Best Modern Western Movies Proving The Genre Is Very Much Alive
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the genre has experienced something of a renaissance, much to the delight of its fans.
The Western genre seemed to be on the verge of death in the 1980s, after its "golden age" of the 1950s had long since passed, but it just seemed to refuse to die.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, it has experienced an unexpected resurgence, with true gems created by various filmmakers appearing over the years, so here are five modern Westerns that prove the genre is still alive and well.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Joel and Ethan Coen have several cult classics behind them, like Fargo ( 1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), or No Country for Old Men (2007), but the Western genre was uncharted territory for the pair until 2018.
This anthology film consisted of six very different stories, full of the creators' signature dark humor, which impressed both critics and fans.
Django Unchained (2012)
Although Quentin Tarantino was also new to the genre at the time, he managed to deliver an unforgettable story in his typical foul-mouthed and bloody fashion.
Black leads are not exactly common for Western movies, but Jamie Foxx did a fantastic job portraying the titular ex-slave turned bounty hunter, along with the rest of the cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio in an unusual villain role for him.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
This movie starring Kurt Russell and Patrick Wilson is a bit unique on our list, as it blends elements of two genres, starting as a typical Western and turning into a bloody horror as our heroes venture out to rescue prisoners from a cannibalistic Native American tribe.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Tarantino makes our list again, not only because he's so good, but also because The Hateful Eight is different from his previous foray into the genre, being much slower paced and more akin to classic Western stories.
When a group of colorful characters are forced to share a shelter from a blizzard, it becomes clear that their meeting is not as coincidental as it first seems.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
More than fifteen years after its release, this film has become something of a modern classic.
Starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, it's vaguely based on true events and, as the title suggests, tells the story of the legendary outlaw's demise.
