10 Underrated Westerns From the 2020s You May Not Have Seen

The 2020s have already seen a series of acclaimed Westernswith tastes Flower Moon Assassins and The power of the dog receiving rave reviews and several award nominations for the quality of filmmaking on display. Considering that most mainstream attention and appreciation has been devoted to these higher-profile names, the current decade’s blockbusters have overshadowed a number of criminally underrated genre offerings, to the point that many film fans may not even be aware of the its existence.

Although the current decade has yet to produce a film that would be considered one of the best Western films ever made, the signs have been promising so far. In the vein of the underrated westerns of the 2010s, the 2020s have already produced a number of remarkably underrated genre outings that the average viewer probably hasn’t seen. From films that successfully channel trappings of other genres to outings that rely on tried-and-tested Western tropes, the current decade has seen a number of excellent Western films that many fans may not have even heard of.

10

World News (2020)

Directed by Paul Greengrass

Led by Tom Hanks, World news tells the story of Captain Jefferson Kidd, an elderly Civil War veteran who must undertake a perilous journey to deliver a young girl to her last surviving family. Directed by Bourne pillar of the Paul Greengrass franchise, the 2020 film is one of the highest-rated western film offerings of the decadeearning an impressive 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Led by a typically assured performance from Hanks in the lead role, World news treads familiar ground to produce a comforting, if somewhat unadventurous, Western. Helena Zengel is excellent in her supporting role as Hanks’ young protégé, adding another layer of emotional investment to the film’s uplifting narrative. World news isn’t as relentlessly grounded as some of Greengrass’s previous offerings in the Bloody Sunday or United 93but the quality of the film is not harmed by the director’s more measured approach this time around.

9

No Man’s Land (2021)

Directed by Conor Allyn

A gripping contemporary Western drama that makes a passing attempt at relevant social commentary, 2021 No Man’s Land is a surprisingly evocative tale. Starring director Conor Allyn’s brother Jake in the lead role alongside of the Kingdom Frank Grillo as his father, the film follows the journey of a young fugitive in search of personal redemption after he accidentally kills an illegal immigrant while on vigilant border patrol.

While No Man’s Land gets bogged down in parts by the typical genre tropes audiences have come to expect from contemporary Westerns, Allyn’s film is a remarkably moving and thought-provoking offering. The film probably doesn’t make the most of its rich characters and nuanced premise, but the Allyn brothers’ efforts combine for a gently paced Western that just doesn’t get all the credit it’s due.

8

The Pale Door (2020)

Directed by Aaron B. Koontz

An engaging western with touches of horror2020 The pale door sees a group of hardened bank robbers face off against a group of nightmarish witches after a train robbery goes wrong. A low-budget offering featuring a host of unknown names, Aaron B. Koontz’s film received largely negative reviews, with critics citing the film’s inability to make the most of its compelling premise as the main factor behind its flaws. wider.

That said, there’s an intensely enjoyable viewing experience at the heart of The Pale Door, if viewers are willing to look past some of the script’s wonky writing and pacing issues. The cast’s performances are excellent, while the film’s practical effects used to bring the witches and their town to life on screen are particularly impressive considering The Pale Door budget restrictions. A solid B-movie Western, Koontz’s film is one of the most entertaining genre offerings to make its debut since 2020.

7

Let It Go (2020)

Directed by Thomas Bezucha

Based on the novel of the same name by Larry Watson and led by two powerful performances from Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, 2020 Let it go is a neo-Western drama set in North Dakota in the 1960s. a former sheriff and his wife’s desperate attempts to rescue her young grandson, Jimmyafter the boy is taken to live off the grid by his abusive new stepfather and his family.

One of the best neo-western films in recent memory with the trappings of a good old-fashioned revenge film Let it go is relentlessly engaging and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. A dusty, blood-soaked tale about retribution and the unshakable bonds that exist between families, Thomas Bezucha’s outing is a remarkably underrated diamond in the rough for the genre. Lesley Manville is particularly excellent in her villainous role as the ruthless Blanche, serving as a gloriously wicked foil to Costner and Lane’s leads.

6

Old Henry (2021)

Directed by Potsy Ponciroli

A showcase of renowned actor Tim Blake Nelson’s impressive dramatic credentials, Potsy Ponciroli Old Henry received critical acclaim upon release in 2021. Following the exploits of the titular character as he tries Defend your child and your family home from a gang of nefarious thugsPonciroli’s film was shot on a budget of just $1.5 million, but it arrives with more quality and gravitas than a number of higher-budget offerings in the broader genre.

Serving as a loving testament to Western classics while drawing on its tried and tested means for success, Old Henry is a meticulously constructed cinematic experience. Nelson’s courageous lead performance as an aging Billy the Kid is undoubtedly the highlight of the criminally underrated film, but Ponciroli’s smooth direction and the film’s explosive climactic sequences are commendable elements in their own right.

5

Choro Macho (2021)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

A moving neo-Western drama directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, 2021 Cry Macho he follows an aging rodeo star who is hired to free a young boy from the clutches of his abusive mother. in Mexico. The film received mixed reviews, with criticism directed at the film’s script and what was considered by some to be an atypically inferior performance by the film. Dirty Harry star.

Despite such criticisms, Cry Macho The stunning cinematography and reflective tone combine to make 2021’s ride an enjoyable watch. Cry Macho doesn’t come close to touching the dizzying heights of Eastwood’s best films in the style of The good, the bad and the ugly, but it’s still an entertaining and underrated showcase of the Hollywood icon’s proficiency as an actor and director set against the backdrop of a genre where he’s done some of his best work.

4

Dead for a Dollar (2021)

Directed by Walter Hill

Featuring one of the most impressive casts no one has ever heard of, Killed for a dollar stars big names like Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe and Rachel Brosnahan against the backdrop of a gripping Western thriller. The film sees a bounty hunter tasked with returning a businessman’s missing wife after she is allegedly kidnapped by an army deserter. Directed by proficient western filmmaker Walter Hill, the 2021 film features everything audiences would expect from a blockbuster genre release.

However, despite what appeared to be a surefire recipe for success on paper, Killed for a dollar It surprisingly received mixed reviews and failed to generate little mainstream fanfare. However, while the film may not have lived up to the expectations of the film’s A-list stars, Hill’s film is still a solid, old-school Western that remains worthy of a watch for any fan of the genre, if a somewhat adventurous one.

3

First Cow (2020)

Directed by Kelly Reichart

It’s fair to say that a cow seems like an unlikely premise for one of the most quietly stunning Westerns of the 2020s, but Kelly Reichart’s film First Cow Quickly dispels that notion in two hours of first-rate cinema. Set in Oregon during the 1800s, the film tells the story of two men who secretly steal milk from an outpost’s only cow to bake cookies for profit and their eventual downfall.

Premiering at the Telluride Film Festival in 2019, the film was released theatrically in 2020 to a wave of critical acclaim, citing Reichart’s direction and the cast’s performances as notable high points of an excellent Western drama. A captivating story of companionship that highlights the excellent chemistry between the film’s main duo, John Magaro and Orion Lee, First Cow is undoubtedly one of the most underrated westerns of the 2020sas well as one of the leading contenders for best cow film of the decade.

2

Butcher’s Crossing (2023)

Directed by Gabe Polsky

Based on the novel of the same name by John Williams and set against the backdrop of the Old West, 2023 Butcher’s Crossing chronicles a dangerous buffalo hunt that quickly turns into a visceral fight for survival. A common western, Gabe Polsky’s film depends heavily on the presence of Nicolas Cage for its success, with the Long legs star delivering another excellent performance as the mysterious frontiersman Miller amid his later career resurgence.

Placing a narrative emphasis on historical themes along the lines of obsession and greed, Butcher’s Crossing doesn’t discover any exciting new frontiers for the broader genre, but the film makes the most of what it has to work with safely. The end result is a polished, well-acted Western; an underrated cinematic offering that notably benefits from the stunning visuals afforded by the film’s natural landscape.

1

The More They Fall (2021)

Directed by Jeymes Samuel

Featuring a killer soundtrack and an ensemble cast, Jeymes Samuel’s The more they fall is an unwavering triumph for the genre. A well-acted, blood-soaked revenge story, the 2021 western carries the unenviable label of being associated with Jonathan Majors following the actor’s fall from grace. This unfortunate state of affairs likely contributed to the film’s underrated status in 2024.

Problematic casting choices aside, The more they fall Fortunately, the inherent quality doesn’t depend on Majors’ involvement with the film. From the film’s cinematography to the electric action sequences, Samuel’s must-see Western is a top-notch film in every way, and a criminally underrated one to boot. In addition to a number of top-notch performances from the wider cast, Idris Elba shines with intensity in his role as the film’s antagonist Rufus Buck, bringing to life one of the genre’s most memorable villains in recent memory.