The 40+ Best Ben Johnson Movies
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1John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John AgarThe last job of Calvary Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne) before retirement is to soothe relations with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians after Custer's last stand. At the same time, he must transport the wife (Mildred Natwick) and niece (Joanne Dru) of his commanding officer to a safe destination. After both his missions stall, Brittles attempts a face-to-face meeting with an important Native American chief in order to stave off an impending war.More She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
- #34 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #4 of 20 onUnderrated Westerns That Deserve To Be Dusted Off For Another Shot
- #2 of 49 onThe Best 1940s Western Movies
2Brian Keith, Ben Johnson, R. G. ArmstrongTen Who Dared is a 1960 film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution in 1960. It tells the story of United States Army officer John Wesley Powell, who was the first to travel down the Colorado River, and the dangers that he and nine other men had to face while making a map of the region during their 1869 expedition. Hired by Walt Disney Studios in 1959 as a technical adviser, Otis R. Marston lead a film crew through the Grand Canyon to film river running and background scenes for the film. According to Allmovie, critics consistently rate this as one of the worst movies made by Disney. The staff of Halliwell's Film Guide called it "tedious and unconvincing". One of the replica boats used on the film, the Emma Dean, was recovered by local raconteur, Stan A. Jones, in 1969 from the Golden Oak Ranch, a Disney movie lot in Placerita Canyon, Newhall, Santa Clarita, California. The boat is on display at the Powell Museum in Page, Arizona.More Ten Who Dared- #112 of 544 on500+ Movies And Shows With Who In The Title
- #34 of 125 on125+ Movies And Shows With Ten In The Title
- #213 of 214 onThe Best Disney Adventure Movies
3William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert RyanThe Wild Bunch, a seminal Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah, is a tale of an aging outlaw gang on the Mexico-US border. The gang's leader, Pike Bishop (William Holden), along with his second-in-command, Dutch Engstrom (Ernest Borgnine), navigates their crew through changing times and relentless law enforcement. As they attempt one last score, their loyalty and survival instincts are put to the ultimate test. This gritty and violent depiction of the Old West earned two Oscar nominations for its original screenplay and musical score in 1970.More The Wild Bunch- #38 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #93 of 191 onThe Best Movies For Men
- #35 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
4Steve McQueen, Robert Preston, Ida LupinoWhen wandering middle-aged rodeo rider Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen) returns to his Arizona hometown, he reunites with his family, which includes his charming, troublemaking father, Ace (Robert Preston), and his ambitious real estate-developer brother, Curly (Joe Don Baker). While Ace dreams of finding his fortune in Australia, Junior is determined to conquer a tough bull named Sunshine by riding it for eight seconds. Can Junior claim victory over Sunshine and stay in the rodeo business?
5Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill ShepherdIn The Last Picture Show, we follow Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges), two high school seniors in a small, windswept Texas town. The movie, set in the early 1950s, offers an intimate portrait of their lives as they grapple with love, loss, and life's harsh realities. Cloris Leachman, in her Academy Award-winning role as Ruth Popper, delivers a sublime performance. A poignant drama directed by Peter Bogdanovich, it's a stark exploration of a fading American dream. It's layered with rich characters that make this black-and-white film a timeless classic.More The Last Picture Show- #750 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #167 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #113 of 199 onThe Best Movies Of The '70s, Ranked
6Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott, Katharine RossMac Traven (Tom Selleck) is a Civil War veteran who fought for the North, while his brother, Dal (Sam Elliott), was allied with the South. In spite of this considerable point of contention, the siblings must work together when they find that other family members have been abducted, along with Dal's girlfriend, Kate (Katharine Ross). Joined by their trouble-making uncle "Black Jack" (Ben Johnson), Mac and Dal relentlessly pursue the criminals to rescue their relatives.More The Shadow Riders- #55 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #8 of 38 onThe Best '80s Western Movies
- #28 of 37 onThe 35+ Best PG Family Friendly Western Movies
7John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod TaylorAfter the death of her husband, Mrs. Lowe (Ann-Margret) posts a $50,000 reward in return for help recovering her train-robber beau's hidden fortune, under the pretense of returning it. Lane (John Wayne) assembles a group of cowboys to head to Mexico with Mrs. Lowe, enticed by the reward money. As they cross into Mexico, however, they realize they're being followed, by both a posse of bandits and a single mysterious rider (Ricardo Montalban) with his own agenda.More The Train Robbers- #86 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #25 of 59 onThe 55+ Best Movies Of 1973
- #19 of 37 onThe 35+ Best PG Family Friendly Western Movies
8Ben Johnson, Joanne Dru, Ward BondWhen a group of Mormons are run out of town for their religious beliefs, Elder Wiggs (Ward Bond) searches for a wagon master to guide the outcasts to the San Juan Valley. Happening upon horse traders Travis Blue (Ben Johnson) and Sandy (Harry Carey Jr.), Wiggs convinces the men to take the position due to their intimate knowledge of the area. Despite Blue and Sandy's guidance, the travelers experience numerous setbacks, especially when the Clegg family outlaws take refuge in their wagon train.
9Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Ben JohnsonWhen convict Doc McCoy (Steve McQueen) is refused parole, he enlists his wife, Carol (Ali MacGraw), to strike a deal with crooked Texan Jack Benyon (Ben Johnson), who agrees to pull strings for Doc in return for his help on one last bank heist. The job is a success, but Benyon's men betray Doc, and he and Carol must take off across Texas with the money, running from both the law and other criminals, aiming to get to Mexico before they're caught, or worse, killed.More The Getaway- #68 of 94 onThe 90+ Best Mafia Movies Of All Time
- #118 of 199 onThe Best Movies Of The '70s, Ranked
- #238 of 308 onThe 295+ Best Movies For Guys
10Charlton Heston, Joan Hackett, Donald PleasenceWhen aging loner Will Penny (Charlton Heston) is hired to ride the lines around a vast ranch, he stumbles upon Catherine Allen (Joan Hackett) and her son, who are secretly living in an abandoned cabin. Penny gives Catherine and her son a week to move out, but an encounter with some ghosts from his past leaves him wounded and reliant on her. Penny soon finds himself falling for Catherine and becoming a father to her son, but his past continues to haunt him, hurtling him toward a confrontation.More Will Penny- #84 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #29 of 46 onThe Best 1960s Western Movies, Ranked
- #10 of 47 onThe 45+ Best Movies of 1968
11John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Tony AguilarUnaware that the Civil War has ended, Col. John Henry Thomas (John Wayne) successfully attacks a Confederate company led by James Langdon (Rock Hudson). With the remnants of Langdon's squadron fleeing to Mexico, Thomas and his adopted Native American son, Blue Boy (Roman Gabriel), gather a herd of horses and head for the border with their company, to sell them. After Langdon's caravan is captured by a Mexican general (Tony Aguilar), Thomas nobly sacrifices the horses to free them.More The Undefeated- #22 of 27 onThe 25+ Best Civil War Movies Of All Time, Ranked
- #71 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #27 of 46 onThe Best 1960s Western Movies, Ranked
12James Stewart, Maureen O'Hara, Brian KeithDuring the 1880s, Martha Price (Maureen O'Hara), a widowed cattle breeder, travels from England to St. Louis with her daughter, Hilary (Juliet Mills). Martha hopes to crossbreed her bull, Vindicator, with American cattle. Martha sells Vindicator to Alexander Bowen (Brian Keith), a wealthy businessman, who hires Sam Burnett (James Stewart) to transport the bulls to Texas. Skeptical of Burnett's intentions, Martha and Hilary decide to accompany him on the trip.
13Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Jill IrelandWhen diphtheria breaks out at Fort Humboldt, a train is dispatched with medical supplies and relief troops. Also on board are Utah's governor (Richard Crenna), his mistress (Jill Ireland), a marshal (Ben Johnson) and his prisoner, outlaw John Deakin (Charles Bronson). As the train passes through the mountains, soldiers go missing, telegraph lines are cut and it's discovered that there is no epidemic. There's a conspiracy afoot, and it's up to Deakin, actually a federal agent, to expose it.More Breakheart Pass- #143 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #17 of 48 onThe Best Train Movies
- #25 of 44 onThe Best 1970s Westerns, Ranked
14Scott Glenn, Kate Capshaw, Ben JohnsonH.D. Dalton (Scott Glenn) is a big-name rodeo rider until an injury forces him to give up the sport. He returns home to start over, but the life he expects is nowhere to be found. The family farm is in shambles, and his father (Ben Johnson) now lives in a nursing home. Determined to change things, H.D. bails out his dad and reignites a romance with an old girlfriend (Kate Capshaw). Focused, he enters a rodeo contest, hoping to restore his family's ranch and happiness with the prize money.
15John Wayne, Geoffrey Deuel, Forrest TuckerKind-hearted, fatherly John Chisum (John Wayne) owns a large ranch in Lincoln County, New Mexico, in the 1870s. With the help of his faithful sidekick, Pepper (Ben Johnson), and a hot-headed young ranch hand nicknamed Billy the Kid (Geoffrey Deuel), Chisum does battle with underhanded land developer Lawrence Murphy (Forrest Tucker). Having bought up most of the nearby town and appointed his own corrupt sheriff (Bruce Cabot), Murphy now has his eye on Chisum's ranch.More Chisum- #39 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #757 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #188 of 308 onThe 295+ Best Movies For Guys
16Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van HeflinEnigmatic gunslinger Shane (Alan Ladd) rides into a small Wyoming town with hopes of quietly settling down as a farmhand. Taking a job on homesteader Joe Starrett's (Van Heflin) farm, Shane is drawn into a battle between the townsfolk and ruthless cattle baron Rufus Ryker (Emile Meyer). Shane's growing attraction to Starrett's wife, Marian (Jean Arthur), and his fondness for their son Joey (Brandon de Wilde), who idolizes Shane, force Shane to realize that he must thwart Ryker's plan.More Shane- #25 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #158 of 168 onThe 165 Best Tearjerker Movies of All Time, Ranked
- #208 of 308 onThe 295+ Best Movies For Guys
17Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Ben JohnsonMarried small-time crooks Lou-Jean (Goldie Hawn) and Clovis Poplin (William Atherton) lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.More The Sugarland Express- #34 of 35 onEvery Steven Spielberg Movie, Ranked By Fans
- #57 of 76 onThe Best Serious Movies Starring Comedians
- #16 of 20 onThe Best Car Movies From The '70s
18Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert ArmstrongJill Young (Terry Moore) has raised Joe, her gentle pet gorilla, since he was a baby. When a Hollywood, Calif., nightclub owner (Robert Armstrong) travels to Africa and notices the amazing animal, he pursuades Jill to send Joe to Hollywood. But Joe grows restless performing for crowds and finally breaks free from captivity, wreaking havoc on the city. To save Joe from the authorities, who want him dead, Jill must create an elaborate plan to send him back to Africa.
19Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James CoburnA disparate group of individuals enter a horse race through 700 miles of the Wild West to win a large cash prize. The contestants include two ex-Rough Riders (Gene Hackman, James Coburn), an aging cowboy who refuses to slow down (Ben Johnson), an inexperienced youth (Jan-Michael Vincent), a Mexican (Mario Arteaga), an Englishman (Ian Bannen) and a woman (Candice Bergen). Over the course of the trek, the riders begin to shed their biases toward gender, race and age, and appreciate one another.More Bite the Bullet- #217 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #24 of 35 onThe 35 Best Movies Of 1975
- #42 of 42 onThe 40+ Best Horse Racing Movies
20Leonard Nimoy, Jack Elam, Ben JohnsonBonanza: Under Attack is a 1995 TV-movie sequel to the 1959-1973 television series Bonanza and television films Bonanza: The Next Generation and Bonanza: The Return. The movie was directed by Mark Tinker and features noted character actors Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, Dennis Farina, and Richard Roundtree, as well as Leonard Nimoy. None of the characters from the original series appears since the entire cast, with the exception of Pernell Roberts, was dead. The cast does include Michael Landon, Jr. and Dirk Blocker, sons of the actors who originally starred as Little Joe and Hoss Cartwright. Nimoy and Farina portray real-life figures, outlaw Frank James and Pinkertons detective Charlie Siringo.
21Dillinger
Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, Michelle PhillipsDuring the Great Depression, John Dillinger (Warren Oates), a ruthless, arrogant criminal, is the most wanted man in America. Along with his gang, which includes the likes of "Baby Face" Nelson (Richard Dreyfuss) and "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Steve Kanaly), he robs Midwestern banks and leaves a trail of devastation in his path. But Melvin Purvis (Ben Johnson), an unrelenting federal agent, is hot on the trail of Dillinger's gang, and will stop at nothing to bring them to justice.More Dillinger- #32 of 59 onThe 55+ Best Movies Of 1973
- #17 of 22 onThe Best Gangster Biopics Of All Time
- #57 of 118 onThe 115+ Best R-Rated Gangster Movies
22Ben Johnson, Ben Murphy, Ed NelsonRunaway!, also known as The Runaway Train, is a 1973 film made for ABC television directed by David Lowell Rich. It is an action thriller involving skiers trapped on a runaway train speeding down a mountain. The film was produced by Universal. The Denver & Rio Grande Western's Ski Train equipment and Rio Grande locomotives were utilized in the filming. The Ski Train served the Winter Park, Colorado ski resort area west of Denver, Colorado. Rio Grande locomotives were re-lettered for fictional Sierra Pacific.
23One-Eyed Jacks
Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Katy JuradoAfter pulling a bank heist in Mexico, the outlaw Rio (Marlon Brando) and his partner, Dad Longworth (Karl Malden), make a run for it, but Dad has bigger plans than freedom. He betrays Rio and absconds with the loot, and Rio ends up in prison. Years pass before Rio finally breaks free to enact his long-plotted revenge. Tracking Dad to California, Rio learns he's become a sheriff -- which is no deterrent -- but when Rio falls for Dad's stepdaughter, Louisa (Pina Pellicer), he has second thoughts.More One-Eyed Jacks- #200 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #39 of 46 onThe Best 1960s Western Movies, Ranked
- #31 of 94 onThe Best Western Movies on Amazon Prime
24Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, Jim HuttonDuring the end of the Civil War, Major Dundee guards Confederate prisoners, Union deserters and ordinary hard-bitten criminals in a remote fort. When Apaches attack the fort and make off with three children, Dundee must set up a posse including Confederates, who face a choice between joining up or being shot. The feud between Dundee and Tyreen is also heated up by a sultry Mexican widow.More Major Dundee- #114 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #36 of 46 onThe Best 1960s Western Movies, Ranked
- #27 of 46 onThe Best 60s War Movies
25Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea ThompsonIn the film Red Dawn, an unexpected invasion by foreign soldiers transforms a peaceful American town into a war zone. High school student Jed Eckert (Patrick Swayze) finds himself leading his brother, Matt (Charlie Sheen), and a group of fellow students in a resistance movement. As they struggle to protect their home and reclaim their freedom, these young warriors showcase courage beyond their years. Directed by John Milius, this 1984 action-packed drama reflects on the resilience of youth amidst adversity, without straying into overtly violent or graphic territory.More Red Dawn- #58 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #80 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #394 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
26Dirk Bogarde, Donald Sinden, Virginia McKennaAt the height of the African Mau Mau rebellion, Englishman Alan Howard (Dirk Bogarde) travels to his older brother's farm in Kenya, only to discover that his brother has been killed by Mau Mau nationalists. Stricken with grief and filled with hatred for the natives, Howard's instinct is to return home to England. But when he develops a romantic interest in his neighbor, Mary Crawford (Virginia McKenna), he decides to stay despite the increasingly dangerous situation for resident colonists.
27Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard WidmarkScientist Dr. Bradford Crane and army general Thalius Slater join forces to fight an almost invisible enemy threatening America; killer bees that have deadly venom and attack without reason. Disaster movie-master Irwin Allen's film contains spectacular special effects, including a train crash caused by the eponymous swarm.
28Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tony DanzaAngels in the Outfield is a heartwarming blend of sports and fantasy genres. The film centers on foster kid Roger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who prays to the heavens for his abysmal local baseball team, the California Angels, to turn their luck around. Surprisingly, real angels led by Al (Christopher Lloyd), respond to his plea. As the celestial beings start meddling in games, the team's cynical manager George Knox (Danny Glover) is forced to reevaluate his beliefs. This quirky tale of faith and miracles combines humor with a touch of magical realism, creating an unforgettable cinematic experience.More Angels in the Outfield- #60 of 207 onThe Best Sports Movies Ever Made
- #140 of 155 onThe 150+ Best Classic Tween Movies
- #144 of 278 on'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
29Bonanza: The Return
Linda Gray, Dean Stockwell, Jack ElamBonanza: The Return is a 1993 TV-movie sequel to both the 1959-1973 television series Bonanza and the 1988 made-for-television film Bonanza: The Next Generation . The movie was directed by Jerry Jameson and featured noted character actors Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, Dean Stockwell, Linda Gray, and Richard Roundtree. None of the characters from the original series appears since the entire cast, with the exception of Pernell Roberts, was dead. Michael Landon, Jr. and Dirk Blocker, sons of the original series' stars, do appear. This film was followed two years later with the TV-movie Bonanza: Under Attack. The setting is The Ponderosa in the year 1905. Augustus Brandenburg, a land baron, attempts to take the Ponderosa first by legal, and then by illegal means, in order to strip the land of its natural resources. The story includes several flashbacks to the original series.
30Ben Johnson, Andrew Prine, Dawn WellsA hooded madman stalks the lovers' lanes of Texarkana in this fact-based account of a 1946 killing spree.
