Saddling Up For The Wild West: Modern Westerns To Ride Into The Sunset With

Noura Haddad
Noura HaddadSeptember 16, 2025
The Western genre has long been a staple of American cinema, with its rich history, rugged landscapes, and unforgettable characters. In recent years, the genre has experienced a resurgence, with a new wave of filmmakers putting their own unique spin on the classic tales of the Wild West. From gritty dramas to action-packed thrillers, the modern Western has evolved to incorporate a wide range of themes and styles, while still maintaining the essence of the traditional genre.

One of the most notable trends in modern Westerns is the focus on character-driven storytelling, with complex and nuanced protagonists taking center stage. These characters are often flawed and multifaceted, with rich backstories and motivations that drive the plot forward. Additionally, many modern Westerns are incorporating diverse perspectives and voices, bringing a fresh and exciting energy to the genre.

The modern Western is also notable for its use of stunning landscapes and cinematography, capturing the vast expanses and rugged beauty of the American frontier. From the sweeping vistas of the open range to the dusty, sun-scorched streets of small-town America, the modern Western is a visual feast that transports viewers to another time and place. Whether you're a longtime fan of the genre or just discovering its joys, there's never been a better time to saddle up and ride into the sunset with the latest crop of modern Westerns.

In this list, we've curated a selection of the best modern Westerns from 2020 to 2029, featuring a mix of critically-acclaimed dramas, action-packed thrillers, and thought-provoking explorations of the human condition. So grab your cowboy hat and boots, and get ready to ride into the wild west with these unforgettable films.
Old Henry
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Old Henry

#1

A widowed farmer and his son warily take in a mysterious, injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide who to trust. Defending a siege of his homestead, the farmer reveals a talent for gun-slinging that surprises everyone calling his true identity into question.

202199 min
WesternActionDrama
7.3
620 votes
First Cow
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First Cow

#2

In the 1820s, a taciturn loner and skilled cook travels west to Oregon Territory, where he meets a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two team up on a dangerous scheme to steal milk from the wealthy landowner’s prized Jersey cow – the first, and only, in the territory.

2020122 min
DramaWestern
7.1
495 votes
Hostile Territory
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Hostile Territory

#3

Former P.O.W. Jack Calgrove moves Heaven and Earth to be reunited with his children following the Civil War. After returning home, Jack discovers that his wife has tragically died and his children, presumed to be orphans, are heading deep into the West on a train crossing enemy lines, with the intent of being placed into new homes. Calgrove and another soldier team up with a troop of Native American sharpshooters and a freed slave as they try to stop the train.

202294 min
WesternActionDrama
7.0
98 votes
News of the World
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News of the World

#4

A Texan traveling across the wild West bringing the news of the world to local townspeople, agrees to help rescue a young girl who was kidnapped.

2020118 min
DramaWesternAdventure
7.0
1830 votes
The Harder They Fall
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The Harder They Fall

#5

Gunning for revenge, outlaw Nat Love saddles up with his gang to take down enemy Rufus Buck, a ruthless crime boss who just got sprung from prison.

2021139 min
Western
6.6
1127 votes
Gunfight at Rio Bravo
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Gunfight at Rio Bravo

#6

When mysterious Russian gunslinger Ivan Turchin rides into a small Texas town, he runs afoul of a bloodthirsty outlaw gang known as The Hellhounds. Outmanned and outgunned, the town must put their trust in Turchin to protect them from annihilation at the hands of the bandits. The gunslinger finds allies in the form of Marshal Austin Carter and Sheriff Vernon Kelly, and together the three must make a desperate stand against impossible and violent odds.

202380 min
WesternAction
6.5
73 votes
Gunslingers
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Gunslingers

#7

When the most wanted man in America surfaces in a small Kentucky town, his violent history -- and a blood-thirsty mob seeking vengeance and a king’s ransom -- soon follow. As brothers face off against one another and bullets tear the town to shreds, this lightning-fast gunslinger makes his enemies pay the ultimate price for their greed.

2025104 min
WesternAction
6.5
68 votes
The Dead Don't Hurt
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The Dead Don't Hurt

#8

In the 1860s, fiercely independent French-Canadian Vivienne Le Coudy embarks on a journey with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen, attempting to forge a life together in the dusty town of Elk Flats, Nevada. When Holger decides to go fight for the Union in the burgeoning Civil War, Vivienne must fend for herself, which isn't easy in a town controlled by a corrupt mayor.

2024130 min
WesternDramaRomance
6.5
178 votes
Rust
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Rust

#9

Infamous outlaw Harland Rust breaks his estranged grandson Lucas out of prison, after Lucas is convicted to hang for an accidental murder. The two must outrun legendary U.S Marshal Wood Helm and bounty hunter Fenton "Preacher" Lang who are hot on their tails. Deeply buried secrets rise from the ashes and an unexpected familial bond begins to form as the mismatched duo tries to survive the merciless American Frontier.

2025139 min
Western
6.5
77 votes
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
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Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

#10

In 1859, families discover the lure of the Old West as they settle in territories from Wyoming to Kansas. Meanwhile, a gruff cowboy soon finds himself on the run with a prostitute and a young boy after killing a fellow gunman.

2024182 min
WesternDrama
6.9
558 votes
The Power of the Dog
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The Power of the Dog

#11

A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son, until long-hidden secrets come to light.

2021127 min
DramaWestern
6.8
2795 votes
Redeeming Love
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Redeeming Love

#12

A retelling of the biblical book of Hosea set against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush of 1850.

2022134 min
RomanceDramaWestern
7.9
649 votes
The World to Come
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The World to Come

#13

In 1856, two women forge a close connection despite their isolation on the American frontier.

2021105 min
RomanceDramaWestern
7.0
363 votes
Let Him Go
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Let Him Go

#14

Following the loss of their son, a retired sheriff and his wife leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas.

2020114 min
ThrillerCrimeWestern
6.8
725 votes

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