The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) Directed by Sergio Leone, this epic Western stars Clint Eastwood as Blondie, a skilled gunslinger who teams up with two other men to find a cache of stolen gold. Along the way, they must outwit a ruthless bandit named Tuco (Eli Wallach) and a sadistic Union soldier named Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef). IMDb rating: 8.8.
The Searchers (1956) Directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, The Searchers tells the story of Ethan Edwards, a former Confederate soldier who embarks on a years-long quest to rescue his kidnapped niece from Comanche raiders. As he searches for her, Ethan must confront his own hatred and racism. IMDb rating: 7.9.
High Noon (1952) Directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper, High Noon is a classic tale of a sheriff who must face down a gang of outlaws on his own. As he waits for the noon train that will bring the gang to town, the sheriff must confront the cowardice of his fellow citizens and his own fear. IMDb rating: 7.9.
Rio Bravo (1959) Directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, Rio Bravo is a classic Western about a sheriff who must defend his town against a powerful rancher and his hired guns. Along the way, he is helped by a drunkard (Dean Martin), a young gunslinger (Ricky Nelson), and a feisty saloon girl (Angie Dickinson). IMDb rating: 8.0.
The Magnificent Seven (1960) Directed by John Sturges and starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson, The Magnificent Seven tells the story of a group of seven gunfighters who are hired to protect a Mexican village from bandits. As they train the villagers to defend themselves, the gunfighters must confront their own mortality. IMDb rating: 7.7.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) Directed by Sergio Leone and starring Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, and Claudia Cardinale, Once Upon a Time in the West is a classic tale of revenge and redemption. When a mysterious stranger (Bronson) arrives in a small town, he becomes embroiled in a deadly conflict with a ruthless businessman (Fonda) and his hired guns. IMDb rating: 8.5.
The Wild Bunch (1969) Directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, and Robert Ryan, The Wild Bunch is a violent and nihilistic Western about a group of aging outlaws who plan one last heist. As they ride toward their final showdown, they confront their own mortality and the changing world around them. IMDb rating: 8.0.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and James Stewart, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a classic tale of the Old West. When a young lawyer (Stewart) arrives in a frontier town, he must confront a notorious outlaw (Lee Marvin) and his brutal enforcer (Valance). Along the way, he learns the truth about the legend of a local gunslinger (Wayne). IMDb rating: 8.1.
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) Directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, A Fistful of Dollars is a classic spaghetti Western about a mysterious stranger who plays two
