Westerns Were Dead in the 2010s, but These 15 Are Worth Watching

Westerns might have seemed like a thing of the past in the 2010s, flying under the radar as superheroes and sci-fi took the spotlight, but that doesn't mean the genre was out for the count; there were still some real gems that came out, proving that stories of the wild west, outlaws, and dusty showdowns still had a lot to offer.

1. Django Unchained (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

In the pre-Civil War South, Django, a freed slave, teams up with Dr. King Schultz, a German bounty hunter, to rescue his wife from Calvin Candie, a ruthless plantation owner, employing cunning and brute force in a quest that brings them face-to-face with extreme violence and dark realities of slavery.

2. Forsaken (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%

In 1872, John Henry Clayton, a notorious gunfighter, returns home to reconcile with his estranged father, a preacher, but finds his town under the grip of a ruthless land grabber, compelling him to take up arms once again to protect his community and find redemption.

3. Never Grow Old (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

An Irish undertaker in a California frontier town sees a boom in business when a dangerous outlaw takes control, imposing a reign of terror; faced with moral decay and the safety of his family, he must make a stand or compromise his values for survival.

4. The Salvation (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%

In 1870s America, a Danish settler, Jon, avenges the murder of his wife and son, only to incur the wrath of a local gang leader, setting off a cycle of violence and retribution in a community caught in the crossfire, challenging the ideals of justice and revenge.

5. True Grit (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Following the murder of her father, determined 14-year-old Mattie Ross hires the grizzled, alcoholic U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn and teams with Texas Ranger LaBoeuf to track down the killer, Tom Chaney, embarking on a perilous journey that tests their grit and resolve.

6. The Hateful Eight (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%

In post-Civil War Wyoming, eight strangers seeking refuge from a blizzard in a stagecoach stopover find themselves embroiled in a web of betrayal and deception, as secrets are unveiled and tensions rise, culminating in a violent standoff.

7. Hell or High Water (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

Two brothers, Toby and Tanner Howard, execute a series of bank robberies across Texas to save their family ranch from foreclosure, drawing the attention of a soon-to-retire Texas Ranger, Marcus Hamilton, who is determined to bring them to justice, leading to a cat-and-mouse chase through the desolate landscape.

8. The Sisters Brothers (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

In 1850s Oregon, infamous assassins Eli and Charlie Sisters are hired to kill a gold prospector who has stolen from their employer, embarking on a journey that challenges their lethal profession, their bond as brothers, and their understanding of right and wrong.

9. Hostiles (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%

In 1892, Captain Joseph Blocker reluctantly escorts a dying Cheyenne war chief, Yellow Hawk, and his family back to their tribal lands, facing harsh landscapes and hostile combatants, a journey that forces them to confront their prejudices and mutual distrust, fostering an unlikely respect.

10. Wind River (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Cory Lambert, a wildlife officer, discovers the body of a young Native American woman on a Wyoming reservation, prompting an investigation with rookie FBI agent Jane Banner; together, they delve into the community's dynamics and race against time to solve the chilling mystery.

11. Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

In the 1890s, a small town's sheriff, Franklin Hunt, leads a desperate mission to rescue townsfolk abducted by cannibalistic cave dwellers, navigating the treacherous terrain of the Old West alongside a ragtag group, facing brutal horrors and moral dilemmas.

12. Slow West (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

In the late 19th century, a young Scottish aristocrat, Jay Cavendish, travels to the American frontier in search of his lost love, accompanied by a mysterious outlaw, Silas, encountering outlaws and bounty hunters in a journey that reveals the harsh realities of the frontier.

13. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

This anthology film weaves together six tales of the American frontier, each featuring distinct characters ranging from a singing cowboy to a gold prospector, exploring their adventures and misfortunes with a mix of humor, violence, and existential pondering.

14. The Homesman (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

Tasked with transporting three women driven mad by the harsh frontier life back to Iowa, Mary Bee Cuddy, a strong-willed pioneer, employs the help of George Briggs, a claim jumper, facing daunting challenges across the vast landscape that test their endurance and humanity.

15. Black '47 (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%

Set during the Great Famine in Ireland, an Irish Ranger, Feeney, deserts the British Army to return home and finds his family decimated by starvation and tyranny, sparking a vengeful campaign against the British landlords and officials responsible, showcasing the brutal impact of colonialism.