Our 5 Favourite Western Films!

If you can’t tell by the theme of our mobile slots game, A Spinfull of Dollars, we’re loving the Western vibe over here at mFortune!

So much so that over the last weekend, we’ve been brushing up on our favourite Western films to help us pick our favourite five! So hold onto your hats Cowboys (and Cowgirls), and get ready for a ride through the frontier! So, in no particular order, to start us off we have…

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

1966

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Luigi Pistilli

Directed By: Sergio Leone

Runtime: 161 minutes

During the American Civil War, a loner takes on the task of finding stolen gold, all the while going up against a brutal bounty hunter and a Mexican bandit. With beautiful cinematography and an amazing soundtrack, there’s a reason this film is deemed to be iconic. At nearly three hours long, though, you’ll need a toilet break in the middle, partner!

The Searchers

1956

Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Natalie Wood

Directed By: John Ford

Runtime: 119 minutes

When loner Ethan Edwards returns home following the Civil War he joins a band of Texas Rangers dedicated to defending their territory against the Indians. However, during an attack several homes are attacked, and Ethan returns to find his brother and sister in law dead, and his two nieces kidnapped. The Searchers follows Ethan on his quest for finding his family in this epic western.

Unforgiven

1992

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris

Directed By: Clint Eastwood

Runtime: 131 minutes

A reformed gun-slinger named William Munny is forced to pick up the tool of his trade once more in a bid to feed his family. Munny also takes on a sadistic sheriff, while avenging and assisting the local prostitutes following a brutal attack. What’s not to love about this western?

True Grit

2010

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin

Directed By: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Runtime: 110 minutes

What do you get when you put a fourteen year old girl, a U.S marshal and a lawman in the same movie? True Grit. With the story told from the perspective of fourteen year old Mattie Ross, we follow her hunt for justice and vengeance against the man who killed her father. An amazing western that does Charles Portis’ original novel justice.

The Homesman

2014

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep, Grace Gummer

Directed By: Tommy Lee Jones

Runtime: 122 minutes

When living on the edge of the American frontier becomes too much for three women, the task of saving them falls into the hands of Mary Bee Cuddy. When the reality of their escape and the dangers they will face dawns on Mary, she employs a low-life drifter to help them travel east to the home of a minister and his wife. However, a lot of terrain is between the women and safety… Will they make it?

Have you seen all the westerns in this list? Do you agree with our choices? Why not let us know on Facebook, and join in on the conversation?