Underrated 90s Western on Prime is a Must-Watch for Blue Bloods Fans

Summary

• Tom Selleck is known today thanks to Blue Bloods, but his career also includes many roles in Westerns.
• One of his movies in particular, Quigley Down Under, has been rediscovered by fans of the actor.
• This Australian-American Western is available to stream for free.

Legendary actor Tom Selleck is beloved by many for his portrayals of tough, but fair characters. Audiences will always remember the actor for his defining roles in two television crime dramas: Thomas Magnum on Magnum, P.I. and Commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods.

Blue Bloods fans are surely awaiting the fourteenth and final season, which will be released shortly, on February 16. We have two weeks of agonizing anticipation ahead of us, so it's a great opportunity to get acquainted with Selleck's other enchanting performances.

After all, the actor was no less of a Western star than, say, Clint Eastwood or Sam Elliott. An interesting example is the Australian-American produced film Quigley Down Under, which received mixed reviews upon its release, but is now being rediscovered by Tom Selleck fans.

Underappreciated Movie That Deserves to Be a Western Classic

American screenwriter John Hill conceived the idea for Quigley Down Under while researching the massacres of aboriginal people in Australia, but the film went through development hell, changing production companies, attached directors and even potential stars, including Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood.

As a result, the film rights were acquired by Pathé and directed by Australian Simon Wincer, who modified the script to make it much more historically accurate.

The plot centers on American cowboy and sharpshooter Matthew Quigley (Selleck), who is hired by Australian landowner Elliott Marston, played by the equally legendary Alan Rickman. However, it turns out that Quigley's job is to exterminate the Aborigines, which brings the protagonist into conflict with Marston, who is now hunting not only the Aborigines but also the American with his henchmen. Texas-born Crazy Cora (Laura San Giacomo) also joins the fray, and together with Quigley she must stand up for the natives.

Upon its release, the movie was received rather coldly, earning only $21.4 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $18 million. The only critic who was more or less warm to the film was Robert Ebbert, who gave it 2.5 stars out of 4, praising the acting and production quality but criticizing the formulaic script.

Nevertheless, the movie has started to gain more recognition in recent years. After all, it is a rather conventional and therefore worthy Western, full of epic action scenes, embellished by Quigley's pathos-laden one-liners. However, the Outback setting gives the movie a special Australian flavor.

Where and How to Watch the Movie?

Luckily, this Western set in the Australian Outback is available to stream for free on several services!

First, Quigley Down Under can be streamed on Amazon Prime, specifically through the integrated Freevee. Freevee is a free service that relies on advertising for its revenue. That's why you don't even need a basic subscription to Prime Video — all you need to do is visit the Prime website or download the dedicated Freevee app to your devices.

Second, the movie is available for free streaming on Tubi. Like Freevee, this is a free, ad-supported platform that does not require a subscription.

The movie is also available in HD on the Internet Archive. Viewing it is perfectly legal, as Internet Archive is a non-profit library that preserves digital content.

However, for those who want to watch the movie on other platforms by renting or purchasing it, there are several ways to do so. The cheapest option for renting is on Prime Video, as Quigley Down Under in HD is priced at $3.89. Buying it on Prime costs $14.69, but a much cheaper option is the Microsoft Store — it costs $12.99. You can also rent or buy the movie on Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play and YouTube.