A Glean movie guide
The Modern Western
New legends, same frontier.
From gritty contemporary thrillers to haunting frontier dramas, these 21st-century essentials redefine the genre.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
No Country for Old Men
A relentless, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse set against the stark backdrop of the Texas desert.
Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.
- 02
Hell or High Water
This sharp, modern-day heist film perfectly captures the economic desperation of the contemporary West.
A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's farm in West Texas.
- 03
Wind River
A haunting, atmospheric murder mystery that utilizes classic Western tropes in a modern-day reservation setting.
An FBI agent teams with the town's veteran game tracker to investigate a murder that occurred on a Native American reservation.
- 04
True Grit
A masterfully crafted, traditional journey that feels fresh through its sharp dialogue and impeccable direction.
Following the murder of her father by a hired hand, a 14-year-old farm girl sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. Marshal she can find—a man with 'true grit'—Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn.
- 05
The Power of the Dog
A slow-burning, psychological study of masculinity and power on a remote Montana ranch.
A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son, until long-hidden secrets come to light.
- 06
3:10 to Yuma
A high-tension standoff between a desperate rancher and a charismatic outlaw that never lets up.
In Arizona in the late 1800s, infamous outlaw Ben Wade and his vicious gang of thieves and murderers have plagued the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans, struggling to survive on his drought-plagued ranch, volunteers to deliver him alive to the "3:10 to Yuma", a train that will take the killer to trial.
- 07
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
A visually stunning, meditative look at the myth-making and betrayal behind a legendary outlaw.
Outlaw Jesse James is rumored to be the 'fastest gun in the West'. An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw and, when Robert and his brother sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status.
- 08
Slow West
A lean, stylized indie take on the frontier journey that offers a unique perspective on the genre.
In the Old West, a 17-year-old Scottish boy teams up with a mysterious gunman to find the woman with whom he is infatuated.