The 10 Best Western Movies Of The Decade (According To Rotten Tomatoes)

The 10 Best Western Movies Of The Decade (According To Rotten Tomatoes)

Westerns experienced something of a resurgence in the 2010s, with these being the decade’s best western movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.

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Westerns are unique in their ability to capture a timeless moment in history while offering some of the best cinematography in movie history. Whether it’s the classic spaghetti westerns from the ’60s and ’70s or the new grittier ones released today, westerns will always have an audience. The likes of Sergio Leone and John Wayne may be gone, but their influence has never been stronger with some of the best westerns released this past decade.

Not to mention some subtle homages to the greats, westerns today still possess the same sense of adventure and danger found in the originals. With that here are The 10 Best Western Movies Of The Decade (According To Rotten Tomatoes).

Only films that are classified as “westerns” on Rotten Tomatoes will be considered, which is why Slow West and The Sisters Brothers miss out.

10 Hostiles (2018) 71%

Christian Bale returns to the old west in 2018’s Hostiles as a reluctant army captain who is given the task of escorting a Native American and his wife. The director of Black Mass, Crazy Heart, and Out of the Furnace, Scott Cooper has shown he’s capable of more than just historical biopics.

Cooper’s entry into the western genre shows his versatility as a director, and will likely continue to do so in the future. Hostiles is less of a typical shoot ’em up western and more of a reflection of the dangers of westward expansion and manifest destiny, the darkness residing in the hearts of man as he conquers more and more. This gritty depiction of the west was well met with critics and audience members, making it a hit for both Cooper and Bale.

9 Blackthorn (2011) 74%

A continuation of the classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the beloved Cassidy is still alive and living under the alias of James Blackthorn. After being on the run for quite some time, he looks to return home until an unexpected encounter with a stranger stalls his homeward journey.

With Sam Shepard as the lead, Blackthorn is both an homage to the west and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, doing it justice by continuing the legacy of a legend. Not only that, actor Sam Shepard was revered for his charismatic attitude as the beloved Cassidy, whose original portrayal of Robert Redford’s character was transitioned perfectly in this not-so official sequel.

8 The Keeping Room (2015) 74%

This thriller-western follows a trio of women who succumb to repeated attacks by drunken soldiers toward the end of the Civil War. The realistic aspects of The Keeping Room give it a darker tone, similar to that of Hostiles.

Despite having a relatively unknown cast (aside from Sam Worthington), The Keeping Room holds up amongst the best westerns of the decade. Furthermore, director Daniel Barber’s inclusion of historical realism with the civil war offers a glimpse at the dying south, the final remnants of a seceding people.

7 In a Valley of Violence (2016) 76%

Featuring some experienced stars with some surreal humor, In a Valley of Violence did more for critics than fans. Essentially it’s an homage to the old west but possesses a similar sense of humor to that of the Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

A band of outlaws against a bunch of misfits and a dog named Abbie, In a Valley of Violence is an acquired taste. While staying true to common tropes and conventions of the old west, director Ti West attempts to imbue new life into a genre stuck in time. Genre blending can be a hit or miss, with In A Valley of Violence landing right in the middle.

6 The Homesman (2014) 81%

Tommy Lee Jones directed and starred in his own film alongside Hilary Swank in this Cannes Film Festival selection. Another one featuring an all-star cast with names like James Spader, John Lithgow, Tim Blake Nelson, Mirando Otto, and William Fitchner, The Homesman pulls on some heartstrings in this tale of protection and devotion.

Some of the best movies are the ones that fly under the radar, avoiding detection and competition from bigger titles. The Homesman is a prime example of this but still consists of an experienced cast.

5 Meeks Cutoff (2011) 86%

Another one of Kelly Reichardt’s film festival favorites, Meeks Cutoff made a brief appearance in theatres and was a financial failure. Among critics, the movie was labeled as a success whose western realism was definitive in its depiction of the Oregon Trail days.

Desperation and suffering are at the forefront of the movie, almost warranting the label of a thriller. The group integrity and morality are tested in their search for water as well as an encounter with a native American whose intentions are unknown. Reichardt’s film is a diamond in the rough amongst the western’s of this decade and certainly deserves credit where its due.

4 Django Unchained (2012) 87%

No one makes movies like Tarantino, but with the release of 2012’s Django Unchained, it’s now safe to say no one tackled slavery quite the same way as Tarantino did. An homage to Franco Nero’s Django (who even makes a cameo as a slave owner), Django Unchained represents the best of what Western’s offer: Fast gunfights, trumpet-roaring scores, hateful villains, and some one-liners.

Christoph Waltz (despite playing the evil Hans Landa in his previous role) plays the memorable Dr. King Schultz with some of the best dialogue in Tarantino’s collection.

3 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) 91%

The Coen Brothers returned to the big screen with a vignette-style film focusing on 6 different tales in the wild west. Some better than others, the collection embodies a nihilistic attitude towards life in the west and the senselessness of the crime. Despite its darker portrayal, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs does have some light-hearted moments that prompt a laugh or two.

On top of that, the film consists of an all-star cast with names like Liam Neeson, Tim Blake Nelson, Clancy Brown, James Franco, and Willie Watson. Despite mixed reviews from critics, it still received a certified fresh from Rotten Tomatoes as well as a 77% audience score, making this one of the best productions of the Coen Brothers.

2 Bone Tomahawk (2015) 91 %

Horror and westerns are two genres that rarely cross, but Bone Tomahawk proved the dynamic duo can work perfectly. Despite its brief appearance in theatres, the film features some notable character actors like Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins, and David Arquette, not to mention Kurt Russell’s lead role as Sherrif Hunt. S. Craig Zahler’s hauntingly violent movie features some grotesque scenes, especially one that drove audiences out of theatres.

The score from Rotten Tomatoes is well deserved as an example of genre-blending done right. The west may be full of dry air and hot sun, but what lurks within can become something else entirely.

1 True Grit (2010) 96%

A remake of the classic John Wayne film, True Grit stars Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon in this tale of a justice-seeking young girl. After her father’s murder, naive but brace Mattie Ross stops at nothing to ensure justice is brought to outlaw Tom Cheney.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and this one is certainly justified. As one of Matt Damon’s best roles, True Grit features a grittier (get it?) and a more realistic version of the beloved tale, highlighting the lengths people will go to for vengeance.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/western-movies-2010s-best-decade-rotten-tomatoes/

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