The 21st century has seen many West movies, but there is one year in my opinion that stands out as the best for the genre. Throughout cinematic history, Westerns have been a staple of Hollywood. The stories of cowboys, gunslingers and outlaws have risen and fallen depending on the season, but their legacy is certain. Certain Western tropes have permeated popular culture, and continue to be used today, not to mention all the stars who were born into the genre. However, I think Westerns really reached their modern peak about nine years ago.
It may be surprising that there is one year in particular that stands out among the rest. Admittedly, “best year for Westerns in the 21st century” is somewhat difficult to define. Movies are often subjective, and what one viewer may love may be absolute torture to another. However, I loosely define The best year for Westerns in the 21st century as a year in which many critically acclaimed Westerns were released. Some of the best western movies of the modern era were released in 2015 and were critically acclaimed and financially impressive.
2015 was the best year for Western movies this century
How the Westerns of 2015 stand out
From 2000 to 2024, the year that stands out the most for me for Western movies is 2015. In this year, many amazing Westerns premiered and, even after almost a decade, have managed to remain popular. some of The most notable westerns to come out of 2015 include Bone Tomahawk, The Hateful Eight, The Revenant, And Slow west. Even 2015’s less-than-stellar westerns, viz Abandoned And Jane got a gun, They weren’t total failures, as both movies earned nice Rotten Tomatoes scores in the 40% range.
Notable western movies of 2015 |
Rotten Tomatoes scores |
Box Office |
---|---|---|
Bone tomahawk |
91% |
$476 million |
The hate eight |
75% |
$156 million |
The Revenant |
78% |
$533 million |
Slow west |
92% |
$1.3 million |
I have to say that 2015 was an incredible year for Westerns not just in terms of quantity but quality. Niha, All four of the above have Rotten Tomatoes scores that never dip below 70%.. The highest score is a 92%, while the lowest is a 75%. On top of that, two of the four films had fantastic box office performances. The Revenant Earned $533 million, while The hate eight Garnered $ 156 million. not to mention, The Revenant Won big at the Academy Awards, earning Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar for Best Actor.
What was the best western of 2015?
Bone Tomahawk vs Slow West
When considering the best westerns of 2015, I think it makes sense to look at critical reception. Although The Revenant Brought in a shocking amount of money at the box office, it didn’t hit critics or audiences (or me) in the same way as its peers. Bone tomahawk And Slow west were the biggest winners in the critical categoryEarning 91% and 92% respectively on Rotten Tomatoes. However, when pitting the two movies against each other, it’s easy to see that both films do vastly different things.
Related
Bone tomahawk And Slow west May have similar critical ratings, but they are wildly different in terms of content. Bone tomahawk Earned its solid rating by being a tense, slow-burn that eventually explodes into a terrifying horror film. The climax of the movie is unforgettable. Meanwhile, Slow west Also takes a slow-burn approach but offers a more absurdist ambience that leaves viewers feeling reflective and thoughtful. Ultimately, it depends on what audiences are looking for, however Bone tomahawk May come out a little on top Slow west Due to its incredible pacing and successful mixing of genres.
2007 comes close to 2015 for the Western genre in the 21st century
Are the Westerns of 2015 better than the 2007 ones?
I think it’s important to note that a runner-up for the best year for Westerns in the 21st century would be 2007. In that year, Two distinct Western movies hit the scene: 3:10 to Yuma And No country for old people. While 2007 doesn’t have the sheer number of amazing Westerns that 2015 does, these two films rank alongside the Westerns of 2015. 3:10 to Yuma Earned $71 million and earned 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. No country for old people Earned $171 million, and had the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of all the films, at 93%.
When discussing the most effective and notable westerns of the 21st century, No country for old people is certainly near the top of the list.
Once again, picking the best movie is a subjective choice, however No country for old people is definitely in the running. When discussing the most effective and notable westerns of the 21st century, No country for old people is certainly near the top of the list. Plus, it beats out Bone tomahawk And Slow west In terms of popularity, because these two movies are much smaller than the Coen Brothers movie. In that way, 2007 gives 2015 a run for its money, but regardless, I think the 21st century was a great time for Westerners.