Although Tombstone stands out as an exemplary Western, there are several other great films of the genre with comparable quality. Val Kilmer as the iconic Doc Holiday. It’s no surprise that it quickly became a modern Western classic.
has been praised for its gripping storyline, legendary characters, and intense showdowns. It doesn’t re-invent the Western but instead delivers on all fronts of the genre very well. While, some Westerns lean into spaghetti Western tropes, and others use horror to subvert the genre, there are a number of Western movies, like Tombstone, that deliver classic Western stories about the American frontier, the people who tried to tame them, and the lengths they’ll go for revenge and justice.
15 Silverado (1985)
Misfits Band Together To Protect A Town
Silverado
- Release Date
- July 10, 1985
- Runtime
- 133 Minutes
- Director
- Lawrence Kasdan
Cast
Scott Glenn
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Lawrence Kasdan
When looking for a star-studded Western adventure with a fast pace and a fun tone like Tombstone, Silverado is an ideal choice. The movie brings together the likes of Kevin Kline, Danny Glover, Scott Glenn, and Kevin Costner in a scene-stealing early role. The story follows various good-natured heroes in the Wild West who find themselves converging on the same town of Silverado, where they are faced with the injustices of a corrupt sheriff.
Much like Wyatt Earp when he arrived in Tombstone, these characters are reluctant heroes who are not looking to get involved in situations that don't concern them but are also unable to turn their backs to the circumstances. Much like the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday, the heroes form an unlikely band who are willing to stand up when no one else will. Though Silverado is a more comedic movie than Tombstone, it still delivers on the high-stakes thrills of the Western genre.
14 True Grit (2010)
The Coen Brothers' Western Adaptation
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True Grit
- Release Date
- December 22, 2010
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
- Director
- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Cast
Barry Pepper
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
While John Wayne is a Western icon, Jeff Bridges managed to outdo him in one of his most iconic roles. The Coen Brothers delivered their own version of True Grit, adapted from the novel by Charles Portis, which is the version that Tombstone fans should seek out. Hailee Steinfeld delivered her breakout Oscar-nominated performance as a young girl who hired an aging and deadly US Marshal (Bridges) to hunt down the outlaw who killed her father and bring him to justice.
Bridges' Rooster Cogburn can be seen as a hugely entertaining mix of Tombstone's central characters, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. He is a man who has perhaps drunk himself past his prime, but he is also a lawman whose determination to bring justice knows no equal. The climactic scene of Cogburn charging towards the villains who outnumber him brings to mind Wyatt's charge on Wild Bill in Tombstone.
13 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (199)
A Buddy Western Adventure
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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
- Release Date
- September 24, 1969
- Runtime
- 111 Minutes
- Director
- George Roy Hill
Cast
Butch Cassidy
Sundance Kid
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- William Goldman
When it comes to Western movies that can bring charm and fun to true stories of the Old West, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is certainly one of the best. Paul Newman and Robert Redford make for one of the most iconic onscreen duos as a pair of outlaws who remain together throughout their journey of robbing trains and running from the law.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid features some high-stakes and harrowing moments, especially in the climactic shootout, but it also is a hugely entertaining and funny movie with some truly likable characters. Like Tombstone, it is also a deeply effective movie about friendship within the Western genre. Though their bonds are depicted in different ways, Butch and Sundance are just like Wyatt and Doc; friends who are willing to ride right until the end with each other.
12 The Harder They Fall (2021)
Real-Life Black Western Figures Populate This Fictional Story
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The Harder They Fall
- Release Date
- November 3, 2021
- Runtime
- 139 Minutes
- Director
- Jeymes Samuel
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Boaz Yakin, Jeymes Samuel
Once again, the Western genre takes real people from this era and uses them to tell an altered version of reality. The Harder They Fall is an ensemble Western adventure starring Jonathan Majors as Nat Love, an outlaw who rounds up a group of skilled gunslingers to take revenge on a vicious ex-convict named Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), who has recently been released from prison and shares a dark history with Nat.
It makes for a fun and energetic modern take on the Western genre that also features an incredible cast...
The Harder They Fall stretches history even more than Tombstone does with a collection of real-life Black figures from the Old West in this imagined scenario in which they all interacted. Like Tombstone, there is even a real-life iconic lawman brought into the story with Delroy Lindo playing Bass Reeves. It makes for a fun and energetic modern take on the Western genre that also features an incredible cast, including Regina King, Zazie Beetz, and LaKeith Stanfield.
11 The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Hired Guns Protect The Innocent
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The Magnificent Seven
- Release Date
- October 12, 1960
- Runtime
- 128 Minutes
- Director
- John Sturges
Cast
Yul Brynner
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- William Roberts, Akira Kurosawa, Walter Bernstein, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
One of the great Western adventures of all time, The Magnificent Seven brings the spirit of Tombstone's heroes, a group of capable warriors who were not willing to stand by and do nothing as evil men took control. Based on The Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven follows a group of gunslingers who are hired to help protect a village from some ruthless bandits looking to take advantage of them.
Like Tombstone, The Magnificent Seven features a rollicking adventure quality while being populated by stoic and compelling heroes who shine in the genre. The impressive cast includes Yul Brenner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson as the courageous heroes who put their lives on the line to protect the innocent. The movie was also remade in 2016 with the likes of Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke.
10 Wyatt Earp (1994)
Another Look At The Famous Lawman
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Wyatt Earp (1994)
- Release Date
- June 24, 1994
- Runtime
- 190 Minutes
- Director
- Lawrence Kasdan
- Writers
- Lawrence Kasdan, Dan Gordon
Cast
Dennis Quaid
Wyatt Earp (1994) is a biographical Western film directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring Kevin Costner as the legendary lawman. The film chronicles Wyatt Earp's life, focusing on his relationships with his brothers and his role in iconic events such as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The cast includes Dennis Quaid as Doc Holliday and Gene Hackman as Nicholas Earp, providing a comprehensive exploration of Earp's complex legacy.
- Main Genre
- Western
Fans of Tombstone looking for a more introspective and expansive take on Wyatt Earp’s life will find much to appreciate in Wyatt Earp. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring Kevin Costner as the legendary lawman, the film digs deeper into Earp’s character, exploring his childhood, family struggles, and the events that shaped him into a legendary figure of the Wild West.
While less action-packed than Tombstone, Wyatt Earp offers a more nuanced portrayal of its central character. It has a slower pace which focuses more on the complexities of justice and morality in a way that complements the thrills of Tombstone. The film’s sweeping cinematography and impressive ing cast, including Dennis Quaid as Doc Holliday, make Wyatt Earp a must-watch companion piece.
9 The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Showdowns Take Center Stage
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The Quick and the Dead
- Release Date
- February 9, 1995
- Runtime
- 107 Minutes
- Director
- Sam Raimi
Cast
Sharon StoneEllen
Gene HackmanJohn Herod
WHERE TO WATCH
The Quick and the Dead, directed by Sam Raimi, is a Western film released in 1995. It stars Sharon Stone as Ellen, a mysterious gunslinger who arrives in the town of Redemption to enter a quick-draw competition. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, and Leonardo DiCaprio, and delves into themes of revenge and justice in a lawless town.
- Writers
- Simon Moore
- Main Genre
- Western
Another 90’s western classic is Sam Raimi’s The Quick and the Dead. Unlike the previously mentioned films, The Quick and the Dead leans more into a stylized, heightened version of the West. It’s as if Raimi took all the archetypes of the genre and shoved them into one movie. And it works really well. Sharon Stone stars as Ellen, a mysterious gunslinger seeking vengeance in a small town controlled by Gene Hackman’s ruthless mayor, while Russel Crowe plays a preacher who refuses to fight. Not to mention, a babby-faced Leonardo DiCaprio as the cocky savant with a gun.
The film uses a tournament-style narrative where gunfighters have to duel for supremacy. It’s a fun, wild ride and Raimi uses every trick in his arsenal: kinetic editing, dramatic camera angles, and whip-fast zooms. With its mix of tension, dark humor, and raw emotion, The Quick and the Dead provides a modern, entertaining take on the genre.
8 Open Range (2003)
A Fight For Land
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Open Range
- Release Date
- August 15, 2003
- Runtime
- 139 Minutes
- Director
- Kevin Costner
Cast
-
Charley Waite
Boss Spearman
WHERE TO WATCH
Open Range is a Western film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. Released in 2003, the movie features Robert Duvall as Boss Spearman and Kevin Costner as Charley Waite, two cattle herders driving their herd across the American frontier. They become entangled in a violent conflict with a corrupt rancher, played by Michael Gambon. The film explores themes of justice, friendship, and redemption amidst the rugged landscapes of the West.
- Writers
- Lauran Paine, Craig Storper
- Main Genre
- Action
Open Range offers a deeply satisfying Western experience. Directed by and starring Kevin Costner, alongside Robert Duvall, the film tells the story of two cattlemen who clash with a corrupt land baron. The film’s slow-burn narrative emphasizes the bonds of friendship and the struggle to uphold justice in a brutal and unforgiving world.
Duvall’s portrayal of Boss Spearman, a seasoned rancher with a moral code, perfectly complements Costner’s stoic and determined Charley Waite, a man haunted by his violent past. The climactic shootout, praised for its realism and visceral impact, rivals Tombstone’s best action sequences. Beyond the violence, Open Range offers heartfelt moments of humanity and redemption, making it a standout in the Western genre and a spiritual companion to Tombstone.
7 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Getting To The Train On Time
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3:10 to Yuma
- Release Date
- September 6, 2007
- Runtime
- 122 minutes
- Director
- James Mangold
WHERE TO WATCH
A struggling rancher volunteers to escort a notorious outlaw to the train that will take him to prison. As the journey unfolds, both men engage in a psychological battle of wills, testing their morals and resolve while facing relentless danger from the outlaw's gang and the harsh frontier.
- Writers
- Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Elmore Leonard
- Main Genre
- Western
- Cinematographer
- Phedon Papamichael
- Producer
- Cathy Konrad
- Production Company
- Tree Line Film, Relativity Media, Lionsgate, Yuma, Columbia Pictures
- Sfx Supervisor
- Mark Dornfeld
- Budget
- $55 million
3:10 to Yuma is all about tension, morality, and character-driven drama. Directed by James Mangold, this remake of the 1957 classic stars Christian Bale as a down-on-his-luck rancher who has to escort a dangerous outlaw, played by Russell Crowe, to a train bound for justice. Their chemistry is incredible, with both characters slowly earning each other's respect as things get more intense.
Like Tombstone, this movie dives into themes of duty, redemption, and how blurry the line between hero and villain can be. The pacing is perfect, keeping you on edge until the explosive finale. Plus, Ben Foster’s menacing performance as Crowe’s right-hand man adds even more layers of tension. With its gorgeous cinematography, complex characters, and emotional depth, 3:10 to Yuma is a must-watch for anyone who loves Westerns.
6 Unforgiven (1992)
A Masterpiece Meditation On Frontier Justice
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Unforgiven
- Release Date
- August 7, 1992
- Runtime
- 130 Mins
- Director
- Clint Eastwood
Cast
Bill Munny-
Gene HackmanLittle Bill Daggett
WHERE TO WATCH
Unforgiven follows retired gunslinger Will Munny as he is drawn back into his former life for a final mission, seeking justice with his old partner and a young outlaw called The Schofield Kid.
- Writers
- David Webb Peoples
- Main Genre
- Western
Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven is a gritty and introspective take on the Western genre, earning it a place as one of the most critically acclaimed films of its kind. Eastwood stars as William Munny, a former outlaw turned farmer who is pulled back into a life of violence for one last job. Alongside Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman, the film explores the harsh realities of frontier justice, the cost of violence, and the myth of heroism.
What sets Unforgiven apart is its willingness to deconstruct the romanticized view of the Old West and the western genre in and of itself. It offers a darker and more nuanced portrayal of its characters and world. However, like Tombstone, fans will appreciate the film’s moral complexity, intense showdowns, and unforgettable performances. It’s a Western that challenges traditional tropes while still delivering the gunfights and tension that’s a mainstay of the genre.
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