Every Netflix Western movie, ranked

Netflix
has unleashed thousands of original feature films and TV shows since its rise to popularity as a streaming service, with some of ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​most biggest of its biggest original original Westerns. The humble West once dominated cinema, being to pop culture of the past what the superhero movie is today. Despite the success of the best Westerns of the 21st century, most studios have been hesitant to explore new stories in this seemingly worn-out genre. However, thanks to their deep pockets and impressive resources, Netflix has been a driving force in keeping the West alive.

True, when it comes to raw numbers, Netflix actually ranks among the bottom streaming services in terms of its sheer number of Westerns available. That said, the original westerns that contribute to it are easily some of the greatest entries in the old western genre to come out of the streaming age, with high quality that surpasses all but a select number of similar films made in the modern era. Era. While not every Netflix original western is perfect, some of Netflix’s best original work in general takes place in the romantic windswept landscapes of the Wild West.

8

The ridiculous 6

The film was released in 2015

A stark outlier in quality when lined up with the rest of Netflix’s Western offerings, The ridiculous 6 is not only a horror western, but one of the most critically panned original streaming service releases in the history of cinema. Not to be confused with the Western Hall-of-Fame classic The magnificent 7 Or Quentin Tarantino’s modern pulp thriller The hateful eight, the ridiculous 6 Take the comedic stylings of one Adam Sandler to the Old West. Sandler stars as a cowboy who meets up with his estranged stepbrothers in order to track their outcast father’s return to the desolate countryside.

Not only is The ridiculous 6 Dealing with the worst original westerns to come from Netflix Studios, But this is also one of the worst comedies of Adam Sandler’s career, which is really saying something low Sandler’s filmography reaches. Even Sandler’s signature sense of humor isn’t enough to save this awkward ensemble comedy that’s constantly at odds with itself, never barely able to squeeze a laugh out of even the comedian’s most die-hard fans. The ridiculous 6 Is mixed in awkward stereotypes, questionable problematic humor, and unrefined gags that crumble on impact with the audience.

7

Paradox

The film was released in 2018

Compared to the rest of Netflix’s cowboy repertoire, Paradox Hardly counts as a feature film at all, let alone a true western. Contrary to this point, the movie (as much as it can be called one) centers around a group of outlaws who find themselves on the run from the law, hiding away in some isolated mountains. As they pass the time hunting for treasures along the mountain range, they exchange reveries, music and stories by the light of the full moon. The film is heavily colored by performances of songs from Neil Young’s eponymous album, Paradox.

As a piece of media, Paradox is basically the neat little bonus feature of a studio album masquerading as a full-length movie. In truth, the whole experience is more like an extended music video, with the loose narrative and framing being a thin excuse to engage with the cutting edge of Neil Young’s discography. Releasing around the same time as the album it shares a name with a given viewer’s enjoyment of Paradox Will largely depend on their affinity for the artist it celebrates, with all but die-hard fans getting little of the experience.

6

The killer

The film was released in 2017

One of Netflix’s few Westerns produced overseas, The killer is a fascinating development in a non-American culture’s understanding of the Wild West on a level not seen since the great spaghetti westerns of old. The film follows a reclusive outlander named Shaggy living by himself on the edge of tamed society. Seeking to uncover the truth behind his adoptive father’s disappearance, Shaggy enters civilization for the first time in his life, and becomes a feared gunslinger during his journey.

The killer It is not only made in Brazil, but it also takes place there, examining the lawless state of Pernambuco in the early to mid-20th century. The film demonstrates a fierce understanding of what makes a typical revenge western work while injecting its own unique Brazilian flair into the mix. Diogo Morgado gives a thrilling performance as the bestial Shaggy, conveying the fierce tenacity of a being raised outside the watchful eye of human society. Although it may be a bit generic for a westerner, The killer Is as steady as Shaggy’s aim with a gun.

5

thar

The film is releasing in 2022

Netflix’s second international take on a typical Western, thar Shakes up the typical formula of the genre quite a bit by simultaneously being an Indian crime thriller. A neo-western set in the modern day, the film centers on Siddharth, a lonely city boy who finds himself at the center of a deadly investigation in a remote Indian village on the edge of the Tar Desert, from which the Film is coming. Its title. Siddharth teams up with the local police officer, Surekha Singh, to solve a mysterious string of murders before the case can spiral out of control.

One of Netflix’s best Indian action thrillers, thar Also provides the platform with one of his better Westerns despite not actually happening in the American West. The film bears all the trappings of a great neo-western, slowly chipping away at a driving mystery that keeps the narrative engaging. that is, thar is driven by its compelling character dynamics and Anil Kapoor’s great performance as Inspector Surekha Singh, with the real story stretched thinly across the bleak horizon of the Thar Desert itself.

4

Concrete cowboy

The film is releasing in 2020

Not every western necessarily needs to be filled with blood, guts and lead on the same level as films like this tar, As proven by Concrete cowboy. A thoughtful, tender coming-of-age story, Concrete cowboy Starring Idris Elba as Harp, an African-American cowboy living in a unique Western culture nestled in Philadelphia. Harp is visited by his estranged son, Cole, for the summer, ingratiating him into his unique community while providing some valuable lessons about responsibility and inner strength.

Between its more urban setting and relative lack of violence, Concrete cowboy It doesn’t mean it should be as effective as a Western on paper. However, the intense drama of Harp and his relationship with his son create a quietly brilliant atmosphere with which the film can enrich itself. Elba is great as ever, but Caleb McLaughlin also revels in a rare opportunity to shine outside of Stranger things. Concrete cowboy may strain the lines of what a western truly is, but its compelling drama makes up for its efficient placement on the lines of the genre.

3

The power of the dog

The film is releasing in 2021

While the deep dialogue of Brokeback Mountain It may forever cement its fame as the single greatest western to dissect LGBT themes, it has a real modern contender in The power of the dog. Featuring brilliant performances, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank, a hardened rancher whose brother, played by Jesse Plemons, brings home a new wife and step-son. Phil is relentlessly abrasive to the new influences in his life, though his gruff exterior eventually gives way to a rare opportunity for tender romance with his new step-nephew.

Unlike most Netflix originals, The power of the dog was critically acclaimed, earning a staggering 12 Academy Award nominations and even earning director Jane Campion. From the performances, to the strong themes that are rarely discussed in movies in general, let alone a Western one, it is easy to see why the movie has touched the hearts of many. that is, The power of the dog Is perhaps a little over-rated by academic appraisers, loaded with predictable plot twists, glacial pacing and eye-rollingly obvious visual metaphors that aren’t as clever as the film thinks they are.

2

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The film was released in 2018

One of the last outings of the legendary cinematic duo, the Coen brothers, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Breaks new ground for what the western genre is capable of achieving. A rare Western anthology film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is comprised of a handful of short stories, each with their own unique brand of dark comedy, meditative contemplation of human nature, or thrilling gunplay. More often than not, the macabre stories weave together all three, particularly the first short, which follows the Bugs Bunny-esque adventures of the titular legendary gunslinger, Buster Scruggs.

The film represents some of the Coen brothers’ best comedic instincts while retaining their penchant for downer stories filled with misery, death and misery. As different as each vignette is, they all maintain a cohesive thematic plotline that maintains a well-defined tone throughout the entire experience, with its cast of hardened trailhands, gay prospectors, and hapless criminals all feeling like they belong in more or less the same world. . Like any anthology, some of the stories are stronger than others, making for an uneven experience compared to Netflix’s best original westerns.

1

The harder they fall

The film is releasing in 2021

As far as traditional Western movies go, it’s hard to find a better representative in the 2020s than Vi The harder they fall. A revenge story typical of the genre, the movie follows the adventures of Jonathan Majors’ Nat Love, an outlaw who scours the West with an iron trigger finger. When he discovers the man who killed his parents, Rufus Black (portrayed by Idris Elba), has been released from prison, he gets his old gang back together to exact his revenge.

The harder they fall May be a fairly standard Western as far as the story’s setup goes, but it manages to beautifully describe why stories such as itself are still worth telling even in modern times. From Majors’ Nat Love to Elba’s Rufus Black and Zazie Beetz’s Stagecoach Mary, the cast is positively stacked with heavy hitters, resonating with one another to convey a grandiose finished project that can stand with the best revenge movies around. With the sheer kineticism of James Samuel’s careful direction, The harder they fall Easily tops Netflix West Library.