Summary
- Westerns are no longer confined to America; they now have a global presence across different cultures and settings.
- Films like “Free State of Jones” accurately depict historical events, challenging myths and offering a nuanced view of America’s past.
- While some Westerns may take liberties with real-life events, they still captivate audiences with their action, drama, and storytelling.
Westerns are America’s medal of honor. They belong to the country and represent its cultural sensibility throughout the world. Traditionally, Western films can be defined as stories set along the American frontier of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. Though the genre is defined, the context is not rigid and accounts for the reflection of America’s changing attitude as a nation. But since then, that has changed.
Now, Westerns aren’t just confined to America as a nation; they pop up in the farthest places around the globe. While many Western movies were figments of their authors’ imaginations, many were inspired by real-life events and true stories. Here are some of the best Westerns based on true stories.
10 Free State of Jones (2016)
The life of Newton Knight inspires this modern Western and documents his armed revolt against the corrupt Confederate government. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, as Newton Knight and is based on the books The Free State of Jones by Victoria E. Bynum and The State of Jones by Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer.
An Accurate Re-telling of the Civil War
The Free State of Jones, unlike many other Civil War Films, effectively pushes back on some of the most deeply entrenched myths about the Civil War and Reconstruction. The movie does this by effectively addressing the racial politics of slavery with the politics of the nation’s greatest conflict. The attention to detail, with the filmmakers consulting closely with historians and being transparent with their audience (they even had a site with their script and noted certain background info on their choices), makes this one of the most accurate attempts to capture the tumultuous time in America.
9 The Alamo (1960)
Directed by John Wayne, The Alamo revolves around the epic Battle of the Alamo, which occurred in 1836 between the Mexican Army and the Texans. The Mexican Army, commanded by the corrupt General Santa Anna, surrounded a strategic location that Lieutenant Colonel William Travis was protecting. The film depicts the outnumbered Texan army’s gallant resistance, propelling the state in a unified stride toward freedom.
John Wayne Honoring the Bravery at The Alamo
A grand spectacle and monumental in its scope, The Alamo was an utterly impressive realization by John Wayne to pay homage to Lieutenant Colonel William Travis and his brave soldiers. The movie did take some liberties with the source, particularly in its depiction of Davy Crockett. Still, the movie is an impressive spectacle that is certainly worth checking out for those who love patriotic cinema. Stream on Prime Video.
8 True History of the Kelly Gang (2016)
Based on Peter Carey’s novel of the same name, True History of the Kelly Gang is a dramatized account of the life of the Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang as they evade the outback during the 1870s. Directed by one of Australia’s brightest, Justin Kurzel, the film stars George MacKay, Russell Crowe, and Nicholas Hoult in prominent roles.
Australia’s Infamous Western Gang
Depicting Ned Kelly as a complex and violent character as opposed to the more glorified version seen in previous movies made about the famous figure, the film offers a gritty and brutal take on the man and his legacy. Still, the movie took a lot of liberties and modernized the story, making it somewhat divisive among those looking for an accurate portrayal. Those looking for a more faithful adaptation of the Australian icon may want to check out Ned Kelly (2003) instead, but for pure entertainment, True History of the Kelly Gang is our pick. Stream on AMC+.
7 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)
The made-for-TV movie, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is based on Dee Brown’s 1970 book of the same name. Directed by Yves Simoneau, the plot revolves around the USA’s expansion into an Indigenous Territory and its effect on a Chief and his tribe. While the Chief resists, his senator counterpart ensures peace and prosperity.
Giving a Voice to the Indigenous People
Originally shown on HBO, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee was praised for bringing an important historical story to a wider audience, much like the novel had done decades before. While somewhat limited by its budget, the production offers a fairly accurate portrayal of the book, backed by some great performances from August Schellenberg as Chief Sitting Bull and Adam Beach as Charles Eastman. Stream on Max.
6 Hidalgo (2004)
Hidalgo
- Release Date
- February 4, 2004
- Runtime
- 136
Hidalgo is an epic biopic based on the life of American Cowboy Frank Hopkins and his mustang, Hidalgo. The film depicts Frank’s monumental journey to Arabia in 1891 to compete against pure-blooded Arabian horses in a horse racing competition. Directed by Joe Johnston, the film stars Viggo Mortensen as Frank Hopkins, along with Zuleikha Robinson and Omar Sharif.
An Amazing Race Across the Desert
While historians have disputed the story of Frank T. Hopkins and his horse Hidalgo as largely fictional, not necessarily capturing the figure’s real history, the movie is an ideal Disney production (through Touchstone Pictures). With sentimentality, action, and lush cinematography, there is still a lot to love about Hidalgo, even if it is one of the more liberal interpretations of real-life events. Rent on Apple TV and Prime Video.
5 Tombstone (1993)
Tombstone
- Release Date
- December 25, 1993
- Director
- George P. Cosmatos
- Runtime
- 130
- Writers
- Kevin Jarre
Loosely based on real events that took place in the 1880s in southeast Arizona, Tombstone follows several outlaws and lawmen who ran havoc in that belt. Regarding the plot, the film pits two opposing forces against one another: the troubled but heroic retired Sheriff Wyatt Earp and the ruthless “Curly Bill” Brocius. The two men with polarizing motives tussle for power and peace.
One of the Best Westerns to Come Out of the ’90s
A standout of the 1990s and Westerns in general, Tombstone accurately balanced real historical elements, especially the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, alongside stylized Hollywood action and drama. The movie also had an ensemble cast, with Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday as the real highlight of the film’s successful dramatic elements. A must-watch for Western fans, with its inspiration from real events being the cherry on top. Stream on Hulu.
Why Tombstone is the Best Western Ever Made
1993’s Tombstone is definitively the best western movie ever made. Here’s why.
4 The Searchers (1956)
The Searchers
- Director
- John Ford
- Cast
- John Wayne , Vera Miles , Jeffrey Hunter , Ward Bond
- Release Date
- May 26, 1956
- Runtime
- 1hr 59min
- Writers
- Frank S. Nugent , Alan Le May
This classic Western, directed by the legendary John Ford, is based on Alan Le May’s novel of the same name. It recounts the true-life story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was abducted as a nine-year-old by people from the Comanche tribe.
John Wayne and John Ford Make the Perfect Pairing
In search of his nephew, a Civil War veteran (John Wayne) sets out on an epic journey spanning years, accompanied by his adopted nephew, Martin. While taking liberties with the real-life story, John Wayne’s Ethan Edwards is entirely fictional. The movie excels in Wayne’s acting chops and John Ford’s skilled direction. The Searchers is deemed to be one of the best Westerns ever made, and the National Film Registry in the USA selected it for preservation. Stream on Max.
3 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
In this epic revisionist Western, director Andrew Dominik highlights the dramatic relationship between two outlaws, Jesse James and Robert Ford, and the incidents that led up to the titular killing. The film has a loaded cast, including Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, and Jeremy Renner, and it received two Academy Award nominations.
Painstakingly Researched
The attention to detail in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is impressive. The movie closely follows the 1983 novel of the same name by Ron Hansen, and much of the dialogue is taken from actual historical records. Besides being praiseworthy for its attention to detail, the movie manages to stay engaging off of the strong performances and gorgeous set pieces. Rent on Apple TV or Prime.
2 The Revenant (2015)
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s haunting tale of survival propelled Leonardo DiCaprio to his first-ever Oscar. Based on Michael Punke’s 2002 novel of the same name, the film highlights frontiersman Hugh Glass’s daunting experiences in 1823.
Leonardo DiCaprio at His Best
The Revenant treads right in the middle of a Western and a survivalist drama. While it lacks the ideal topography of a Western, it more than makes up for it with its raw and pulsating action sequences. While the core story of Hugh Glass is based on the true story of survival, the film did take several liberties with the character that were not universally appreciated. Still, because of the performance of DiCaprio and the tense atmosphere that captures the harsh winter landscape, the movie is worth watching. Stream on Max.
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45 Best Western Movies of All Time, Ranked
The Western genre has a rich history of films, and these are 45 of the best movies of all time in this important genre.
1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid tells the story of Wild West outlaws Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and his partner Sundance Kid (Robert Redford), and their epic journey as they evade the authorities while being on the run. The film is based on real-life outlaws, Harry “The Sundance Kid” Longabaugh and Robert LeRoy “Butch Cassidy” Parker.
Re-Invigorating the Western Genre
Considered by many to be one of the best Westerns ever made, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid blended humor, action, and drama under the charismatic duo of Robert Redford and Paul Numan. The movie was also a revisionist take on the classic Western that helped breathe life back into the genre, which was looking at a steady decline throughout the ’60s. Besides a fictional final showdown, the movie also stays fairly accurate to the story of Butch Cassidy and his gang. Rent on Apple TV and Prime.