50 Best Western Movies That Have Helped Shape the Film Genre

John Wayne is Cord McNally, the fierce leader of a Western unit who's task now is to find two traitors from within. This all takes place right after the Civil War ended, so for some, tensions are still very high.

See, we told you there could be romance in Westerns! Matt Damon stars as a young cowboy who is figuring things out in life after he's forced to look for a new home when his mother sells his family ranch. He stumbles upon a new front, where he immediately meets the love of his life.

This story is a bit of a doozy, but you'll want to follow along. It centers around a man who prowls the lands of Wyoming looking for the man who killed his father. He'll do whatever it takes to find him, even if it means pretending to be a preacher in each town he visits.

You'll want to watch country singer Trace Adkins as the leader of a rather corrupt town. In fact, things in the frontier are so wicked, a random passerby gets swooped into the mix, seeing him want to take instant revenge after he's wronged.

If we told you that John Travolta played a cowboy in a movie, how fast would you press play? He takes on the role of a Texas farm boy who falls in love with a cowgirl just as eccentric as him. When their relationship goes south, he must figure out how to win her back.

A trio of cowboys are traveling along the Texas dirt roads when they are bombarded by a crew of unruly robbers. Police eventually come to avenge them, but then accuse the cowboys of also being part of the criminal group. Not being able to convince them of their innocence, the cowboys are forced to illegally escape police custody, seeing a heated chase begin.

Scott Eastwood is following in his father's footsteps with this one! Follow him as he plays a Civil War veteran on the quest to rescue his kidnapped wife. Will he be able to figure out who the true bad guy is on time?

Wyatt, Morgan, and Virgil are three grown men with a troubled (and criminal) past. They vow to leave those days behind as they try to live a quieter life, starting a business of their own. This only works for so long, because the one thing about trouble is that it'll find you when you least expect it.

A cowboy who usually takes on dangerous tasks has one last hoorah left in him. Though, he may have gotten into more than he bargained for, soon realizing he'll need some help from his ol' trusty pals.

The gunslinger in this movie is a fierce woman, much to the surprise of the town she arrives to. Business is business, and she'll take care of what she needs to, not letting anyone get in her way.

Square dancing, romance, and all things Western: Does it get any better? This Nicholas Sparks adaptation is perfect for anyone who wants their own cowboy love story.

Watch as a renowned Army captain (Christian Bale) leads a Cheyenne chief and his family on a treacherous journey.

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, this film follows a dog named Buck, who is abducted from his California home. Buck's kidnappers transport him to the Yukon, where he befriends an old outdoorsman (Harrison Ford) and begins an adventure that alters the scope of both of their lives.

Kevin Costner shines as Lieutenant John Dunbar, a Union soldier who heads West after the Civil War and lives among a group of Sioux who come to accept him as one of their own.

A woman and her son move to her new husband's ranch, where they meet his charismatic, but domineering, brother. When an unexpected bond forms between the son and the brother, secrets come to light. The ending is not what you expect.

An eclectic group of gunslingers must defend a Mexican village from the oppressive bandits terrorizing its townspeople in this 1960 film based on the classic Japanese film Seven Samurai.

This 1939 cult classic gave John Wayne his big break. Stagecoach is widely believed to be one of the most influential films ever made—which was proven when it won two Academy Awards and earned five more nominations.

Paul Newman and Robert Redford star in this famed Western about two legendary bank robbers and the beautiful young teacher who joins in their dangerous adventures. Fun fact: This was the first film that Sam Elliott and his wife, Katharine Ross, ever appeared in together.

Three prospectors in Mexico journey into the Sierra Madre mountains to find treasure—and instead come across a lot of trouble.

This Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Leone features everything you'd expect from the genre: action, adventure, and a gun-slinging Clint Eastwood.