While more of a tense, modern thriller than a traditional neo-western, Denis Villeneuve's Sicario is set squarely on the volatile U.S.-Mexico border and shares the harsh, unforgiving landscape often central to the genre. The film follows an idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) who is enlisted in a government task force to take down a powerful Mexican drug cartel leader. What unfolds is a morally ambiguous descent into the brutal realities of the drug war, guided by mysterious and jaded operatives (Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro, in a chilling role). While it lacks the character journey or philosophical contemplation of films closer to 'Lonesome Dove,' it vividly portrays the lawless, violent frontier that still exists in parts of the West today. The cinematography is stunning, capturing the stark beauty and danger of the borderlands, making it a compelling watch for its atmospheric intensity and unflinching look at a modern conflict.

Chloe Zhao's acclaimed film The Rider offers a poignant and authentic look at contemporary cowboy life in the American West. While not a narrative-driven crime or justice story like many neo-westerns, it shares 'Lonesome Dove''s focus on character, the connection to the land, and the challenges faced by those who live by traditional codes. The film stars Brady Jandreau, a real-life rodeo rider playing a fictionalized version of himself, who must confront his identity and future after a near-fatal riding accident. Filmed with non-professional actors in the Pine Ridge Reservation, the movie has a documentary-like feel, capturing the quiet struggles, resilience, and deep bonds within a close-knit community of riders. It's a beautiful, melancholic, and deeply human portrait of a young man grappling with loss and finding a new path in a world where the cowboy way is increasingly difficult to sustain.

From the writer of 'Hell or High Water' and 'Sicario,' Taylor Sheridan's Wind River transports the neo-western sensibility to the snow-covered plains of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. This isn't a tale of cowboys and cattle drives, but it captures the isolation, harshness, and struggle for justice in a remote American frontier. Jeremy Renner plays Cory Lambert, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker who discovers a body in the wilderness, leading to an investigation alongside a rookie FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen). The film delves into the difficult lives and systemic issues faced by those living on the reservation, using the murder mystery as a lens to explore deeper societal wounds. It's a stark, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant film that highlights the continued existence of 'frontier' issues in contemporary America, driven by strong performances and a palpable sense of place.

Directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones (a legend from 'Lonesome Dove' himself!), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is a powerful and moving modern Western that echoes the themes of loyalty and journey found in classic tales. Jones plays Pete Perkins, a ranch foreman on the Texas-Mexico border who, after his friend Melquiades Estrada is accidentally killed and hastily buried, takes it upon himself to honor a promise: to bury Melquiades in his hometown in Mexico. What follows is a difficult, often brutal, forced march across the rugged, unforgiving landscape, with Pete dragging the man responsible for the death along with him. It's a story about justice, redemption, and the deep bonds of friendship, set against the backdrop of the harsh realities of border life. Jones brings a quiet intensity and profound humanity to his role, crafting a film that feels both epic in its scope and deeply personal in its emotional core.

The Coen Brothers' adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, No Country for Old Men, is a chilling and masterful journey into the heart of the modern American West. While perhaps darker and more fatalistic than 'Lonesome Dove,' it shares a profound connection to the landscape and the idea of a changing world leaving traditional figures behind. The story centers on a hunter who stumbles upon a briefcase full of money after a drug deal gone wrong, setting off a relentless, almost supernatural pursuit by one of cinema's most terrifying villains, Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem, in his Oscar-winning role). Tommy Lee Jones anchors the film as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, an aging lawman struggling to comprehend the escalating violence he witnesses – a perfect embodiment of the 'old men' grappling with a world they no longer recognize. The film's sparse dialogue, stark visuals, and palpable tension create an atmosphere that is both beautiful and terrifying, making it a modern classic of the neo-western genre.

If you're looking for a modern take on classic Western themes, Hell or High Water is an absolute bullseye. Set against the dusty, economically depressed landscapes of West Texas, this film follows two brothers – one a divorced father trying to provide for his kids, the other an ex-con – who resort to robbing banks to save their family ranch. Their journey is expertly counterpointed by the pursuit led by a near-retired Texas Ranger (played with incredible world-weariness by Jeff Bridges, in an Oscar-nominated role) and his half-Comanche partner. The dialogue, penned by Taylor Sheridan (who also wrote 'Sicario' and 'Wind River'), is sharp, witty, and deeply rooted in the region's culture. It captures the spirit of the modern West – where traditional ways clash with harsh economic realities – much like a contemporary answer to the sprawling journeys of classic Westerns like 'Lonesome Dove.' It's a story about loyalty, desperation, and the fading American dream, delivered with grit and surprising humor.