17 Classic Westerns on Prime That Still Hold Up in 2024

They're classics, sure, but not just museum pieces – they're alive, kicking, and as relevant as ever, even in an age where virtual reality is giving good old-fashioned cinema a run for its money.

17. Young Guns (1988)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 43%

A group of young gunmen, led by Billy the Kid, become deputies to avenge the murder of the rancher who became their benefactor, leading to a violent battle with the region's most powerful businessmen.

16. Quigley Down Under (1990)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%

An American sharpshooter is hired by an Australian rancher for a special job, but when he arrives down under, he finds himself in a moral battle against the rancher's cruel practices.

15. One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 61%

A bank robber seeks revenge on his former partner who left him to be captured by the law, leading to a complex plot of betrayal and redemption.

14. Vera Cruz (1954)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

Two American adventurers get involved in the Mexican Revolution and a plot to steal a gold shipment, leading to double-crosses and shifting alliances amidst the backdrop of political turmoil.

13. Dances with Wolves (1990)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

A Union Army officer who travels to the American frontier finds companionship and respect among a Native American tribe, challenging his loyalties and understanding of himself.

12. The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Seven gunfighters are hired by Mexican villagers to protect their homes from bandits, leading to a heroic stand and moral struggles in a classic tale of good versus evil.

11. Little Big Man (1970)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Western/Comedy – A 121-year-old man recounts his life story, being raised among Native Americans and experiencing key events of the American West, combining humor and historical perspective.

10. For a Few Dollars More (1965)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Two bounty hunters with different motives team up to track down a Western outlaw, leading to a deadly showdown amidst treacherous twists.

9. High Noon (1952)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

A town marshal, abandoned by his townspeople, faces a gang of deadly outlaws alone, leading to a tense countdown and a showdown in real-time.

8. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

A senator returns for a funeral and recounts his past as a young lawyer, where he stood up to a notorious outlaw, revealing the complexities of heroism and legend.

7. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

Three gunslingers compete to find a fortune in buried Confederate gold amidst the chaos of the American Civil War, leading to alliances, betrayals, and epic confrontations.

6. A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge, sparking off a new genre of Spaghetti Westerns.

5. The Big Country (1958)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

A sea captain arrives in the vast expanse of the West and finds himself caught between two feuding families, leading to a grand-scale conflict and a test of true grit.

4. The Tall T (1957)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

A rancher is kidnapped by outlaws during a stagecoach robbery and must use his wits to survive, leading to tense standoffs and a battle of wills in the rugged wilderness.

3. Stagecoach (1939)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

A group of diverse passengers on a stagecoach must navigate the dangers of the Old West, including an Apache attack, leading to unexpected friendships and revelations.

2. Red River (1948)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

A cattle rancher and his adopted son clash on a demanding cattle drive, leading to mutiny, revenge, and a dramatic resolution in a sweeping epic.

1. Winchester '73 (1950)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

The journey of a prized rifle from one ill-fated owner to another parallels a cowboy's quest for vengeance, leading to a series of intense encounters in the Old West.