TheWestern, a genre referred to as films that depict the Old West, is really popular around the world and has a cult following. After the first major Western movie,The Great Train Robberyhit theaters, the genre started getting recognition.
Over the last few decades, theater-goers viewed a number of critically-acclaimed Western movies starring the likes of Clint Eastwood and James Garner. FromTombstonetoWild Bill, the decade featured some of the best Westerns that Hollywood had to offer. Fans can easily explore some of the best Westerns of the ’90s with a few good recommendations and suggestions of the more modern representation of the Wild Wild West.
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Updated on August 2nd, 2023 byDanilo Raul:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
12Tombstone (1993)
Unique as it may seem, Westerns were a dying breed in the decade. However, some solid work was still being produced with top talent at the helm.Tombstoneis the best biopic about Wyatt Earp, though it isn’t the only one fans have seen over the years. Kevin Costner tried hard to compete with this masterpiece almost six months later to no avail. George P. Cosmatos directed the remarkable story, based on a screenplay by Kevin Jarre.
The fantastic ensemble cast featuresthe talents of Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Bill Paxton, and Sam Elliott. While the story explores the rise to power of the whole family, it does a great job revisiting the legendary showdown at the O.K. Corral between the Earp brothers and the Clanton gang. It’s a powerful story full of charismatic performances, especially from Kilmer, who steals the show as the infamous Doc Holliday.
11Dances with Wolves (1990)
By 1990 Kevin Costner had the star power to make his own films, which resulted in an epic story about the wild west.Dances with Wolvespresents an epic tale set during the American Civil War; the story is written and directed by Costner with the assistance of Michael Blake, who adapted the screenplay from his own novel.
Dances with Wolveschroniclesthe life of Lieutenant John Dunbar, who, in a moment of misguided bravery, turns the tide of a lost battle. He is awarded his commanding post, where he proceeds to befriend a tribe of Lakota Sioux and found a new path in life. The story made a complete sweep at the Oscars, with incredible imagery and a respectful portrayal of Indigenous culture.
10Far and Away (1992)
The life of settlers in America was far from ideal, and not many films touched upon the subject. 1992’sFar and Awayis an underrated masterpiece directed by Ron Howard, with a screenplay co-written by Bob Dolman. The story features the talents of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as two Irish immigrants, Joseph and Shannon, who travel to America seeking land and prosperity.
It’s a rough story as Joseph and Shannonhave to deal with the lawlessness of the erawhile facing the challenges posed by the unforgiving locals. The movie works as an unconventional love story, where nothing is black and white, and claims for the sake of prosperity are settled with strength and brute force.
9Wild Bill (1995)
Wild Bill Hickok is one of the most intriguing figures in the Wild West, so it’s pretty odd that there aren’t more films about this historical character. Written and directed by Walter Hill with the help of Thomas Babe, the star-studded cast featured thetalents of Jeff Bridges, Ellen Barkin, Diana Lane, and John Hurt.
In the film,Wild Billtraveled the frontier while making a name for himself. He occasionally also went for a fling with Calamity Jane. Wild Bill eventually becomes a performer for a traveling circus until he finally meets Susannah, the woman who would be the love of his life. With his health declining, he does his best to navigate through the lawless town of Deadwood, but his past eventually catches up with him.
Related:The 10 Most Influential Westerns of All Time, Ranked
8The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
Sometimes Westerns can have a lot of drama without even featuring a single character shooting a gun.The Hi-Lo Countryis the kind of Western fans can watch even if they’re sensitive to the typical Western gunfights and bloodshed. Directed by Stephen Frears and written by Walon Green, the cast includes Billy Crudup, Woody Harrelson, Penelope Cruz, and Patricia Arquette.
The movie offers a small story about two childhood friends named Big Boy and Pete,who return to their small New Mexico town after World War II. They become entangled in a love triangle and a dangerous rivalry with a local man named Jim Ed who is trying to buy all the land in their town to build his empire. It’s a complex story with plenty of nuances, as there’s no straightforward narrative of two against the world that one would expect from a classic Western tale.
7Ride with the Devil (1999)
Ang Lee directedRide with the Devil, a story about two friends named Jack and Jake who join the Bushwackers gang. They set out to take revenge on the Jayhawkers gang for the death of Jack’s father. Jack starts developing feelings for a widow named Shelley, but he later ends up getting injured in a fight and dying from gangrene.
While Shelley gives birth to Jack’s daughter. Jake eventually starts developing feelings for Shelley and ends up marrying her. Unfortunately, he’s forced to return to the fight when ex-soldiers started hunting down and killing his former squadmates.Ride with the Devilstars Tobey Maguire and Jewel Kilcher, was based onDaniel Woodrell’s novelWoe to Live On.
6Desperado (1995)
Desperadofollows the story of a man named El Mariachi, whose lover is killed. After her murder, El Mariachi sets out with guns in his guitar case to track down an infamous drug lord named “Bucho” who killed his lover to avenge her death.
While fighting with Bucho’s men at a bar, El Mariachi meets a Bucho-financed bookstore owner Carolina, who ends up deciding to help El Mariachi kill Bucho.Desperadowas Salma Hayek’sfirst major movieas a lead actress, and after the success of this movie, she rose to stardom. Robert Rodriguez'“Mexico"trilogy features a few great hits for fans of Westerns, thoughDesperadois the most rewarding.
5Maverick (1994)
Maverickfeatures the story of a gambler named Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson), a gambler and scoundrel on a mission to take part in a five-card draw poker tournament with a winning prize of $500,000. However, the entry fee is $25,000, and he only has $22,000.
To collect the other $3,000, he sets out to the town of Crystal River, where he meets a young con artist named Annabelle Bransford, who decides to help him in return for her own cut of the winnings. Directed byRichard Donner, the Academy Award-nominated movieMaverickfound both critical and commercial success, earning $183 million worldwide.
Related:15 Tombstone Facts You Never Knew Until Now
“The gunfight is in the head, not the hands.” Director Sam Raimi’sThe Quick and the Deadintroduces a gunslinger known as “The Lady” who takes part in a single-elimination shooting tournament organized by the town’s leader, Herod. Through that tournament, she wants to take revenge on Herod for killing her father while he invaded the town of Redemption.
She eventually meets Cohort, a former member of Herod’s gang whose forced to take part in the tournament. They’re joined by “The Kid,” who wants to win Herod’s respect because he believed that Herod was his father.The Quick and the Deadstarred Sharon Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe. Sadly, it wasSpartacusactor Woody Strode’s last movie.
3Lone Star (1996)
Lone Starfollowed the story of Sam, a sheriff in Rio County, Texas. While growing up, Sam used to like a girl named Pilar. However, Sam’s father Buddy, who was a retired deputy chief, and Pilar’s mother Mercedes' disapproval caused their separation.
After an investigation into a skeleton located on a shooting range, Sam discovered it belonged to the town’s old corrupt Sheriff, who preceded his father. Dark secrets about the town are revealed to him, and he’s forced to decide if he should pursue the investigation or let remain an unsolved mystery.Lone Starwas nominated for the Academy Award for Best Writing and has a rating of 94% on RottenTomatoes.
