Despite its century-long history, the western genre remains popular, continuing to attract viewers with sagas about the frontier. We've put together a selection of fresh films in this genre, featuring both revisionist experiments and traditional cowboy stories.
American Primeval (2025)
The Mountain Meadows Massacre through modern filmmakers’ eyes.
The six-part series American Primeval takes viewers to 1857 in Utah, where the tragedy known as the ‘Mountain Meadows Massacre’ unfolds. The series portrays the brutal attack by the Mormon militia on a caravan of pioneers traveling from Arkansas to California, resulting in the deaths of over 100 innocent people.
Director Peter Berg and screenwriter Mark L. Smith, known for their work in action and historical dramas, try to reflect on this grim page of American history. The series doesn’t strictly follow historical accuracy but rather presents a fantasy based on historical events.
The Last Ronin (2024)
Post-apocalyptic western with elements of other genres.
Director Max Shishkin's debut, The Last Ronin, is an eclectic post-apocalyptic blockbuster that’s hard to categorize as a traditional western. The film combines elements of Mad Max, Oldboy, The Book of Eli, Game of Thrones, and gritty spaghetti westerns.
Yuri Kolokolnikov’s character, walking through the desert with a machine gun at the ready, evokes Django from Sergio Corbucci's famous film. Shishkin attempts to adapt the western to Russian realities, blending a story of cyclical violence with the aesthetics of the Wild West. Instead of Native Americans and coyotes, the characters face mercenaries and killer robots.
1923 (2022-2025)
The Dutton family saga amid economic crisis.
1923 is another spin-off of the Yellowstone franchise, a prequel to the original series and a sequel to 1883. Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the Dutton family saga, tells the story of ranch owners struggling with greedy competitors and the approaching Great Depression. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren star, with Mirren nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.
Set in 1923, the show highlights the struggles of farmers in Montana facing a locust invasion and conflicts over land and resources. 1923 is a hard-hitting, straightforward western that authentically captures the atmosphere of the era.
Strange Way of Life (2023)
Pedro Almodovar's revisionist western.
Pedro Almodovar’s revisionist western premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Despite its short duration (31 minutes), it became one of the most talked-about films.
Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal star, with Anthony Vaccarello serving as one of the producers and artists. The film follows cowboy Silva, who visits an old friend, Sheriff Jake, 25 years after their last meeting. Nostalgic memories of their youth are interrupted when Jake’s brother’s wife is murdered, and the sheriff’s son becomes the prime suspect.
Horizons: Part 1 (2024)
A classic western from Kevin Costner.
Kevin Costner’s three-hour western, Horizons: Part 1, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film presents a classic western with all the genre's staples: violent battles between natives and pioneers, a damsel in distress, and a tough cowboy. While it might seem outdated, classic genre lovers will appreciate it.
Rio Bravo Gold: The Sheriff Kelly Mystery (2025)
The conclusion of a low-budget western trilogy.
Rio Bravo Gold: The Sheriff Kelly Mystery is the final chapter of a low-budget western trilogy by director Joe Cornett and producer Alexander Nevsky. The series is a loose adaptation of Howard Hawks’ cult western Rio Bravo, where the character of Sheriff John Chance is replaced by Ivan Turchin, a former general from the Russian Empire (played by Nevsky).
In this installment, Turchin and Sheriff Vernon Kelly team up to clear the Mexican border of bandits and uncover Confederate gold lost during the Civil War.
