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🤠 Western Movie Guide

Best 1950s Western Movies Ranked

The definitive ranking of the greatest Western films released in the 1950s. Curated classics and forgotten gems.

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El Siete Machos Poster

#1. El Siete Machos (1951)

★ 8.3/10 116 votes

Rosario, the niece of the rancher, returns to the ranch after ten years of absence. She takes in Margarito, a worker at the ranch, who is immediately smitten by her. Rosario is rescued from a runaway horse by the Seven Men, an outlaw a la Robin Hood that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He also happens to be the twin brother of Margarito, unbeknownst to him. The confusion between Margarito and the Seven Men generates great comical situations in the film.

Rio Bravo Poster

#2. Rio Bravo (1959)

★ 7.8/10 1,314 votes

A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.

The Searchers Poster

#3. The Searchers (1956)

★ 7.7/10 1,650 votes

As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.

High Noon Poster

#4. High Noon (1952)

★ 7.7/10 1,657 votes

Will Kane, the sheriff of a small town in New Mexico, learns a notorious outlaw he put in jail has been freed, and will be arriving on the noon train. Knowing the outlaw and his gang are coming to kill him, Kane is determined to stand his ground, so he attempts to gather a posse from among the local townspeople.

Giant Poster

#5. Giant (1956)

★ 7.6/10 785 votes

Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas. She marries Benedict, but she is shocked by the racial bigotry of the White Texans against the local people of Mexican descent. Rink discovers oil on a small plot of land, and while he uses his vast, new wealth to buy all the land surrounding the Benedict ranch, the Benedict's disagreement over prejudice fuels conflict that runs across generations.

Dark River Poster

#6. Dark River (1952)

★ 7.6/10 10 votes

The Peralta brothers work in the countryside the Alto Paraná. There they will meet subhuman working conditions. Finally, the workers rise and harshly punish their exploiters.

The Big Country Poster

#7. The Big Country (1958)

★ 7.6/10 434 votes

Retired wealthy sea captain Jim McKay arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between his future father-in-law, Major Terrill, and the rough and lawless Hannasseys over a valuable patch of land.

Los santos reyes Poster

#8. Los santos reyes (1959)

★ 7.6/10 12 votes

Three criminals break out of jail and head for a town where they've hidden their steals.

The Sign of Zorro Poster

#9. The Sign of Zorro (1958)

★ 7.4/10 60 votes

In this film, edited from eight episodes of Disney's hit TV series, Don Diego returns home to find his town under the heel of a cruel dictator, Capitan Monastario. Diego dons the mask of Zorro to fight the evil commandant's tyranny, and, with the help of his mute servant Bernardo, free the pueblo from his oppression.

Johnny Guitar Poster

#10. Johnny Guitar (1954)

★ 7.4/10 498 votes

On the outskirts of town, the hard-nosed Vienna owns a saloon frequented by the undesirables of the region, including Dancin' Kid and his gang. Another patron of Vienna's establishment is Johnny Guitar, a former gunslinger and her lover. When a heist is pulled in town that results in a man's death, Emma Small, Vienna's rival, rallies the townsfolk to take revenge on Vienna's saloon – even without proof of her wrongdoing.

Along the Great Divide Poster

#11. Along the Great Divide (1951)

★ 7.4/10 49 votes

US marshal Len Merrick saves Tim Keith from lynching at the hands of the Roden clan, and hopes to get him to Santa Loma for trial. Vindictive Ned Roden, whose son Ed was killed, still wants personal revenge, and Tim would like to escape before Ned catches up with him again. Can the marshal make it across the desert with Tim and his daughter? Even if he makes it, will justice be served?

The Gunfighter Poster

#12. The Gunfighter (1950)

★ 7.4/10 220 votes

The fastest gun in the West tries to escape his reputation.

Caballero Droopy Poster

#13. Caballero Droopy (1952)

★ 7.4/10 11 votes

Droopy is on his way to woo his lovely señorita when he is waylayed by Slick the Wolf intent on winning the fair lass. But Slick wasn't counting on Droopy's uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Shane Poster

#14. Shane (1953)

★ 7.3/10 720 votes

A weary gunfighter attempts to settle down with a homestead family, but a smouldering settler and rancher conflict forces him to act.

Bad Day at Black Rock Poster

#15. Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

★ 7.3/10 447 votes

One-armed war veteran John J. Macreedy steps off a train at the sleepy little town of Black Rock. Once there, he begins to unravel a web of lies, secrecy, and murder.

3:10 to Yuma Poster

#16. 3:10 to Yuma (1957)

★ 7.3/10 449 votes

Dan Evans, a small time farmer, is hired to escort Ben Wade, a dangerous outlaw, to Yuma. As Evans and Wade wait for the 3:10 train to Yuma, Wade's gang is racing to free him.

Winchester '73 Poster

#17. Winchester '73 (1950)

★ 7.3/10 424 votes

Lin McAdam rides into town on the trail of Dutch Henry Brown, only to find himself in a shooting competition against him. McAdam wins the prize, a one-in-a-thousand Winchester rifle, but Dutch steals it and leaves town. McAdam follows, intent on settling his old quarrel, while the rifle keeps changing hands and touching a number of lives.

The Fair Haired Hare Poster

#18. The Fair Haired Hare (1951)

★ 7.3/10 14 votes

Yosemite Sam and Bugs battle it out over property rights above Bugs' rabbit hole.

A Cowboy Needs a Horse Poster

#19. A Cowboy Needs a Horse (1956)

★ 7.3/10 18 votes

A young boy dreams of being a cowboy. After he gets the basics, as outlined in the title song, he's attacked by Indians. He runs out of bullets and manages to lasso them. He smokes the peace pipe with their chief. A robber is holding up a stagecoach and he rides to the rescue, refusing the reward. He also saves a train from a dynamited bridge, and a girl tied to a cactus, before riding into the sunset (and back to his suburban bed).

Dawn at Socorro Poster

#20. Dawn at Socorro (1954)

★ 7.2/10 12 votes

Brett Wade, gambler, gunslinger, and classical pianist, is wounded in a gunfight with the Ferris clan; the doctor finds signs of tuberculosis. En route to Colorado for his health, Brett stops in Socorro, New Mexico along with Ferris gunfighter Jimmy Rapp. Sheriff Couthen fears another shootout, but what Brett has in mind is saving waif-with-a-past Rannah Hayes from a life as one of Dick Braden's saloon girls.

Dragoon Wells Massacre Poster

#21. Dragoon Wells Massacre (1957)

★ 7.2/10 10 votes

A cavalry officer, the sole survivor of an Indian attack, and a wagon load of prisoners travel through hostile Indian country.

Drip-Along Daffy Poster

#22. Drip-Along Daffy (1951)

★ 7.2/10 59 votes

Daffy Duck plays a western hero, but things don't go as he hoped in a one horse town.

The Mississippi Gambler Poster

#23. The Mississippi Gambler (1953)

★ 7.2/10 12 votes

Mark Fallon, with partner Kansas John Polly, tries to introduce honest gambling on the riverboats. His first success makes enemies of the crooked gamblers and of fair Angelique Dureau, whose necklace he won. Later in New Orleans, Mark befriends Angelique's father, but she still affects to despise him as his gambling career brings him wealth. Duelling, tragedy, and romantic complications follow.

The Outriders Poster

#24. The Outriders (1950)

★ 7.2/10 15 votes

Late in the Civil War, three Confederate soldiers escape from a Union prison camp in Missouri. They soon fall into the hands of pro-Confederate raiders, who force them to act as "outriders" (escorts) for a civilian wagon train that will be secretly transporting Union gold from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to St. Louis, Missouri. The three men are to lead the wagons into a raider trap in Missouri, but one of them starts to have misgivings....

Ahí viene Martín Corona Poster

#25. Ahí viene Martín Corona (1952)

★ 7.2/10 27 votes

Martin Corona, player and womanizer, defends the underprivileged, the poor and the needy. He will have to defend a Spanish girl and her servant from the clutches of the villainous of the town. Not only will he have to fight the bad guy, but against the pride of the girl who initially believes that he is the bad character and distrusts him. She was very proud to put him at her feet, but there was a problem, Martin Corona was due more to his people than anyone and she was not willing to risk losing it, so before marrying him, made him swear he would not intervene In other problems.

The Furies Poster

#26. The Furies (1950)

★ 7.2/10 86 votes

A New Mexico cattle man and his strong-willed daughter clash over land and love.

Land of Men Poster

#27. Land of Men (1959)

★ 7.2/10 20 votes

On his family's farm, Gilberto keeps weapons to support the revolutionaries. When his father find out, he runs out from the hacienda to join them.

Wild and Woolly Hare Poster

#28. Wild and Woolly Hare (1959)

★ 7.2/10 20 votes

Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam duel with trains in an Old West shootout.

The Man from Laramie Poster

#29. The Man from Laramie (1955)

★ 7.1/10 278 votes

Will Lockhart arrives in Coronado, an isolated town in New Mexico, in search of someone who sells rifles to the Apache tribe, finding himself unwillingly drawn into the convoluted life of a local ranching family whose members seem to have a lot to hide.

Watch Out for Love Poster

#30. Watch Out for Love (1954)

★ 7.1/10 27 votes

Salvador accompanied by two friends of his father whom he calls uncles, they arrive at a fair in the village, there he meets Ana. When he wins a bet he is paid with a mortgaged house, to his surprise upon entering the hom he realizes that Ana and her mother live in it, provoking a funny entanglement with an explosive final.

Last Train from Gun Hill Poster

#31. Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)

★ 7.1/10 234 votes

A marshal tries to bring the son of an old friend, an autocratic cattle baron, to justice for the rape and murder of his wife.

El enamorado Poster

#32. El enamorado (1952)

★ 7.1/10 29 votes

Martin retired from his job as a hero because of his marriage to Rosario, a beautiful and ambitious girl who passed through the workshop where he works. However, Martin has to return in principle to help a friend from robbers.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Poster

#33. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

★ 7.1/10 590 votes

In 1850 Oregon, when a backwoodsman brings a wife home to his farm, his six brothers decide that they want to get married too.

Drag-A-Long Droopy Poster

#34. Drag-A-Long Droopy (1954)

★ 7.1/10 26 votes

An "absolutely authentic account of the grazing land battles of the sheep and cattle wars of the early west," pitting sheep rancher Droopy against a cattle ranching wolf.

Stars in My Crown Poster

#35. Stars in My Crown (1950)

★ 7.1/10 51 votes

An orphaned man recalls his upbringing with his aunt and her husband, the parson, in a small Western town during the Reconstruction.

Bend of the River Poster

#36. Bend of the River (1952)

★ 7.1/10 228 votes

Two men with questionable pasts, Glyn McLyntock and his friend Cole, lead a wagon-train load of homesteaders from Missouri to the Oregon territory...

The Tin Star Poster

#37. The Tin Star (1957)

★ 7.0/10 151 votes

An experienced bounty hunter helps a young sheriff learn the meaning of his badge.

Westward the Women Poster

#38. Westward the Women (1951)

★ 7.0/10 88 votes

There's a deficit of good, honest women in the West, and Roy Whitman wants to change that. His solution is to bring a caravan of over 100 mail-order brides from Chicago to California. It will be a long, difficult and dangerous journey for the women. So Whitman hires hardened, cynical Buck Wyatt to be their guide across the inhospitable frontier. But as disaster strikes on the trail, Buck just might discover that these women are stronger than he thinks.

The Duel at Silver Creek Poster

#39. The Duel at Silver Creek (1952)

★ 7.0/10 41 votes

When a gang of ruthless claim jumpers brutally murders his miner father, a gunman known as the Silver Kid joins forces with the local marshal to free the tiny town of Silver City from the clutches of the dastardly villains.

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Poster

#40. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

★ 7.0/10 405 votes

Lawman Wyatt Earp and outlaw Doc Holliday form an unlikely alliance which culminates in their participation in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Tribute to a Bad Man Poster

#41. Tribute to a Bad Man (1956)

★ 7.0/10 32 votes

Jeremy Rodock is a tough horse rancher who strings up rustlers as soon as looks at them. Fresh out of Pennsylvania, Steve Miller finds it hard to get used to Rodock’s ways, although he takes an immediate shine to his Greek girl Jocasta.

The Tall T Poster

#42. The Tall T (1957)

★ 7.0/10 159 votes

Pat Brennan's luck is about to go from bad to worse; after gambling his horse away, he gets a ride from Willard and Doretta Mims. However, their stagecoach is hijacked by a trio of merciless bandits, led by ruthless Frank Usher. As Usher holds the passengers hostage, Brennan falls in love with Doretta and develops a risky plan to free himself and the Mimses, leading to a bloody final standoff.

Speedy Gonzales Poster

#43. Speedy Gonzales (1955)

★ 7.0/10 132 votes

Speedy comes to the aid of a group of mice trying to get the cheese from a factory guarded by Sylvester.

The Naked Spur Poster

#44. The Naked Spur (1953)

★ 7.0/10 275 votes

A bounty hunter trying to bring a murderer to justice is forced to accept the help of two less-than-trustworthy strangers.

Calamity Jane Poster

#45. Calamity Jane (1953)

★ 7.0/10 201 votes

Sharpshooter Calamity Jane takes it upon herself to recruit a famous actress and bring her back to the local saloon, but jealousy soon gets in the way.

Tomahawk Poster

#46. Tomahawk (1951)

★ 7.0/10 23 votes

In 1866, a new gold discovery and an inconclusive conference force the U.S. Army to build a road and fort in territory ceded by previous treaty to the Sioux...to the disgust of frontier scout Jim Bridger, whose Cheyenne wife led him to see the conflict from both sides. The powder-keg situation needs only a spark to bring war, and violent bigots like Lieut. Rob Dancy are all too likely to provide this. Meanwhile, Bridger's chance of preventing catastrophe is dimmed by equally wrenching personal conflicts. Unusually accurate historically.

The First Texan Poster

#47. The First Texan (1956)

★ 7.0/10 11 votes

After arriving in Texas to escape a scandal back east, lawyer Sam Houston just wants to hang out his shingle, keep a low profile, and stay out of any political intrigue. However, when President Jackson personally orders him to lead the fight for Texan independence, he overcomes his reluctance to become involved and leads his compatriots to a string of victories over the Mexican army.

The Fastest Gun Alive Poster

#48. The Fastest Gun Alive (1956)

★ 6.9/10 69 votes

Whenever it becomes known how good he is with guns, ex-gunman George and his wife Dora have to flee the town, in fear of all the gunmen who might want to challenge him. Unfortunately he again spills his secret when he's drunk. All citizens swear to keep his secret and support him to give up his guns forever -- but a boy tells the story to a gang of wanted criminals. Their leader threatens to burn down the whole town, if he doesn't duel him.

Texas Tom Poster

#49. Texas Tom (1950)

★ 6.9/10 59 votes

Tom is a cowboy boot-wearing cat at a Texas dude ranch. When a beautiful female cat comes for a visit, Tom takes time from his regular torturing of Jerry to use the mouse as a way to impress the dame. Naturally, Jerry gives Tom his comeuppance.

Smoke Signal Poster

#50. Smoke Signal (1955)

★ 6.9/10 16 votes

Capt. Harper's cavalry patrol returns to the fort to find it besieged by Ute Indians. The apparent cause is the recapture of Army traitor Brett Halliday, who deserted to the Utes in a previous war; but Brett has a different story. With capture imminent, the only chance for the surviving men (and one woman) is to boat down a wild, uncharted river, where Harper and Halliday must pull together, like it or not.

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