Chloé Zhao's critically acclaimed film blurs the lines between fiction and documentary, telling the story of a young rodeo star, Brady Jandreau (playing a fictionalized version of himself), who suffers a near-fatal injury.

The film features non-professional actors, primarily real cowboys and family members from the Pine Ridge Reservation. Zhao spent months immersed in the community, resulting in a deeply authentic portrayal of contemporary cowboy life.

It's a poignant and intimate character study about identity, recovery, and the struggle to hold onto a way of life. The landscapes are beautiful, but the focus is firmly on the emotional and physical journey of its protagonist. It's a modern Western in the truest sense, showing the genre's themes alive today.

Directed by Jacques Audiard, this film is a European take on the American Western, based on the novel by Patrick deWitt. It stars Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly as the infamous Sisters brothers, assassins on a mission in 1850s Oregon and California.

Reilly, who also produced, was instrumental in getting the film made and brings a surprising depth and pathos to his character. The film blends dark humor with moments of genuine emotion and violence.

The dynamic between the two brothers is the heart of the story, exploring their complicated bond as they navigate a brutal world while questioning their chosen profession. It's a quirky, character-driven Western that feels both classic and fresh.

Another Coen Brothers entry, this is an anthology film presenting six distinct tales set in the American West. Each story offers a different facet of the Western genre, from the darkly comedic musical segment featuring Tim Blake Nelson as the titular character to more somber and philosophical narratives.

The film originated from stories the Coens had written over many years. It features a diverse cast across its segments, including James Franco, Liam Neeson, Tom Waits, and Zoe Kazan.

It's a showcase of the Coens' versatility and their fascination with the myths and realities of the frontier. The segments vary in tone but are tied together by a sense of fatalism and the harsh, often absurd, nature of life and death in the West. It was initially released on Netflix.

Andrew Dominik's film is a long, atmospheric, and deeply psychological Western that focuses on the complex relationship between the infamous outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and the young man who idolizes him, Robert Ford (Casey Affleck).

The film is less about action and more about character study, exploring fame, hero-worship, and betrayal. Brad Pitt delivers a nuanced performance as a paranoid and increasingly dangerous James, while Casey Affleck is compelling as the awkward and resentful Ford.

It features stunning, almost painterly cinematography by Roger Deakins, capturing the fading myth of the Old West. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis provided the haunting score. It's a film that requires patience but rewards viewers with its profound insights into its historical figures and the nature of celebrity.

An indie Western with a distinct visual style and a darkly comedic tone. Directed by John Maclean, it stars Kodi Smit-McPhee as a young Scottish man traveling across 19th-century Colorado in search of the woman he loves, accompanied by a mysterious and dangerous bounty hunter played by Michael Fassbender.

The film is beautifully shot, capturing the vast, often indifferent landscape. Fassbender is perfectly cast as the world-weary Silas, teaching the naive Jay (Smit-McPhee) the harsh realities of the West.

It's a quirky, melancholic journey that subverts some Western clichés while embracing others. The ending is particularly memorable and fits the film's overall tone of unpredictable violence in a seemingly peaceful setting.

This film takes the Western genre into unexpected horror territory. Directed by S. Craig Zahler, it follows a sheriff, a cowboy, a doctor, and a frontiersman on a rescue mission into hostile territory to save captives from a tribe of cannibalistic cave dwellers.

Despite its pulp premise, the film features surprisingly sharp dialogue and strong character development, particularly among the rescue party played by Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins.

It's known for its slow burn tension and sudden bursts of extreme, graphic violence. It's definitely not for the faint of heart, but it's a unique and well-crafted blend of Western tropes and survival horror that has gained a cult following.

Directed by Scott Cooper, this film is a somber and reflective Western set in 1892. Christian Bale plays a legendary Army captain tasked with escorting a dying Cheyenne chief and his family back to their tribal lands.

The journey is fraught with danger and forces the characters, who have a history of animosity, to confront their prejudices and the brutal history of the American West. The film doesn't shy away from the violence but focuses heavily on the psychological toll.

Bale delivers a powerful, internalized performance. Rosamund Pike is also excellent as a woman whose family is killed early in the journey who joins the group. It's a film about finding humanity and peace in the aftermath of conflict and trauma, set against breathtaking, rugged landscapes.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu directs this visually stunning and brutal survival epic inspired by the experiences of frontiersman Hugh Glass. Leonardo DiCaprio underwent extreme physical challenges for the role, finally earning his long-awaited Oscar.

The film is renowned for its immersive, naturalistic cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki, shot using only natural light. It's a visceral journey through the unforgiving American wilderness in the 1820s.

While not a traditional shoot-'em-up Western, it fits the genre through its exploration of the wild frontier, revenge, and the harsh realities of survival far from civilization. Tom Hardy gives a chilling performance as Glass's treacherous companion. It's a test of human endurance, both for the characters and the audience.

The Coen Brothers offer their take on Charles Portis's classic novel, previously adapted in 1969 starring John Wayne. This version is widely praised for being more faithful to the book's tone and dialogue.

Jeff Bridges steps into the role of Rooster Cogburn, delivering a performance that is distinct yet equally compelling as Wayne's. Hailee Steinfeld, in her breakout role as Mattie Ross, is absolutely incredible, holding her own against seasoned veterans like Bridges and Matt Damon.

The film features stunning cinematography that captures the harsh beauty of the frontier. It's a coming-of-age story wrapped in a classic revenge Western, executed with the Coens' usual precision and wit. Steinfeld received an Oscar nomination, a testament to her powerful debut.

Quentin Tarantino's second Western, this one is a snowy, claustrophobic chamber piece. Set shortly after the Civil War, it gathers a group of unsavory characters seeking shelter from a blizzard in a stagecoach stopover.

The film was shot on 70mm film, giving it a grand, sweeping look despite being mostly confined to a single location. The ensemble cast, including Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Walton Goggins, delivers theatrical, larger-than-life performances.

It's a dialogue-heavy mystery that slowly builds tension and suspicion among the characters. Ennio Morricone provided the score, his first for a Western in decades, and it earned him an Academy Award. It's a dark, often darkly funny, exploration of post-war American tensions and distrust.

Quentin Tarantino puts his signature stamp on the Spaghetti Western genre with this stylish and violent tale of revenge. Jamie Foxx stars as Django, a slave who teams up with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Christoph Waltz won an Oscar for his charismatic and morally complex portrayal of Dr. King Schultz. The film is packed with Tarantino's trademark sharp dialogue, eclectic soundtrack, and audacious action sequences.

It's a revisionist Western that tackles the horrors of slavery through the lens of grindhouse cinema, leading to both acclaim and controversy. Despite its challenging themes, it's an undeniably entertaining and visually striking film that pays homage to its genre roots while forging its own path.

Taylor Sheridan completes his 'Frontier Trilogy' (following Sicario and Hell or High Water) with this gripping thriller set on a Native American reservation in Wyoming. Jeremy Renner plays a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker who discovers a body, leading him to team up with an FBI agent played by Elizabeth Olsen.

The film is unflinching in its depiction of the harsh environment and the societal issues faced by the reservation community. Sheridan's direction creates a palpable sense of isolation and danger.

Renner and Olsen deliver powerful, understated performances as they navigate a complex investigation in a unforgiving landscape. It's a stark, impactful film that uses the Western setting to explore contemporary themes of justice and neglect on the American frontier.

This film is a brilliant, dusty, and melancholic look at modern Texas and the desperation that can drive people to extremes. Directed by David Mackenzie and written by Taylor Sheridan, it follows two brothers robbing banks to save their family ranch.

Jeff Bridges is phenomenal as the aging Texas Ranger on their trail, giving a performance that feels like a spiritual successor to classic Western lawmen. The film captures the economic hardship of rural America with striking authenticity.

The chemistry between Chris Pine and Ben Foster as the Howard brothers is palpable, grounding the high-stakes plot in genuine fraternal bonds. It's a critical darling that earned multiple Oscar nominations, praised for its smart writing, strong performances, and poignant social commentary dressed up as a thrilling chase.

The Coen Brothers delivered a modern masterpiece with this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Set in 1980 Texas, it masterfully blends the bleak landscapes of the Western with the tension of a crime thriller.

Javier Bardem's chilling portrayal of Anton Chigurh, the relentless and terrifying antagonist, is absolutely iconic and earned him an Academy Award. The film's sparse dialogue and deliberate pacing create an atmosphere of impending doom that's hard to shake.

It swept the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. It's a profound exploration of fate, choice, and the changing nature of evil, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of the neo-western genre.