TheWesterngenre is part of the very foundations of Hollywood and one of the most enduring genres of cinema worldwide. With their sweeping landscapes and gritty, charismatic characters, these movies have entertained whole generations of cinephiles, evolving to incorporate multiple subgenres. While their popularity may have waxed and waned over the years, Western movies have always enjoyed a dedicated fan base, and that’s still true today.
That said, the passage of time and the unending stream of new movies have pushed some of the genre’s greatest masterpieces out of the mainstream discourse, leaving them to fade into obscurity as forgotten gems appreciated only by film scholars and the truly devoted. That’s why we think it’s high time we revisit some of these past movies and appreciate their forgotten brilliance. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the best underrated Westerns that even diehard fans may not remember, including some of the greatest masterpieces the genre has produced.
1‘Quigley Down Under’ (1990)
A very niche 1990s Western,Quigley Down UnderstarsTom Selleckas the titular hero, a sharpshooter with impeccable aim and a specially modified rifle who travels to Australia in response to an ad. When he gets there, he saves a mentally unstable woman (Laura San Giacomo) and discovers that he’s being hired to kill Aboriginal Australians. He immediately turns down the job, drawing the ire of his murderous would-be employer (Alan Rickman), and becomes an unlikely hero among Aboriginal Australians as he fights back against the corrupt landowner.
Quigley Down Underis a largely forgotten neo-Western that achieved neither commercial success nor critical acclaim. Though widely panned by critics for its formulaic story, the movie has developed something of a cult following due to years of TV reruns, but it’s still relatively unknown outside of its fanbase. That’s a shame, really, because it’s an enjoyable film with memorable dialogue, exciting action, and some great performances, especially by the late Alan Rickman.
2‘Joe Kidd’ (1972)
One ofJohn Sturges’s lesser-appreciated films,Joe Kiddis a 1972 Revisionist Western starringClint EastwoodandRobert Duvall. The movie follows a former bounty hunter (Eastwood) who is hired by a rich New Mexico landowner (Duvall) to join a posse hunting down a Mexican revolutionary leader, Luis Chama (John Saxon). The film also featuresDon Stroud,Stella Garcia,James Wainwright, and more in supporting roles.
Joe Kiddwas one of the highest-grossing Westerns of 1972, but it had a mixed critical reception and has largely faded from popular memory in the years since its release. Though criticized for its uneven plotting, the film features some great direction and performances, with Clint Eastwood performing his trademark stone-faced gunslinger role to characteristic perfection.Joe Kiddmay be a relative unknown, but it is a movie that deserves a lot more credit.
3‘The Great Silence’ (1968)
Auniquely darkspaghetti Western byDjangodirectorSergio Corbucci,The Great Silencefollows a mute gunslinger known as Silence (Jean-Louis Trintignant) as he fights for a group of desperate outlaws against a ruthless group of bounty hunters and their corrupt employer. Hired by a vengeful young widow (Vonetta McGeein her film debut), Silence finds himself pitted against an unstable killer called Loco (Klaus Kinski). The movie also featuresFrank Wolff,Luigi Pistilli,Mario Brega,Marisa Merlini, andCarlo D’Angeloin supporting roles.
4‘McCabe & Mrs. Miller’ (1971)
A revisionist Western described by directorRobert Altmanas an “anti-Western,“McCabe and Mrs. MillerstarsWarren BeattyandJulie Christieas the titular duo, a mysterious gambler and a British madam who team up to run a successful boomtown brothel. But when their business draws the attention of a ruthless mining magnate, McCabe and Miller (mainly McCabe) become the targets of hired killers. Besides Beatty and Christie, the movie also starsRené Auberjonois,William Devane,John Schuck,Corey Fischer,Shelley Duvall,Bert Remsen, and more.
Based onEdmund Naughton’s 1959 novelMcCabe,McCabe and Mrs. Millerwas quite polarizing with critics at the time of its release, but it still had a decent run at the box office and earned Christie an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. With great cinematography, a subversive narrative, and a soundtrack featuring the music ofLeonard Cohen, it’s easily one of the best Westerns ever made. Though it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2010, the film has largely been forgotten by all but the most dedicated genre fans these days.
5‘The Last Wagon’ (1956)
The Last Wagonis a classic1950sWestern that starsRichard Widmarkas Comanche Todd, an alleged murderer who was raised by Comanches. After he’s captured by a ruthless sheriff, Todd and his captor join a wagon train of mostly women and children, which is attacked by Apache warriors, leaving Todd as the only one who can lead the survivors to safety. Besides Widmark, the movie also starsFelicia Farr,Susan Kohner,George Mathews, and more.
Released in 1956,The Last Wagonwas not particularly well-received by critics and remains largely unknown to modern audiences, even to most genre fans. However, while the film’s story is largely formulaic, it’s an undeniably brilliant production with amazing cinematography that effectively uses the CinemaScope technique to bring out the natural beauty of its Arizona setting. The movie also features some great performances by Widmark, Farr, and Mathews, as well as a compelling narrative about the horrors and violence of the Frontier Wars.
6‘The Professionals’ (1966)
An all-star Western action movie adapted fromFrank O’Rourke’s 1964 novelA Mule for the Marquesa,The ProfessionalsstarsBurt Lancaster,Lee Marvin,Robert Ryan, andWoody Strodeas the titular professionals, each an expert in his respective field. Hired by a wealthy rancher to rescue his kidnapped wife from a Mexican Revolutionary soldier-turned-bandit, the four men set out to fulfill their mission, only to discover that things are not as simple as they seem. The movie also featuresJack Palance,Claudia Cardinale, andRalph Bellamyin supporting roles.
The Professionalswas a highly successful movie when it was released in 1966, receiving positive critical reviews and earning three Academy Award nominations. The film was also quite successful at the box office, but it has largely faded from popular memory in the subsequent decades. Anexcitingactioner with charismatic performances all around,The Professionalsis a movie that only the most enthusiastic genre fans may remember today, but it certainly deserves to be rediscovered by a wider audience.
7‘3:10 to Yuma’ (1957)
WhileJames Mangold’s 2007remakemay be more popular today, the original3:10 to Yumais a masterpiece of the Western genre that really ought to be more widely recognized. Adapted fromElmore Leonard’s eponymous short story, this 1957 Western follows a poor rancher who takes a risky job transporting a notorious outlaw to justice. The film starsGlenn FordandVan Heflin, withFelicia Farr,Leora Dana,Henry Jones, and more in supporting roles.
3:10 to Yumawas quite well-received in its day, earning praise from critics for its performances, writing, direction, and music. Though it’s been largely overshadowed by its remake, the original film is a very well-made western that still holds up even today, with a genuinely engaging story that’s about more than just the shootouts. The movie is a landmark of western cinema, and though it may not be as familiar to modern audiences as it should be, it has been recognized as such by the Library of Congress, which selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2012.
8‘The Naked Spur’ (1953)
A 1953 Western action-drama film,The Naked Spurfollows a bounty hunter who teams up with a prospector and a discharged cavalryman to bring a murderer to justice. But capturing the wanted criminal is just the first step. To win his bounty, the hunter must out-think both his wily prisoner and his unstable associates.James Stewartstars in the lead role, withJanet Leigh,Robert Ryan,Ralph Meeker, andMillard Mitchellplaying key characters.
The third Western collaboration between Stewart and directorAnthony Mann,The Naked Spurwas a critical and commercial success, receiving a rare Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The movie’s reputation grew in subsequent years, but these days, it’s largely forgotten by all but the most dedicated genre fans. Masterfully written, directed, and performed,The Naked Spuris arguably the best Western the world forgot, with a genuinely thrilling and unpredictable story of psychological manipulation that rivals the best modern psychological thrillers.
