loosely based on a true story, it is widely acknowledged that 2021’sThe Power of the Dogwas unjustly overlooked at the 94th Academy Awards. Despite receiving a whopping twelve nominations, the movie only won a solitary Oscar, with Jane Campion taking home the statuette for Best Director. This feels like a notable travesty as of 2024, particularly when one considers thatThe Power of the Dogis regarded by many critics as one of the finest films of 2021 and appeared on multiple top ten lists.
Every single member of the movie’s four core cast members received Oscar nominations for their performances inThe Power of the Dog.
The movie leverages Benedict Cumberbatch’s considerable gifts to full effect, with theSherlockalum delivering a knockout performance in the leading role. Featuring adevastating movie twist ending, Campion’s picture is a superbly produced commentary on weighty topics in the vein of masculinity, isolation, and sexual repression, a standout for the Western genre that is rarely given the full appreciation that it deserves.
The Revenant
Inspired by the true events in the life of Hugh Glass, The Revenant is an action-drama movie that sees Leonardo DiCaprio in the starring role. Betrayed and left for dead by one of the members of his hunting group, Glass finds himself contending with some of the harshest elements imaginable while tending to his deadly wounds, as his will to carry on and need for revenge push him to carry on in this gripping tale of survival.
The movie that finally earned Leonardo DiCaprio his long-awaited Academy Award, 2015’sThe Revenantis a visceral cinematic experience for the ages. Based on a true story, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s movie sees DiCaprio take on the role of Hugh Glass;a trapper who returns from the dead after being mauled by a grizzly bearto carry out his vengeance against the man who abandoned him to die and murdered his son.
DiCaprio utterly loses himself in his portrayal as Glass, turning in a mesmerizing bow that more than warrants his Academy Award for Best Actor.
Playing host to one of theWestern genre’s best villainsin Tom Hardy’s John Fitzgerald,The Revenantis a gloriously shot and magnificently acted tale of revenge, bravery, and the indomitability of the human spirit. DiCaprio utterly loses himself in his portrayal of Glass, turning in a mesmerizing bow that more than warrants his Academy Award for Best Actor. The movie also took home Best Director and Best Cinematography out of its twelve Oscar nominations, underlining its status as one of the genre’s best offerings from the last decade.
The Hateful Eight
Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 Western incorporates elements of the mystery and thriller genres. Set in 1877, The Hateful Eight follows eight strangers who seek refuge from a blizzard in an isolated stagecoach stopover. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, and Channing Tatum, The Hateful Eight was inspired by the Western TV shows of 1960s.
A wickedly intricate tale of murder and deceit set against the backdrop of a blizzard in the Old West,2015’sThe Hateful Eightis Quentin Tarantino at his inimitable best. Returning to the genre where he had found abundant success with 2012’sDjango Unchained, the director’s second Western offering in a row boasts an ensemble cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh among other prominent A-Listers.
Jennifer Jason Leigh received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her bow as Daisy Domergue.
Despite a warranted degree of controversy concerning the movie’s depiction of race relations and the violence perpetrated against Leigh’s character,The Hateful Eightstill raked in largely positive reviews. The quintessentialmovie where every character is horrible, Tarantino’s latest twist-filled work holds a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting that the director was capable of producing his old magic. Adding to the film’s accolades, the legendary late composer, Ennio Morricone, even finally won an Oscar for his work after being nominated for the fifth time.
Wynonna Earp
Based on a comic book series by Beau Smith, Wynonna Earp tells the story of the titular heroine who is the great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp. The series follows Wynonna’s return to her hometown, where she must do battle with the reanimated criminals previously killed by Earp. Aided by her sister, her great-great-grandfather’s immortal partner Doc Holiday, and a member of the US Marshals, Wynonna works to keep Purgatory safe from the revenants.
Based on the comic book series of the same name by Beau Smith, Syfy’sWynonna Earpdebuted in 2016 and ran for four seasons before concluding in 2021.The Western supernatural series follows Melanie Scrofano’s titular character,a descendant of legendary Western gunman Wyatt Earp who finds herself forced to do battle with the reincarnated ghosts of outlaws that Wyatt dispatched in his lifetime.
Earning widespread praise for its LBGTQ+ and feminist representation,Wynonna Earpreceived consistently positive reviews throughout its run. Supported by an array of knock-out supporting performances, Scrofano does sterling work in the lead role, producing an instantly quotable, female badass unlike anyone that many fans of the genre had seen before. Fan outcry was so fierce when the show ended that it duly ended up returning for a one-off 2024special entitledWynonna Earp: Vengeance.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a Western anthology film by the Coen Brothers that comprises six distinct stories. Each vignette explores themes of the American frontier, blending humor and tragedy. With a richly detailed setting, the film delves into various aspects of frontier life, showcasing a range of characters from singing cowboys to intrepid prospectors. The distinctive narrative style and evocative cinematography create a compelling portrait of the Old West.
The latest joint movie offering from legendary filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen,The Ballad of Buster Scruggsserves as a Western anthology offering consisting of various short stories. Featuring an impressive cast line-up boasting the likes of Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, and Liam Neeson, the 2018 film isn’t theCoen Brothers' best movie, but still lands as a thoroughly enjoyable Western viewing experience nonetheless.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: All 6 Endings Explained
Joel & Ethan Coen’s surreal Western anthology Netflix tells multiple stories. Here’s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs endings (all 6) explained.
Receiving positive reviews from critics,The Ballad of Buster Scruggsclocks in with a more than respectable Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 89%. The movie’s blend of whimsical humor and dark drama is complemented by the traditional Coen Brothers' cinematic touches and flairs to produce a first-rateWestern. WhileThe Ballad of Buster Scruggsis often overlooked in favor of the duo’s more renowned bodies of work, it’s easily one of the finest productions to come out of the genre in recent memory.
