The Best Westerns Ever -- My Top 20 List!

[@maxrowlatt2633]

I have to put the great silence up there. Klaus Kinski performance is fantastic.

[@sputhoor96]

My top 5: 1. The good the bad and the ugly 2. Once upon a time in the West 3. The great silence 4. For a few dollars more 5. The wild bunch

[@rpg7287]

Thank you, thank you for finally putting My Darling Clementine on a best westerns list! Such an underrated movie. And it’s actually another tale of the old west fading away and the new west emerging. This is shown by the start of construction of the church and the Clanton gang being defeated. My number 1 is still The Searchers. But I would add Rio Bravo and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly to the list.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@highlyrecommended5652]

Winchester 73' is fantastic. The story follows the gun. Its an interesting framing device for a western from 1950.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Thank you.

[@Nightcrawler77]

1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 2. High Noon 3. Once upon a time in the West 4. The Great Silence 5. There will be blood 6. For a few dollars more 7. Unforgiven 8. The Searchers 9. The Hateful 8 10. The Magnificent Seven HM: Wild Bunch, Fistful of Dollars and Bone Tomahawk

[@crippleboysad5549]

1. The Wild Bunch 2. Ride the High Country 3. The Gunfighter 4. The Searchers 5. Shane 6. The Naked Spur 7. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (preview version) 8. One-eyed Jacks 9. Seven Men from Now 10. McCabe and Mrs. Miller 11. Bend of the River 12. My Darling Clementine 13. Ulzana's Raid 14. Vera Cruz 15. Rancho Notorious 16. High Noon 17. Red River 18. Man of the West 19. 40 Guns 20. Pursued

[@sanidhyasingh227]

I saw a 70's movie called Jeremiah Johnson, It's hard to classify it as a western but it is great and very under rated Also Butch Cassidy and Sundance Candy

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. Jeremiah Johnson is weird because it released during that short stretch of time in Hollywood where they were including Intermissions. And so, that movie is about 2 hours long and yet it has an intermission.

[@CcJjGg_]

I really like Jeremiah Johnson. It's more of a mountainer survival movie I think

[@LuckyPunkProd]

A lot of excellent picks, Dr. Matthews! Especially your #1 pick. My top 5: 1. The entire Dollars trilogy 2. Once Upon a Time in the West 3. The Wild Bunch 4. Unforgiven 5. High Noon

[@N17-y4s]

Once upon a time in the West is my favorite Western also. I think Pat Garrett and Billy the kid is one great western that is underrated.

[@isaiahcruz1995]

I appreciate you including Hostiles. I watched it for the first time about a month ago and absolutely loved it. Thanks for your work on this channel!

[@bilbo4786]

My top 5: 1. Unforgiven 2. Dead Man 3. McCabe and Mrs. Miller 4. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 5. Tombstone

[@Acrocanthosaurus]

Bone Tomahawk is your movie if you like walking and limping. 40 minutes of screen time is dedicated to it.

[@chanceotter8121]

Nothing better than putting off going back to work after Christmas by thinking of my favorite movies in my favorite genre. I stuck to the classic Western time period 1939-1962. I top-loaded my top 12 with 2 films each by my favorites-John Ford, William Wellman, Henry King, and Jacques Tourneur. I left off Westerns made after 1962, the year of "Ride the High Country" and Ford's "Liberty Valance", both ending the classic Western cycle in appropriate fashion . Like the Neo-noirs of the same period, I consider the revisionist Western a different genre. 1. The Searchers (1956) 2. Ride the High Country (1962) 3. The Gunfighter (1950) 4. The Westerner (1940) 5. The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) 6. Canyon Passage (1946) 7. Wagon Master (1950) 8. Jesse James (1939) 9. Day of the Outlaw (1959) 10. Ride Lonesome (1959) 11. Stars in My Crown (1950) 12. Westward the Woman (1951) 13. Colorado Territory (1949) 14. Man of the West (1958) 15. Rio Bravo (1959) 16. 3 10 to Yuma (1957) 17. My Darling Clementine (1946) 18. The Last Hunt (1956) 19. Warlock (1959) 20. Blood on the Moon (1948)

[@Blacklodge_Willy]

Now that's an awesome list!

[@chanceotter8121]

@@Blacklodge_Willy Thanks!

[@patrickkelly5004]

Fully agreed on your choices. Being born in 1954, I somewhat grew up watching westerns. My top 5, for what it's worth, but not in any particular order, and picking only five was a challenge: 1. High Noon 2. True Grit (either original or remake) 3. The Ox Bow Incident 4. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 5. Duck, You Sucker

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Thank you. #2 and #3 are good books as well!

[@StepbyStepPhotographyandVideo]

I think Once Upon A Time In The West is the 2001 Space Odyssey of Westerns

[@Icecreamforcrowtoo]

(I'm excluding 'modern' Westerns) 1. The Searchers 2. The Good the Bad & the Ugly 3. Ride the High Country 4. The Wild Bunch 5. McCabe & Mrs. Miller 6. For a Few Dollars More 7. Shane 8. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 9. True Grit (2011) 10. 3:10 to Yuma (1957) 11. Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid 12. A Fistful of Dollars 13. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 14. My Name Is Nobody 15. High Noon 16. Once Upon a Time in the West 17. Fort Apache 18. Johnny Guitar 19. Unforgiven 20. The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean

[@LiemNguyen-qr6bq]

1. Highnoon is my number 1 pick. Seen it a hundred times, never get sick of it. 2. Pale Rider 3. High Plains Drifter 5. Unforgiven 6.Shane

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@GairBear49]

I like High Noon as well, glad some one mentioned it, but I am biased I was named after Gary Cooper.

[@OrcmanRepugnant]

Bite the Bullet; Richard Brookes 1975 with Gene Hackman and James Coburn. The Outlaw Josey Wales; Clint Eastwood 1976 with Clint Eastwood and John Vernon. Open Range; Kevin Costner 2003 with Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner.

[@Blacklodge_Willy]

In no particular order and mostly from the top of my head: The Naked Spur Dead Man 7 Men From Now Johnny Guitar Once Upon A Time In The West Rio Bravo My Darling Clementine 3:10 to Yuma ('57) Stagecoach The Wild Bunch

[@chanceotter8121]

Johnny Guitar is such a unique film, totally original. I can't say it was ahead of it's time because I can't think of a time between then and now when a movie such as Johnny Guitar would, or could, be made with the same tone and atmosphere. If it was made in the late-60s or early 70s it would have been made as psychedelic camp, in the 80s or 90s as an overlong and dreary Oscar-bait star vehicle, or in the 21st century as a post-modern polemic, very proud about itself without an ounce of joy in any frame. Also, would be a great centerpiece in a triple feature with Rancho Notorious and Forty Guns.

[@TheJohnnyonthespot1]

Great list. Some I really love and some I still need to check out. Personally, I would definitely recommend John Sayles' Lone Star. It's hard to go wrong with Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, and Matthew McConaughey, plus the film does a great job of shifting through time and examining socio-cultural issues without being hamfisted.

[@linkbiff1054]

That is the best contemporary western ever. Divide westerns into modern day and oldies (oldies with the horses and very little electricity), and Lone Star comes up as the best modern day pick.

[@neuromantoo]

And don't forget the late Elizabeth Pena.

[@davewalter1216]

I agree 'Lone Star' is one of the few more or less modern (time does keep moving on) great Westerns.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

I love Bone Tomahawk too

[@leslie50heshy]

Magnificent Seven? Butch Cassidy? Outlaw Josie Wales?

[@FTA4evr]

A very good list, indeed. I'd be tempted to squeeze David Miller's Lonely Are The Brave in there somewhere.

[@hejskipejski5751]

Don't know if it counts, but Duck, you sucker! is my personal favourite

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@reyesrodriguez4360]

"My Darling Clementine" is my favorite Western and it's on my Top 10 of favorite movies. I think it's a masterpiece !

[@angelcanez4426]

The one thing that makes the book better than the movie in No country for Old Man is the eagle hotel shootout. In the book the cartel get there when Anton chigurh gets there and they both start blasting at each other trying to get to Louella Moss

[@ngugikioi3147]

I agree with your number 1 pick a hundred percent. I would have included The Good The Bad and The Ugly, Rio Bravo, and Django Unchained in my top 10.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@ronaldmilner8932]

I am late to the comments here, but I agree that Once Upon A Time in the West is a Masterpiece of sight, sound, direction, story, and acting.

[@davidsinger5034]

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Deadwood, and the Coens' True Grit are my some of my favorites. Also, The Gold Rush by Charlie Chaplin, if that counts as a western.

[@antonnym214]

Sir, you have excellent taste. Great video! My top 10 Westerns would include Tombstone (1993). It has so many great scenes with amazing dialog. Kevin Jarre is a genius, and this must be his magnum opus. Lonesome Dove is just about perfect in every way, so I agree there, but also, I would have The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Along with A Fistful of Dollars, it was ground-breaking. The over-the-shoulder POV shot, for example. and the movie made Clintwood a superstar. Also, an episode of Star Trek would qualify: Spectre of the Gun (1968), written by Gene Coon. It aired October 25, 1968. Exactly 1 day short of the 87th anniversary of the shootout at the O.K. Corral.

[@menachtv6522]

Assassination of Jesse James by coward Robert Ford is one greatest and underrated westerns of last 18 years

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@garrettbays6942]

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) was one of the best westerns and films from John Huston. Yes, it's an oddity, but I enjoyed every minute of it (except its obvious montage rip-off of the bicycle montage in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).

[@lucienohanian2841]

My top 5: 1. Once Upon a Time in the West 2. Who Shot Liberty Vallance 3. The Power of The Dog 4. Wagon Master 5. High Noon Still many classics I’m yet to see!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@Ronaldsframes]

Thank you for suggesting these movies and giving your thoughtful whys for them. I think Deadwood is great. I guess I’ll think about here what my top twenty might be. Okay here you go: 1) Stagecoach 2) Unforgiven 3) Red River 4) The Shooting 5) The Ox-Bow Incident 6) The Missouri Breaks 7) Shane 8) The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 9) El Topo 10) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 11) Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid 12) The Hired Hand 13) Hombre 14) Ride the High Country 15) Heaven’s Gate 16) My Darling Clementine 17) Bacurau 18) McCabe and Mrs. Miller 19) Django 20) Hud Maybe I’ll mention three other films that aren’t westerns, but feel haunted by the genre: Paris, Texas/ The Last Picture Show/ The Rider

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@fritzwalter4660]

PARIS, TEXAS is a masquered remake of THE SEARCHERS. Wim Wenders is a big John Ford and Western fan. Favourites of him are for example THE TALL MEN, THE LUSTY MEN, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE and MAN OF THE WEST.

[@geoffjoffy]

A good list. For me The Good, the Bad and the Ugly the best.

[@DavyDredd14]

My Top 10 Favorite Westerns : 10. Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (1969) 5. A Fistful of Dollars (1964) 9. Pale Rider (1985) 4. The Searchers (1956) 8. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) 3. Hombre (1967) 7. High Plains Drifter (1973) 2. Rio Bravo (1959) 6. Dead Man (1995) 1. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (1966)

[@MikeBarratt-lk3gt]

I don't like dead man it's to artsy and plus Depp is a weirdo.

[@DavyDredd14]

@@MikeBarratt-lk3gt So, which 'Westerns' do you like, not starring any weirdo Actors ?

[@MikeBarratt-lk3gt]

@@DavyDredd14 Any westerns not staring him. Big fan of westerns hence why I am on this video.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

The Searchers, The Wild Bunch,Outlaw Josey Wales for me

[@rickymainville5590]

Thank god for Once upon a time in the west ❤ couldnt beleive you would leave this masterpiece out of your top 20. Personnally a fringe top 5 as my fifth place is always volatile 😅

[@curiousworld7912]

You make a good argument for 'Bone Tomahawk'. That, and 'Ravenous' are the only two Westerns I can imagine what a film of 'Blood Meridian' might resemble. They're all believably written (and, in the two films mentioned - acted), and bring out the horrors that did, or possibly could,, show the dark side to 'manifest destiny'. 'Hostiles' and 'Wind River' are two of my favorite, newer Westerns, 'Shane', 'True Grit', 'The Searchers', 'Unforgiven', 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre', 'Three Burials...', and (of course) 'Once Upon a Time...', are all great films. Thanks for your list. :)

[@mackjay1777]

Great list and you remind me of the few I have never seen...I always like to mention two neglected and excellent westerns that try to give a feel of the gritty, dirty, dangerous old west: Culpepper Cattle Co (1971) about a young guy who joins a cattle drive, and learns some unexpected lessons, Bad Company (1971) with young Jeff Bridges. Both films have great atmosphere and a sense of time and place. The films of Bud Boetticher should be mentioned too: my faves Ride Lonesome and The Tall T...as you say, t here are so many good ones to discover

[@aidanmca4177]

Great list, I’ve only seen about 30 westerns and while a fair amount of the films in ur list are favourites of mine, I urge you to watch the assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert ford, which is my favourite western and one of my favourite films ever. Ik someone else recommended it but please give it a watch as it’s still quite underrated

[@crbrearley]

My list... 1. Unforgiven 2. Outlaw Jose Wales 3. True Grit 4. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 5. Silverado

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@darrenhoskins8382]

Destry Rides Again, The James Stewart/Anthony Mann ‘50’s ones, The Big Country, Broken Lance, The Sisters Brothers. But Stagecoach over everything!

[@hazzascazza5268]

I’d have The Good The Bad And The Ugly, The Great Silence (which I watched the other day) and also a very underrated one, Flaming Star. It’s an Elvis movie, but don’t be put off by that, it’s actually very serious and can get pretty dark.

[@njt002]

Yep, that's my number one, too. My favorite fun western is My Name is Nobody.

[@EddieHenderson92]

My top 10 in no order Tombstone Unforgiven The Dollars trilogy The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance High Noon Rio Bravo The Searchers Once Upon Time in the West The Outlaw Josey Wales Open Range

[@skyorrichegg]

Here are my picks of interesting westerns not mentioned in the list or honorable mentions. Some of them stretch the definition of a western in various ways: The Big Country, The Claim, First Cow, Blazing Saddles, Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, Lemonade Joe, El Topo, The Shooting, and Outland.

[@kitkatzyy]

Well I don’t know that I’ve seen enough westerns to give very many good recommendations but some of my favorites are (not in order): - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (I know, stereotypical) - True Grit (Coen version) - Hell or High Water - Django Unchained - High Noon - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Also some good animated westerns: - Rango - Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron And of course, simply for film history’s sake, The Great Train Robbery 1903 for being the first western movie ever made. Just to see where it all began.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@JRRob3wn]

The Big Trail, John Wayne’s first starring role doesn’t get enough attention. The first film to be shot on 75mm, it’s an absolute triumph from start to finish. Dir by Raoul Walsh.

[@serf6355]

I’m so surprised to not see “the good the bad and the ugly”. My all time fav. Otherwise, can’t wait to watch the ones on your list that I haven’t seen-

[@willieluncheonette5843]

You left out what might be the most beautifully visual and color western, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon... Other masterpieces are Rio Bravo, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Fort Apache, Two Rode Together, Winchester 73, The Naked Spur, Bend in the River r and some other goodies are The Left Handed Gun, Ride the High Country, any of Bud Boetticher's westerns with Randolph Scott, Forty Guns,, Rancho Notorious.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thanks.

[@andy0liver]

Huge fan of Three Burials, just a great movie that has never really garnered the audience it deserves, so thanks for including that one. I don't tend to make lists or rank films but a few I'd recommend that aren't mentioned by you (for all sorts of reasons): Bad Day at Black Rock (Western Noir); The Good, The Bad, The Weird (The Eastern Western and so much fun); The Ox-Bow Incident (Morality Play); Ulzana's Raid (Unflinching in its portrayal of frontier terror and brutality); The Proposition (The Down-Under Western): Meek's Cutoff (One of the few "Womenfolk" Westerns): The Great Silence (Bleak, shocking, unforgiving)

[@alanwatson4249]

Great stuff Josh - love it. No particular order - 'Lonely are the Brave' David Miller, 'Ulzana's Raid' Aldrich. 'Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid' 'Ride the High Country' Peckinpah, 'High Noon' Zinneman, 'Rio Bravo' Hawks, 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon' Ford. 'The Magnificent Seven' John Sturges. You mentioned 'The Man who Shot Liberty Valance' - 'When the legend becomes fact, print the legend'. Good stuff.

[@stephenkeen5737]

Great list. I've seen all except those two Tommy Lee Jones ones. I've looked at a lot of top western lists to go through many of the best of them. I was planning to make a video for students too but haven't yet. My top 10: Once upon a time in the West Tombstone Treasure of Sierra Madre Stagecoach The good the bad and the ugly No country for old men The man who shot Liberty Valence The assasination of Jesse James Unforgiven High noon Shane

[@cruddddddddddddddd]

There are some scenes from the film of No Country for Old Men that I like better than the book - the fact that the wife refuses to choose the coin toss is maybe not as realistic, but much more dramatic, throwing Chigur's own choice back in his face. I would exchange The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly for Once Upon a Time. I think it's not only a great western, but it's a great film, incredibly influential, especially on directors like Tarantino, who himself has been very influential. Nice to see Bone Tomahawk up here - I love Zahler, who is also a very talented writer of a few interesting books. I think this is a pretty good list

[@scottsmith6631]

You redeem yourself with your #1. Mine are 1) The Searchers; 2) Once Upon a Time in the West; 3) Unforgiven; 4) No Country for Old Men; 5) Shane

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Being redeemed is appropriate for this list.

[@BadClamsVideos]

Thanks for this video - I've barely scratched the surface of older westerns personally - didn't like some of the first I saw (the good the bad and the ugly) but love the modern western genre. I'm going to use this list to re-introduce myself to the older ones.

[@johnmoore2056]

I started making a list of notes of things I agreed with and disagreed, but figured it irrelevant related to commenting. As you said, 'It's your list.' (or words to that effect). Overall a great video, because it got me thinking about the genre, and made me jot down several of the titles (I have not seen yet) to look up and watch, and made me subscribe to your channel. (lol) One comment would be the idea of 'the Western' being expanded to include those set in Australia (quite a few out there). Also some set in Africa (Breaker Morant, for example), though classed has a military drama, give off a "Western" vibe.

[@krosewall]

I wonder when Treasure of the Sierra Madre started being called a western. I became a film buff in the 80s/90s as a kid and never saw it called a western in any magazine/book from that time. Or in books from the 70s I have (it was always called an adventure, and never included in the sections on westerns). Love the film, but guess I can't get behind calling it a western since I never heard it called one in my formative years.

[@chanceotter8121]

I have never considered "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" a Western either, and as I was beginning my film fandom in the 70's , in all my reading of film histories at that time I never heard it mentioned as or referred to as a Western, only as an adventure film. When lists would appear of movies that used to be called "adult westerns", meaning they had psychological depth and were made for non-Western fans, Huston's film would not be on them (though High Noon and Shane and a mention of Mann's films would be) though in that context Huston's classic would have applied. TOSM being a thought of as a Western does seem to be of recent vintage (the last 25 years maybe?).

[@krosewall]

@@chanceotter8121 I think imdb probably had a lot to do with that. They do have a lot of questionable genres on that site. And wikipedia. Just saw your list, great picks! I saw Westward the Women recently on TCM and it blew me away. Would love if Criterion took a crack at it. I wonder what Dr Josh thinks of it, there is so much to discuss there.

[@chanceotter8121]

@@krosewall Thanks for the compliment on my list. Westward the Woman is so ripe for rediscovery. It's director, William Wellman, has really become a favorite of mine. I learn something about the craft of filmmaking with each film of his I see. I do think IMDb may have something to do with TOSM re-classification, but that classification I think comes from so many contemporary Westerns, like No Country for Old Men or High or Hell Water, or going back to Peckinpah's ouevre (Wild Bunch, Alfredo Garcia) , have been heavily influenced by the mood and tone of Huston's film, that in hindsight people think of TOSM as a Western. Also, "We don't need no stinkin badges" or some variation of the line has become a punch line in so many skits (was it used in Three Amigos?) even if folks have not seen TOSM they presume the line is from a cowboy flick , and if they finally find the context of the joke they assume their presumptions.

[@fritzwalter4660]

@@chanceotter8121 Here in Germany wrote Joe Hembus the very famous book WESTERN LEXIKON with ca. 1600 westerns reviewed. He wrote it 1976. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE is in it. Also a lot post-westerns like BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, LONELY ARE THE BRAVE, JUNIOR BONNER, THE LUSTY MEN and HUD. But not GIANT.

[@goforthandread]

I think westerns these days are generally underrated. I am surprised There Will Be Blood is not on your list.

[@MikeBarratt-lk3gt]

That's not really a western

[@sidneyfields2850]

Thanks for including DESTRY RIDES AGAIN, one of my favorite George Stevens films that was irreverently remade by Mel Brooks 30 years later as BLAZZING SADDLES with Madeline Kahn reprising the Marlene Dietrich role. I also agree with the choice of HOSTILES a very underrated film that I think is one of the best westerns of the last 10 years. Same goes for HELL AND HIGH WATER. And for some of the films left off your list, I would lobby hard to include THE WILD BUNCH.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. Yes, I suspect most people will include The Wild Bunch. There are some violent films that I have trouble with, as people who stay with this channel will find out.

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

I recently bought One Eyed Jacks. Any movie that tends to get such polarized reviews tends to be my taste

[@kdhoude]

This started out as a script by Peckinpah and directed by Kubrick. Peckinpah was fired and rewrites were done and then Kubrick dripped out just before filming started.

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

@@kdhoude well, AI is one of my all time favs so maybe i just like Kubrick scripts that get picked up by other talent haha

[@jimtremblay5539]

Some of my faves also Good Bad Ugly, Wild Bunch, Outlaw Josie Wales, Fistful of Dollars, Open Range, 3:10 to Yuma, High Noon, High Plains Drifter, Tombstone, Django Unchained, Revenant, Ride the High Country, Magnificent Seven, Pale Rider, Dances with Wolves,

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Thank you Jim. Very helpful.

[@steffengerlach8395]

Great channel, just discovered it. Thank you so much for your input! When it comes to personal favourites of westerns... well, thanks for including e.g. "Red river" on your list - one of my all time favourites. I agree on many of your picks... but... I'd put a couple of maybe underrated ones somewhere in between: "The Big Country" (William Wyler, Gregory Peck) - beautifully shot, great pictures wonderful slowly paced and there is so much to reflect on, like it's criticism on society, hatred, masculinity, gender roles and how they are developed in westerns... definately a gem (without that modern strong female character and silly wokeness even centuries it's time ahead) and one of my all time favourites! 😊 "My Name is Nobody" by Tonino Valerii (script by Sergio Leone) starring Henry Fonda and Terence Hill - one of the best movie scores by Ennio Morricone ever, a great reference to classic westerns with a great sense of humor, a sort of parody. Given you love funny movies, this is the one to go to when it comes to westerns. There is a lot of suspense in it and earnesty like in any of Sergio Leone's westerns, but the next second you are laughing about the parodistic, ironical twist... The movie in my opinion covers so many aspects of the western genre in a light and entertaining way, the epic story, the famous hero, the scary villains, the good, the bad, the law, the right and wrong in a great ironical way... and it's beautifully shot. Love it. Check it out, It's worth to be mentioned, highly underrated and totally different. 😊 Cheers

[@J_Tag]

Great list! A neo-western I recommend is Extreme Prejudice (1987).

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

1. The Wild Bunch 1969 2. The Searchers 1956 3. Once Upon a Time in the West 1968 4. Unforgiven 1992 5. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 1966 6. My Darling Clementine 1946 7. High Noon 1952 8. Shane 1953 9. Stagecoach 1939 10. Ride the High Country 1962 11. Bad Company 1972 12. Little Big Man 1970 13. A Fistful of Dollars 1964 14. The Hateful Eight 2015 15. For a Few Dollars More 1965 16. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962 17. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid 1973 18. Bone Tomahawk 2015 19. Rio Bravo 1959 20. Dodge City 1939

[@jackthomas6952]

Hostiles was really good up until the end.

[@AX5Terminator]

What? No Wild Wild West? Shanghai Noon? Back to the Future Part III? List automatically invalid!

[@kdhoude]

Before watching I made my own list to compare, most of mine were on yours but what I had you did not are. El Topo, How the West was Won, Major Dundee. Wild Bunch and I know not a popular choice Heavens Gate. A few that came close but did not make my top 20 are Zachariah, Two Rode Together, Cat Ballou, and Giant

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thanks! Yes, a Major Dundee sighting! That one shows up on my "Underrated Westerns" video list, which will be released in a couple of weeks.

[@Wolfman1491]

A few of mine I didn't see mentioned Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Jeremiah Johnson For a Few Dollars More The Magnificent Seven Open Range

[@kevinkeels6845]

Gotta make room for Butch Cassidy and Liberty Valance! That being said, there’s a few you mentioned that I’ll need to track down to watch. 👍🏼

[@anotherserviceuser]

Awesome - this will make me and my dad spend many hours in front of epic western scenes ❤ have a good start for the next year 🎉 best Wishes from Würzburg, Germany 😊

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you, and Happy New Year!

[@jacksonliknes506]

I totally agree with you about The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. One of the best films of the 21st century in my opinion and it’s a shame that it’s not talked about more. Also, gonna have to check of Tommy Lee Jones’ work! Thanks for the recommendations

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@stevenspringer1599]

a very solid western adventure: the best mountain man movie: "Jeremiah Johnson" 1972 - D: Sidney Pollack; S: Robert Redford

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, good one. That Redford meme has been everywhere too.

[@MegaGo68]

Great list. I'd only add Man who Shot Liberty Valance and Blazing Saddles.

[@MikeBarratt-lk3gt]

Blazing saddles is a pardy of a western

[@JRRob3wn]

The western is my favorite genre of movie. Interesting that you included Hostiles - I found it almost unwatchable (and the Searchers is one of my favorite movies of all time).

[@alistairwood9853]

Great list. I personally love the good, the bad and the ugly but it clearly overlaps a lot with unforgiven / once upon a time / any other Eastwood film in the honourable mentions. Surprised not to see high noon or who shot liberty vance up here. I currently have an obsession with high noon only having seen it for the first time recently

[@jamesdedood5724]

The Proposition The Big Country Once upon a Time in the West Unforgiven

[@rhobot75]

Thank you. "movies for thought" given I'm not such a fan of the western. I did see No Country for Old Men in the theater. When I was a kid I saw the John Wayne version of True Grit with Kim Darby, that was a perennial along with Wizard of Oz and others that seemed to play every year. I'm glad the new version was deemed better.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

Coen Brothers "Blood Simple" is their best western (their first movie). Didn't hate "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" but I wouldn't rate it so highly but I would rate "No Country for Old Men" higher. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" belongs here for sure but yeah, their story is a little off.

[@mikebarratt6767]

So your saying if you want to show someone a western you would show them blood simple

[@TheFilipFonky]

I thought The Searchers had terrible direction. Most of the time instead of seeing the actual thing that was happening we'd just hear about it from the characters, describing what's going on "behind the hill".

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Exposition is fine; in fact, any technique can be fine -- the question is why it's being used when it's used. Since most people disagree with you, it would be interesting to read a thoughtful takedown of the film's direction for sure.

[@jackthomas6952]

No Wild Bunch?

[@wallygropius4451]

Justified is also a good "western" show worth checking out

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@darthelooi8021]

I have no idea why I don't love Deadwood. Westerns is one of my favorite genres, I love the other HBO shows of this time but something just keeps me from getting hooked, I've seen 50% of it so I'll finish it though. The acting isn't anything special (for the most part) which certainly is a part of it, but many shows have average acting but is still very good. Maybe I'll try again in a few years. Good list! I'm gonna try some of the newer stuff.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

well -- spoiler! -- nothing happens in Deadwood. I think it's all about the writing for me. I think I said this in a video, but I can't think of another show where every single character, even the minor ones, has their own way of speaking. almost nobody writes like that these days.

[@darthelooi8021]

@@LearningaboutMovies I'm gonna try to watch it differently from now on, thanks!

[@noname-bk7bc]

Hah, you got mine in your Honorable mentions :)

[@CcJjGg_]

No blazing saddles ? Jk, very nice list . Thank you. I like the 2010 true grit better myself. I have a hard time watching the Duke and bogart , although I did enjoy Sierra Madre

[@mikebarratt6767]

Blazing saddles is a parady of a western and is not funny

[@CcJjGg_]

@@mikebarratt6767 yea I agree ,was always more of a spaceballs the movie fan myself

[@markkodama6910]

Was High Noon on your list?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

no, not on the top 20. that one has never been my favorite, although a noted classic by just about everybody else. thanks for mentioning this.

[@JishnuShaj00]

Have you watched the great Silence by Cobrucci ? Pretty Good I'd add Wild bunch and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid too

[@SixFootTurkey_]

If you're gonna include No Country for Old Men as a Western, then I'd say Wind River must be too!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

for sure.

[@champipy]

Not much spagetti for us this time 😢

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I forget what I included -- it's been a few months since I made this -- though aren't there two Leone movies in here?

[@champipy]

@@LearningaboutMovies True, my bad. Somehow I missed the Top1

[@colmheathcote3831]

No country for old men, would have to be high on my list

[@ottobord]

No Django Unchained?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

no, I disagree strongly with what that movie is up to, or what I think it's up to. Short review is on letterboxd.

[@ottobord]

Yeah it's not there.

[@spitzwegayrich7837]

Ok and where is Sergio Corbucci?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Dead.

[@pvthitch]

Silverado..

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I watched it in order to make this video, and didn't love it as I probably would've 10-20 years ago. That said, many people stopping by to read this should check it out.

[@nickbirkhead7238]

No Corbucci? :(

[@LearningaboutMovies]

feel free to add what you like from him here.

[@Michael-we5xn]

Pale Rider

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Good one for sure

[@davewalter1216]

I was surprised at how much I agreed with your top 20 picks, if not the relative order, at least they all were truly great - except 'One-eyed Jacks'. I remembered that as terrible, but as it was available on Prime Australia (never a good sign), I tested my memory bias last night. Nope, this must be your own personal Brando fetish. From the initial munching bananas on the bank desk and tossing the peels on the scales to his 'Look for me in April' ride away at the end, this was Brando indulging his overweening ego. His character is a pretentious thug and so what if Karl Malden was worse - at least Malden could act (so could Ben Johnson - and I give Brando credit for employing all those great character actors). Brando could excel at times, cheeks stuffed with cotton and all, he still was Vito Corleone, but mostly he was just another Hollywood ego run wild. I think you should revisit this film and give a thorough explanation for why you think it is great. Not the screenplay certainly, none of the characters' behaviours made much sense. I mean, Brando deliberately gave Maldon the bullet and let him ride off - what did he expect? How was Maldon supposed to find new horses and then ride through the encircling Rurales? Come on. How could you hold not committing suicide against someone? I think you blew this one - and you could have put in 'The Naked Spur' or another of Anthony Mann's truly great Westerns ('The Man from Laramie' alone was not sufficient - how about 'Man of the West'?)

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I suggest writing less aggressively, as it's usually the sign of a deranged mind on KZbin. Better would be to adopt the style of ChatGPT when interacting with strangers. Saying "you blew it" is going to get you blocked/banned these days by creators, esp. when you say you like most of the content but have to quibble over one little thing. Those people, in my experience, are never worth dealing with. Anyway, I see Brando playing characters, not himself, as that's the main tenet of his acting method. Second, the direction is outstanding by almost every standard. Those two things make the movie worth it. People can be upset with characters, plot, etc., which is going to happen, and I don't blame them for that at all.

[@davewalter1216]

@@LearningaboutMovies I'm not sure why expressing my disagreement about 'One-eyed Jacks' is deranged - you asked for comments right? 'Tell me what you think' or words to that effect. You can block me if you want, but if you block everyone who politely disagrees with you while stating their reasons in detail, then you should not ask for opinions. I'm new to your channel and enjoying it so far, but after watching 'One-eyed Jacks' on your recommendation, I was disgruntled. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

[@SlurpingSoup]

Dude what? You’re one to stretch definitions but wow… Hell or Highwater as a western? No way. Great movie but cmon. No Josie Wales? A Fee Dollars More? Tombstone? Tarantino?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I get this kind of comment occasionally. The problem is you are arguing with everybody, not me. If IMDB, letterboxd, Amazon, etc., all classify something as a "Western," then go argue with them. It is completely stupid to whine about classifications that are common and ordinary here in the KZbin comments section.