FREE EBOOK 🎁 Free Sahara Pulp Novel: “Witch of the Sahara” Instant PDF →
🤠 Western Movie Guide

Best John Wayne Western Movies Ranked

Explore the greatest Western movies starring the Duke, John Wayne. From Stagecoach and Red River to The Searchers and True Grit.

Tired of scrolling? Find where to stream these instantly.

Filter by your specific streaming services (Netflix, Prime, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+), age ratings, and sync to your watchlist inside the FlickFuture Command Center.

Start 7-Day Free Trial
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch Poster

#1. Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1976)

★ 8.5/10 2 votes

A Western-genre narrative, loosely woven from old clips from B-Western features.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Poster

#2. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

★ 7.8/10 1,329 votes

Questions arise when Senator Stoddard attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon in a small Western town. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance. As the territory's safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance.

Rio Bravo Poster

#3. Rio Bravo (1959)

★ 7.8/10 1,291 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

#4. The Searchers (1956)

★ 7.7/10 1,619 votes

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

Stagecoach Poster

#5. Stagecoach (1939)

★ 7.6/10 1,264 votes

A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo, and learn something about each other in the process.

El Dorado Poster

#6. El Dorado (1966)

★ 7.4/10 603 votes

Cole Thornton, a gunfighter for hire, joins forces with an old friend, Sheriff J.P. Harrah. Together with a fighter and a gambler, they help a rancher and his family fight a rival rancher that is trying to steal their water.

Red River Poster

#7. Red River (1948)

★ 7.3/10 615 votes

Following the Civil War, headstrong rancher Thomas Dunson decides to lead a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Missouri. During the exhausting journey, his persistence becomes tyrannical in the eyes of Matthew Garth, his adopted son and protégé.

True Grit Poster

#8. True Grit (1969)

★ 7.3/10 881 votes

The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy on a mission of 'justice', which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, 'Rooster' Cogburn because he has 'true grit', and a reputation of getting the job done.

The Shootist Poster

#9. The Shootist (1976)

★ 7.1/10 396 votes

Afflicted with a terminal illness John Bernard Books, the last of the legendary gunfighters, quietly returns to Carson City for medical attention from his old friend Dr. Hostetler. Aware that his days are numbered, the troubled man seeks solace and peace in a boarding house run by a widow and her son. However, it is not Books' fate to die in peace, as he becomes embroiled in one last valiant battle.

The Alamo Poster

#10. The Alamo (1960)

★ 7.1/10 409 votes

The legendary true story of a small band of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.

The Cowboys Poster

#11. The Cowboys (1972)

★ 7.1/10 275 votes

When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.

Fort Apache Poster

#12. Fort Apache (1948)

★ 7.0/10 425 votes

Owen Thursday sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, he attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.

The Sons of Katie Elder Poster

#13. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

★ 7.0/10 313 votes

The four sons of Katie Elder reunite in their hometown of Clearwater, Texas for her funeral and discover that the family ranch is now in the hands of Morgan Hastings, a corrupt businessman who wants to exploit the area around the town.

The Oregon Trail Poster

#14. The Oregon Trail (1936)

★ 7.0/10 2 votes

Army Captain takes a leave of absence to find out what happened to his missing father.....

How the West Was Won Poster

#15. How the West Was Won (1962)

★ 7.0/10 510 votes

The epic tale of the development of the American West from the 1830s through the Civil War to the end of the century, as seen through the eyes of one pioneer family.

The Horse Soldiers Poster

#16. The Horse Soldiers (1959)

★ 6.9/10 290 votes

A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail supply center. Along with them is sent a doctor who causes instant antipathy between him and the commander. The secret plan for the mission is overheard by a southern belle who must be taken along to assure her silence.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Poster

#17. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

★ 6.9/10 417 votes

On the eve of retirement, Captain Nathan Brittles takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled.

The War Wagon Poster

#18. The War Wagon (1967)

★ 6.8/10 231 votes

An ex-con seeks revenge on the man who put him in prison by planning a robbery of the latter's stagecoach, which is transporting gold. He enlists the help of a partner, who could be working for his nemesis.

Big Jake Poster

#19. Big Jake (1971)

★ 6.8/10 252 votes

An aging Texas cattle man who has outlived his time swings into action when outlaws kidnap his grandson.

7 Men from Now Poster

#20. 7 Men from Now (1956)

★ 6.8/10 129 votes

A former sheriff relentlessly pursuing the 7 men who murdered his wife in Arizona crosses paths with a couple heading to California.

3 Godfathers Poster

#21. 3 Godfathers (1948)

★ 6.8/10 214 votes

Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives.

Rio Grande Poster

#22. Rio Grande (1950)

★ 6.8/10 404 votes

Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke is posted on the Texas frontier to defend settlers against depredations of marauding Apaches. Col. Yorke is under considerable stress by a serious shortage of troops of his command. Tension is added when Yorke's son (whom he hasn't seen in fifteen years), Trooper Jeff Yorke, is one of 18 recruits sent to the regiment.

The Big Trail Poster

#23. The Big Trail (1930)

★ 6.7/10 137 votes

Young scout Breck Coleman leads a wagon train along the dangerous trail to Oregon as he tries to get the affection of the beautiful pioneer Ruth Cameron and plans his revenge on the harsh scoundrels who murdered a friend of his in the past.

The Comancheros Poster

#24. The Comancheros (1961)

★ 6.7/10 217 votes

Texas Ranger Jake Cutter arrests gambler Paul Regret, but soon finds himself teamed with his prisoner in an undercover effort to defeat a band of renegade arms merchants and thieves known as Comancheros.

Chisum Poster

#25. Chisum (1970)

★ 6.7/10 210 votes

Cattle baron John Chisum joins forces with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett to fight the Lincoln County Land War in the New Mexico Territory of 1878.

McLintock! Poster

#26. McLintock! (1963)

★ 6.6/10 265 votes

Aging rancher and self-made man, George Washington McLintock is forced to deal with numerous personal and professional problems. Seemingly everyone wants a piece of his enormous farmstead, including high-ranking government men and nearby Native Americans. As McLintock tries to juggle his various adversaries, his wife—who left him two years previously—suddenly returns. But she isn't interested in George; she wants custody of their daughter.

The Shepherd of the Hills Poster

#27. The Shepherd of the Hills (1941)

★ 6.6/10 63 votes

Young Matt Matthews, an Ozark Mountains moonshiner, hates the father he has never seen, who apparently deserted Matt's mother and left her to die. His obsession contributes to the hatred rampant in the mountains. However, the arrival of a stranger, Daniel Howitt, begins to positively affect the mountain people, who learn to shed their hatred under his gentle influence.

Tall in the Saddle Poster

#28. Tall in the Saddle (1944)

★ 6.6/10 76 votes

When Rocklin arrives in a western town he finds that the rancher who hired him as a foreman has been murdered. He is out to solve the murder and thwart the scheming to take the ranch from its rightful owner.

North to Alaska Poster

#29. North to Alaska (1960)

★ 6.5/10 137 votes

After striking gold in Alaska, the romantic George sends his womanizing partner Sam to bring his fiancée up from Seattle. When Sam finds that she has already married, he returns instead with Angel, a dancer originally from France.

Hondo Poster

#30. Hondo (1953)

★ 6.5/10 255 votes

Army despatch rider Hondo Lane discovers a woman and her son living in the midst of warring Apaches, and he becomes their protector.

Rio Lobo Poster

#31. Rio Lobo (1970)

★ 6.5/10 297 votes

After the Civil War, a former Union colonel searches for the two traitors whose perfidy led to the loss of a close friend.

The American West of John Ford Poster

#32. The American West of John Ford (1971)

★ 6.5/10 15 votes

A documentary encapsulating the career and Western films of director 'John Ford' , including clips from his work and interviews with his colleagues.

Rooster Cogburn Poster

#33. Rooster Cogburn (1975)

★ 6.4/10 230 votes

After a band of drunken thugs overruns a small Indian Nation town, killing Reverend Goodnight and raping the women folk, Eula Goodnight enlists the aid of US Marshal Cogburn to hunt them down and bring her father's killers to justice.

Angel and the Badman Poster

#34. Angel and the Badman (1947)

★ 6.4/10 131 votes

Notorious shootist and womanizer Quirt Evans' horse collapses as he passes a Quaker family's home. Quirt has been wounded, and the kindly family takes him in to nurse him back to health against the advice of others. The handsome Evans quickly attracts the affections of their beautiful daughter, Penelope. He develops an affection for the family and their faith, but his troubled past follows him.

Dark Command Poster

#35. Dark Command (1940)

★ 6.4/10 62 votes

When transplanted Texan Bob Seton arrives in Lawrence, Kansas he finds much to like about the place, especially Mary McCloud, daughter of the local banker. Politics is in the air however. It's just prior to the civil war and there is already a sharp division in the Territory as to whether it will remain slave-free. When he gets the opportunity to run for marshal, Seton finds himself running against the respected local schoolteacher, William Cantrell. Not is what it seems however. While acting as the upstanding citizen in public, Cantrell is dangerously ambitious and is prepared to do anything to make his mark, and his fortune, on the Territory. When he loses the race for marshal, he forms a group of raiders who run guns into the territory and rob and terrorize settlers throughout the territory. Eventually donning Confederate uniforms, it is left to Seton and the good citizens of Lawrence to face Cantrell and his raiders in one final clash.

The Train Robbers Poster

#36. The Train Robbers (1973)

★ 6.3/10 157 votes

A gunhand named Lane is hired by a widow, Mrs. Lowe, to find gold stolen by her deceased husband so that she may return it and clear the family name.

The Undefeated Poster

#37. The Undefeated (1969)

★ 6.3/10 132 votes

After the Civil War, ex-Union Colonel John Henry Thomas and ex-Confederate Colonel James Langdon are leading two disparate groups of people through strife-torn Mexico. John Henry and company are bringing horses to the unpopular Mexican government for $35 a head while Langdon is leading a contingent of displaced southerners, who are looking for a new life in Mexico after losing their property to carpetbaggers. The two men are eventually forced to mend their differences in order to fight off both bandits and revolutionaries, as they try to lead their friends and kin to safety.

In Old Oklahoma Poster

#38. In Old Oklahoma (1943)

★ 6.2/10 47 votes

Cowboy Dan Somers and oilman Jim "Hunk" Gardner compete for oil lease rights on Indian land in Oklahoma, as well as for the favors of schoolteacher Cathy Allen.

The Spoilers Poster

#39. The Spoilers (1942)

★ 6.2/10 68 votes

When honest ship captain Roy Glennister gets swindled out of his mine claim, he turns to saloon singer Cherry Malotte for assistance in his battle with no-good town kingpin Alexander McNamara.

Cahill: United States Marshal Poster

#40. Cahill: United States Marshal (1973)

★ 6.1/10 159 votes

J.D. Cahill is the toughest U.S. Marshal they've got, just the sound of his name makes bad guys stop in their tracks, so when his two young boy's want to get his attention they decide to rob a bank. They end up getting more than they bargained for.

Track of the Cat Poster

#41. Track of the Cat (1954)

★ 6.0/10 48 votes

A family saga: In a stunning mountain valley ranch setting near Aspen, complex and dangerous family dynamics play out against the backdrop of the first big snowstorm of winter and an enormous panther with seemingly mythical qualities which is killing cattle.

The Fighting Kentuckian Poster

#42. The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)

★ 6.0/10 68 votes

John Breen (John Wayne), a Kentucky militiaman falls in love with French exile Fleurette De Marchand (Vera Ralston). He discovers a plot to steal the land that Fleurette's exiles plan to settle on and aims to foil it.

Allegheny Uprising Poster

#43. Allegheny Uprising (1939)

★ 5.9/10 33 votes

South western Pennsylvania area of colonial America, 1760s. Colonial distaste and disapproval of the British government is starting to surface. Many local colonists have been killed by American Indians who are armed with rifles supplied by white traders.

The Great K&A Train Robbery Poster

#44. The Great K&A Train Robbery (1926)

★ 5.8/10 14 votes

Cullen has hired Tom to try and stop the robberies on his railroad. Knowing Cullen's secretary Holt is tipping off the gang, Tom works undercover by posing as a highwayman. To help him bring in the gang he enlists the help of the hobo DeLuxe Harry.

Wyoming Outlaw Poster

#45. Wyoming Outlaw (1939)

★ 5.8/10 11 votes

Will Parker has been destroyed by a local politician and now must steal to feed his family. He steals a steer from the Three Mesquiteers.

The Night Riders Poster

#46. The Night Riders (1939)

★ 5.8/10 11 votes

Talbot uses a phony land grant to rule thirteen million acres, taxing everyone heavily and evicting those who won't pay. The Three Mesquiteers becomes mysterious "night riders" to fight this evil.

Rough Romance Poster

#47. Rough Romance (1930)

★ 5.8/10 4 votes

Love and logging in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon.

Three Faces West Poster

#48. Three Faces West (1940)

★ 5.7/10 19 votes

Viennese surgeon Dr. Braun and his daughter Leni come to a small town in North Dakota as refugees from Hitler. When the winds of the Dust Bowl threaten the town, John Phillips leads the townsfolk in moving to greener pastures in Oregon. He falls for Leni, but she is betrothed to the man who helped her and her father escape from the Third Reich. She must decide between the two men.

New Frontier Poster

#49. New Frontier (1939)

★ 5.7/10 26 votes

The Three Mesquiteers convince a group of settlers to exchange their present property for some which, unbeknownst to our goodguys, is going to be worthless. They are captured before they can warn the ranchers.

Pals of the Saddle Poster

#50. Pals of the Saddle (1938)

★ 5.7/10 11 votes

The first of eight "Three Mesquiteers" Westerns to star John Wayne.

Unlock 250+ advanced filters inside FlickFuture

Join thousands of movie and TV lovers who stopped searching and started watching.

Start 7-Day Free Trial