Even though it seems that the time of good westerns is gone, it must be said that they had a significant influence on modern cinema and storytelling. They are still loved and regularly rewatched by many movie fans. Westerns showed a romanticized image of the Wild West and the life of cowboys. At the same time, creators of those movies revolutionized how people look at cinema in general. Westerns introduced stuntmen to Hollywood, mixed drama with comedy, and proved that a good story could be worth millions of dollars. Here are the top westerns movies ever made that shaped an industry and changed the movie-watching experience.
The Searcher
This movie, based on the novel with the same title, was a great hit. With a $3.75 million production budget, it quickly earned $5 million, which was a significant sum in 1956. Since that date, Warner Bros made several more millions on this production.
The Searcher
The Wild Bunch – Doubled Budget
The ’60s brought a revolution in the cinema, and westerns became one of the most profitable genres. Sam Peckinpah, director of this movie, proved that the $6 million budget could be doubled just within few months after the premiere.
The Wild Bunch – Doubled Budget
Stagecoach
It was in 1939 when a not yet known young actor named John Wayne appeared. This $531,000 production was also a milestone in the career of John Ford. This film would become John Wayne’s first great Western.
Stagecoach