There was a time, decades ago, when the Western was the dominant film genre, but a really good, old fashioned story of good vs. evil set in the early days of civilization only blows through every once in a blue moon these days. However, when you look at some of the best movies on Netflix, you will find a plentiful amount of beloved classics and modern favorites alike with epic shootouts, foreboding acoustic guitar chords, and a fair share of 10-gallon hats. Take a look at all the best Western movies that a Netflix subscription can offer right here below.
Silverado (1985)
Four strangers become friends while becoming unexpected traveling partners en route to the same town, where they end up becoming heroes.
Why it is one of the best Western movies on Netflix: Lawrence Kasdan (who also writes with his brother, Mark) directs a star-studded cast (including Kevin Kline, Kevin Costner, Danny Glover, Scott Glenn and more) in Silverado, which also calls The Magnificent Seven to mind in how it follows a group of men coming together in the name of justice.
The Power Of The Dog (2021)
A charismatic, but belligerent, ranch worker (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) becomes unexpectedly close to a young man (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is also the son of his brother’s (played by Jesse Plemons) new wife (played by Kirsten Dunst).
Why it is one of the best Western movies on Netflix: Jane Campion became the third woman to earn the Best Director Oscar for helming Netflix’s stirring adaptation of Thomas Savage’s novel, The Power of the Dog.
Stream The Power of the Dog on Netflix.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
When a slick outlaw (played by Jonathan Majors) learns that an enemy from his past (played by Idris Elbra) is being released from prison, he takes the opportunity to satisfy his long-gestating need for revenge.
Why it is one of the best Western movies on Netflix: Co-writer and director Jeymes Samuel’s Netflix original The Harder They Fall may bear a familiar plot description, but – with its stunning aesthetic and predominantly Black cast – is one of the most refreshingly unique Westerns in a long time.
Stream The Harder They Fall on Netflix.
Seraphim Falls (2007)
A former Union army soldier (played by Pierce Brosnan) is hunted down by a retired Confederate army colonel (played by Liam Neeson) who was wronged by him years earlier.
Why it is one of the best Western movies on Netflix: Two of cinema’s most esteemed Irish action heroes face off in Seraphim Falls – another intense, post-Civil War revenge tale.
Stream Seraphim Falls on Netflix.
The Furnace (2017)
A young Afghan man (played by Ahmed Malek) joins forces with a bushman (played by David Wenham) on the run with stolen gold in 1890s Australia.
Why it is one of the best Western movies on Netflix: Not all of the best Westerns are set in the American West, as writer and director Roderick MacKay’s The Furnace can vouch for.
Stream The Furnace on Netflix.
The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Joel and Ethan Coen returned to the Western genre with this collection of six tales set in the Old West – including one of a traveling entertainment promoter, another about a pair of bull-headed bounty hunters, and one of a gunman who likes to sing.
Why it is one of the best Western movies on Netflix: Even those who would not claim classic cowboy tales as their primary cup of tea can be whisked into the Coen Brothers’ underrated Netflix original, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – an anthology that incorporates a unique mix of traditional Western themes with startling violence, offbeat comedy, and even an Oscar-nominated musical number.
Stream The Ballad of Buster Scruggs on Netflix.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
A deadly snow storm forces eight despicable, distrustful, and downright dirty personalities (sworn criminals and crooked law enforcers alike) to hole up together in a misnamed “haberdashery” in post-Civil War Wyoming.
Why it is one of the best Western movies on Netflix: Featuring a killer ensemble that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and the Oscar-nominated Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight is one of Quentin Tarantino’s best movies for the way it shows what made the West so wild and is also available as a four-part extended edition on Netflix.
Stream The Hateful Eight on Netflix.
Stream The Hateful Eight: Extended Version on Netflix.
We reckon that, for anyone who calls themselves a fan of Western movies, it would be in their best interest to check out these film on Netflix.
