If you’re a fan of gritty, atmospheric Westerns like “The Proposition,” you’re in for a treat. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 17 movies that capture the same raw intensity and compelling storytelling. Each title is linked to a YouTube search for the trailer, so you can get a quick preview of what each film has to offer.
1. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
This film delves into the complex relationship between the infamous outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and his eventual betrayer, Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). The movie is a slow-burn character study that explores themes of hero worship and betrayal.
2. No Country for Old Men
Directed by the Coen Brothers, this modern Western follows a hunter (Josh Brolin) who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and a suitcase full of money. Javier Bardem delivers a chilling performance as the relentless hitman on his trail.
3. 3:10 to Yuma
Starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, this remake of the classic Western involves a rancher who agrees to hold a notorious outlaw until the train to Yuma arrives. The film is a tense cat-and-mouse game that explores themes of honor and redemption.
4. True Grit
This Coen Brothers adaptation of the Charles Portis novel stars Hailee Steinfeld as a young girl seeking to avenge her father’s murder with the help of a grizzled U.S. Marshal (Jeff Bridges). The film is a gritty and faithful retelling of the classic Western tale.
5. The Revenant
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a frontiersman on a quest for survival and revenge after being left for dead by his companions. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film is known for its stunning cinematography and brutal realism.
6. Bone Tomahawk
This horror-Western hybrid features Kurt Russell as a sheriff leading a posse to rescue captives from a group of cave-dwelling cannibals. The film is a unique blend of genres that delivers both suspense and gore.
7. The Salvation
Mads Mikkelsen stars as a Danish settler in 1870s America seeking revenge against the outlaws who murdered his family. The film is a visually striking and emotionally intense Western.
8. The Hateful Eight
Quentin Tarantino’s film features an ensemble cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Set in a snowbound cabin, the movie is a tense and violent whodunit.
9. Slow West
This indie Western stars Kodi Smit-McPhee as a young Scottish man traveling across America to find his lost love, with Michael Fassbender as the bounty hunter who helps him. The film is a visually poetic and unconventional take on the genre.
10. Hell or High Water
Chris Pine and Ben Foster star as brothers who rob banks to save their family farm, while Jeff Bridges plays the Texas Ranger on their trail. The film is a modern Western that explores themes of economic hardship and justice.
11. Hostiles
Christian Bale stars as a U.S. Army captain tasked with escorting a dying Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory. The film is a brutal and contemplative exploration of forgiveness and reconciliation.
12. The Homesman
Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank star in this film about a woman who recruits a claim jumper to help her transport three mentally ill women across the frontier. The movie is a poignant and harsh look at the challenges of pioneer life.
13. Appaloosa
Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris star as lawmen hired to bring order to a town terrorized by a rancher (Jeremy Irons). The film is a character-driven Western that explores themes of loyalty and justice.
14. The Proposition
Set in the Australian outback, this film follows a lawman who offers a captured outlaw a deal to save his younger brother by killing his older brother. Starring Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone, the movie is a brutal and atmospheric tale of morality and survival.
15. Open Range
Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall star as cattlemen who take a stand against a corrupt rancher in this classic Western. The film is known for its realistic gunfights and strong performances.
16. The Sisters Brothers
Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly star as sibling assassins on a mission to track down a prospector who has stolen from their boss. The film is a darkly comedic and unconventional Western.
17. Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino’s film stars Jamie Foxx as a freed slave who teams up with a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). The movie is a stylish and violent revenge tale set in the antebellum South.
