Dating as far back as the silent era, while thriving in the 50s and 60s, before becoming a central component of modern cinema as well with its revisionist gaze, the Western genre is one of the defining pillars of film history. With core themes relaying to justice, redemption, and honor, and the exploration of such notions through complex yet defined characters, Westerns have come to be closely associated with American culture as a way to address and explore the nation's identity. However, Europe's spaghetti Westerns make up some of the most famous and revered films the genre has seen.

A genre with a timelessness born from its weighty ideas and evocative stories, it is no surprise that IMDb users have flocked to the popular movie website to cast their votes on the many hundreds of Western films the define the genre. Ranging from classics of decades past to some brilliant gems of the modern day, the 20 best Western films in the eyes of IMDb present a vast and all-encompassing array of the history of the genre.

20 'Stagecoach' (1939)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

The oldest film on this list, John Ford's classic Stagecoach marked a significant advancement for the genre. The plot focuses on a diverse group of passengers aboard a stagecoach journeying through dangerous Apache territory. Among them are the virtuous Lucy Mallory (Louise Platt), the alcoholic doctor Boone (Thomas Mitchell), the outlaw Ringo Kid (John Wayne) seeking revenge, and the enigmatic gambler Hatfield (John Carradine). The story blends action with comedy, violence, and tenderness.

Although some aspects of the film have aged poorly, there's no denying Stagecoach's influence. Countless Westerns took inspiration from its larger-than-life characters, vivid cinematography, and twisty plot. Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino references it in some scenes of The Hateful Eight, for example, and a young Orson Welles reportedly watched it 40 times while preparing to make Citizen Kane. This was also the film that firmly established John Wayne as an A-list star, paving the way for the classics that would follow.

19 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' (1976)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

The Outlaw Josey Wales epitomizes the grit and glory of the American frontier. Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, the film stars Clint Eastwood (who also directs) as the title character, a Missouri farmer turned outlaw seeking vengeance against the Union soldiers who killed his family. His mission takes him across the West, where he must constantly evade capture and forge unlikely alliances.

The highlight is the flawed, complex protagonist, with Wales wonderfully performed by Eastwood. The viewer even gets to see the gruff and grizzled icon shed a tear in this one. More importantly, Wales has both light and dark within him, challenging traditional notions of a Western hero. Eastwood has even gone so far as to call The Outlaw Josey Wales an "anti-war film," made in response to the Vietnam War. The cinematography is fittingly gloomy and moody, far more atmospheric than one would expect for a Western of its era.

18 'The Hateful Eight' (2015)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

This acerbic Western from renowned auteur Quentin Tarantino has had an interesting run, beginning as a moderate box office success that was hyped up based on it being a Tarantino movie, to now being viewed as an underappreciated cult classic of modern Western cinema. The violent thriller follows a group of strangers that hold up in a stagecoach stopover. With bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) escorting wanted crook Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to the hangman, suspicions begin to rise as it is made clear that someone in the cabin wants to break Domergue free.

A pulse-raising premise of contained tension and eruptions of intense violence, The Hateful Eight utilizes its three-hour runtime to deliver a subversive though scintillating Western. Featuring many of Quentin Tarantino's defining trademarks, such as his incredible characters, intoxicating dialogue, and palpable tension, the film has been warmly received by modern audiences, while critics have also sung its praises. It may not be Tarantino's best film, but it is a worthy feather in his cap as a true Western filmmaker, one that brings the genre to the unique yet engrossing setting of a snowy Wyoming to ratchet up the thrills.

17 'Tombstone' (1993)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Another excellent Western to use the star power of Kurt Russell in the starring role, Tombstone sensationalizes the heroics of Wyatt Earp and the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The famous lawman arrives in the town of Tombstone with his brothers in search of a quieter life, a plan that is brought undone by the lawlessness and corruption embedded in the town. With the help of the gambling gunslinger Doc Holloday (Val Kilmer), Earp and his brothers stand against the Clanton gang for the good of the townsfolk.

A thoroughly rewarding Western, Tombstone wasn't afraid to go against the revisionist grain that re-ignited the genre in the early 90s, flourishing as a rousing, old-fashioned American myth of good men standing against the wicked to help the innocent. Its simplicity as a tale with a stony exterior yet a soft heart remains emotionally effective to this day, especially with Val Kilmer's scene-stealing performance that has become iconic. A true Western story told incredibly well, Tombstone will remain a genre classic for a very long time.

16 'The Searchers' (1956)

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

One of the best and most striking collaborations between John Ford and John Wayne, The Searchers is a true classic that, unlike some other American Westerns from the duo, has only grown greater over time. Delving into themes of revenge, redemption, and racial prejudice, it follows a Civil War veteran as he sets out to rescue his niece who has been abducted by Comanche raiders. With his adopted son alongside him, the trek takes years, and the aging rifleman's venomous hatred becomes increasingly apparent.

Mesmerizing right up until its famous closing shot, The Searchers represents the majesty and magnificence Hollywood Westerns were capable of during the industry's golden age. Like many of Ford's greatest Western pictures, it flaunts awe-inspiring cinematography as the story takes its characters across many sweeping landscapes. Further enhanced by powerful and complex character development, a career-best performance from Wayne, and rich thematic exploration of challenging topics, it holds up incredibly well for being nearly 70 years old and is thoroughly deserving of its impressive IMDb score.

15 'The Wild Bunch' (1969)

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

While The Wild Bunch has come to be viewed as an all-time classic, the polarizing film wasn't always viewed in such an illustrious light, at least, not universally. The Western is known for its brutal violence, as it focuses on a gang of aging outlaws as they realize their golden days of crime are behind them and plan one final heist before retirement. When the robbery goes awry, however, the crooks find themselves in a lawless border town ruled by a vicious officer in the Mexican army while being pursued by a vindictive American lawman.

The infamous violence on display remains confronting even to modern viewers, but whereas audiences in the late 60s were horrified by it, people today have a greater ability to engage with what the film is actually engaging with through its visual horror. The revisionist Western is acutely aware of the genre's glamorization of such content, and director Sam Peckinpah uses innovative and striking film-making techniques to ensure his portrayal of gunfights can not be misconstrued or romanticized. As a result, The Wild Bunch has maintained a powerful relevance that has come to be appreciated better in hindsight, with modern viewers regarding it among the best Westerns of all time.

14 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964)

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

The first entry in Sergio Leone's acclaimed "Dollars" trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars features Clint Eastwood in his iconic leading role as the Man with No Name. His enigmatic and mysterious drifter rolls into a small border town whose inhabitants are embroiled in the midst of a bitter feud between two rival crime families. Seeing an opportunity to help the innocent people while making a profit, the stranger decides to play both gangs against each other.

A hallmark achievement of the spaghetti Western subgenre that thrived in Europe and found an appeal in America, A Fistful of Dollars has a notably grittier aesthetic than many of its Hollywood counterparts, with its grungier visuals and coarser characters making for a less pleasant yet far more engaging viewing experience. This style, while a budgetary constraint, perfectly suits its moral complexity of the film's ruthless world where civilized decency is targeted by the wretched. While it isn't quite as timeless as Leone's other spaghetti Westerns, it has still struck a chord with contemporary viewers, with Ennio Morricone's dazzling score possibly playing a part in that.

13 'Rio Bravo' (1959)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Another John Wayne classic, Rio Bravo epitomizes the moral conviction and courage associated with the heroes of the old West, doing so with a spectacular cast of stars and a rousing tale of human decency rising against uncivilized evil. It follows a small-town sheriff who arrests a suspected murderer only to learn that the killer's brother, an influential rancher with an aggressive gang of crooks, means to break him out of prison. The sheriff is determined to uphold justice and gathers a small posse consisting of a young gunslinger, the town drunk, and a crotchety old man.

Rife with towering characters, exceptional storytelling that makes the 141-minute runtime fly by, and no small amount of comedic punch, Rio Bravo is a classical Western narrative firing on all cylinders to present a film that is both dramatically engrossing and superbly entertaining. It was an instant hit, and it has only grown greater over time, with legendary filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, and Greta Gerwig citing it among their favorite films of all time, while it served as inspiration for John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13.

12 'The Ox-Bow Incident' (1942)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

"God better have mercy on you. You won't get any from me." After a rancher is brutally murdered, a posse forms hastily to track down the alleged perpetrators, a trio of drifters. They are led by the morally upright Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) and the impulsive Art Croft (Harry Morgan). However, as they confront the accused, doubts begin to emerge about their guilt.

The Ox-Bow Incident is a poignant morality tale and a critique of mob justice. The film breezes by at just 75 minutes long, but crams in a ton of drama. Indeed, it was ahead of its time in depicting a much bleaker vision of the Old West. Nevertheless, the movie received only a lukewarm reception on release, head-scratchingly being nominated for the Best Picture Oscar but nothing else. However, subsequent generations have been kinder to do it, recognizing its strengths. Not for nothing, Clint Eastwood has said that The Ox-Bow Incident is his all-time favorite movie.

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11 'Dances with Wolves' (1990)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Kevin Costner hit the ground running with his directorial debut, serving up the finest Western epic of the 1990s. He leads the cast too as Lieutenant John Dunbar, an isolated Union officer who finds solace and purpose in the company of the Lakota Sioux tribe. When tensions escalate, Dunbar is torn between his allegiance to the Union and his newfound kinship with the Lakota.

The film marries a thrilling story with a compassionate sensibility, emphasizing authenticity and rich characterization. In particular, it dives deep into the character of Dunbar, revealing him to be multifaceted and relatable. Costner also shows off his versatility as a director, nailing both the big battle scenes and the quieter romantic moments. This combination was an instant hit with audiences, with Dances With Wolves raking in a whopping $424 million worldwide. It went on to win the Best Picture Oscar as well, joining just three other Westerns - Cimarron, Unforgiven, and neo-Western No Country for Old Men - in the feat.

10 'The Revenant' (2015)

IMDb: 8.0/10

Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his Oscar for his role in this haunting, visceral Western from visionary Alejandro González Iñárritu. He plays Hugh Glass, a frontiersman and fur trapper, who embarks on a perilous journey for vengeance after being left for dead by his own hunting team following a vicious bear attack. The bear attack is the most realistic and wince-inducing in cinema, alone justifying the price of admission.

The real highlight, though, is the cinematography. Director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life, Gravity) shoots Glass's ordeal using only natural lighting, yet manages to conjure an immersive, gorgeous visual world. The result is a modern epic that's both gritty and poetic. It goes beyond a single man's story to become a statement on the harshness of the frontier - and the willpower needed to survive it. Thematically, The Revenant also rejects the notion that revenge can provide real purpose, setting it apart from most of the genre.

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9 'High Noon' (1952)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

While it is regarded as a time-tested classic of Western cinema today, High Noon was a daring film upon release that, despite winning four Academy Awards, polarized viewers with its subversive story. It focuses on Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) who has just been married and plans to retire to a more peaceful life with his wife, Amy (Grace Kelly). However, when a violent criminal announces that he is on his way to town to kill Kane for revenge, the marshal feels obliged to stay and protect the town, even as it becomes clear that he may have to do so alone.

Interestingly, the film unfolds in real-time, following Kane as he meets with friends and past allies hoping to recruit them. As such, it eschews a lot of the gunfights and action sequences Westerns are known for, and instead places an emphasis on dialogue and character work as it explores the genre's themes of justice and honor in a fascinating way. This introspective critique of the legend of the West has seen High Noon get better with age, while it has also served as a favorite film of many U.S. presidents.