The Western is a fascinating genre of film. Once the most popular movie at the box office, it’s now more of a niche affair. And while there’s a plethora of classic Westerns that are celebrated for their influence on cinema, many remakes have revisited these iconic stories with fresh perspectives and modern filmmaking techniques.
Often overshadowed by their original counterparts, these remakes bring new life to familiar tales and characters, offering unique interpretations but not getting the recognition they deserve. Below we’ve chosen 10 remakes of classic Western movies that we believe have been overlooked or are underrated and deserve a second chance.
10 The Alamo (2004)
- Release Date
- April 7, 2004
Based on the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, the 1960 movie was directed by, and starred, Western legend John Wayne. Whilst it ultimately proved to be a hit at the box office, reviews were mixed, with many calling into question the film’s historical accuracy. Remade in 2004 starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thorton and Patrick Wilson, this time around The Alamo corrected many of the historical mistakes of the original and is considered one of the most accurate portrayals of the events committed to film. However, it still failed to impress most critics and ended up being one of cinema’s biggest box office bombs.
Esteemed Critic Roger Ebert Was a Fan of The Alamo Remake
Despite generally negative reviews from critics, not all feedback was poor. Among the movie’s supporters was renowned film critic Roger Ebert. He praised the movie for capturing “the loneliness and dread of men waiting for two weeks for what they expect to be certain death” and also stated that the movie “succeeds in taking those pop-culture brand names like Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie and giving them human form”.
9 Ned Kelly (2003)
- Release Date
- March 22, 2003
- Director
- Gregor Jordan
Shifting focus from the USA's wild west to Australia's outback wilderness, Ned Kelly was a notorious real-life outlaw infamous for a deadly shootout with police during the late 1800s. The first Australian Western movie based on his life was released 1970 and starred Mick Jagger at the height of his rock’n’roll stardom in the titular lead role. Ned Kelly was panned by critics and Mick Jagger subsequently disowned the project and the whole debacle has gone down in history for being famously chaotic.
The 2003 Remake Is Superior in Every Aspect
From the superb acting performances from Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Naomi Watts and Geoffrey Rush to the beautiful cinematography, every aspect was an improvement on the troubled original. However, despite all this, the movie failed to recuperate its budget at the box office and went largely unseen by the masses.
8 High Noon (2000)
The original High Noon movie, released in 1952, proved to be a pivotal moment in the Western genre. It was the first major movie in the genre, that shifted away from cowboy heroism, shootouts and chases and, instead, focused more on emotional depth and character development. While old school Western purists may have, at first, been taken aback, overall the movie was a huge hit at the box office and won numerous awards including 4 Oscars.
The Made-for-TV Remake Shouldn’t be Overlooked
In 2000, a remake starring Tom Skerritt and Susanna Thompson premiered on TBS Superstation. Lacking the big budget of some of its contemporary Western revisionist counterparts, it focused on the drama and character development that worked so well in the original. While it was never going to surpass the groundbreaking original, it stands as a solid addition to the genre in its own right.
7 Maverick (1994)
- Release Date
- May 20, 1994
James Garner portrayed the card playing con man Bret Maverick in a movie and multiple TV shows during the '50s and '60s. Later, Mel Gibson resurrected the character for the 1994 remake alongside Jodie Foster and Garner, himself, in a supporting role.
A Nostalgic Ride Filled With Cameos
Fans of the original are sure to appreciate its blend of action and humor set in the picturesque western landscapes. The movie maintains the spirit and tone of the original and and keeps the nostalgia strong with its packed roster of cameo appearances. There are the country music superstars of yesteryear including Waylon Jennings and Rebe McEntire, familiar acting faces like Corey Feldman and Danny Glover, and legendary actors from the world of Westerns including Leo Gordan, Paul Brinegar, Denver Pyle, Clint Walker, and many more.
6 Dawn Rider (2012)
Released in 1935, the original The Dawn Rider follows John Mason, played by John Wayne, as he seeks revenge for his father's murder while falling for the sister of one of the outlaws responsible. It was remade in 2012 with Christian Slater taking John Wayne’s place in the lead role and Jill Hennesy and Donald Sutherland in supporting roles.
The Remake Further Develops the Key Characters
The original is a certainly a classic but the remake takes what made the original work so well and builds on it by further developing John Mason's character and making the romantic subplot more central to the narrative. Christian Slater plays Mason as more conflicted and brooding compared to the heroic figure played by Wayne. Despite these improvements, the remake remains an underrated entry within the genre often unfairly overshadowed by its source movie.
5 Four Brothers (2005)
- Release Date
- August 11, 2005
Released in 2005 and starring Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, André Benjamin and Garrett Hedlund, Four Brothers sees the 4 adopted siblings banding together to avenge the murder of their adoptive mother. Set in modern day Michigan, the movie is fast, frenetic and full of violence. While many embraced its over the top action attitude, not all critics were impressed. It holds a 53% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with some calling out its vigilante-glorifying message.
Four Brothers Is a Loose Remake of The Sons of Katie Elder
Whilst it’s never been explicitly acknowledged by the makers of Four Brothers, it bears more than a passing resemblance to the classic western The Sons of Katie Elder. In fact, the plot is identical to the John Wayne classic with just the time period and location having been changed.
4 The Lone Ranger (2013)
- Release Date
- July 3, 2013
The story of The Lone Ranger is one that has been told many times; in multiple movies, a 1950s TV series and even a 1930s radio show. 2013’s iteration saw Disney pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a star-studded, highly stylized action-adventure that ultimately failed to win over critics and audiences and was unable to recuperate its huge budget at the box office.
There's a Lot Enjoy About The Lone Ranger
There was a whole lot of hype and controversy surrounding The Lone Ranger, from news of its outrageous budget to divided opinions on the casting of Johnny Depp in the role of the Native American character, Tonto. Putting this all aside, though, and approaching the movie today, for what it is, there’s a lot to enjoy. Unfortunately, this all seemed to be missed at the time of its release. It’s a well-acted movie featuring some incredibly well-choreographed action sequences and beautiful cinematography.
Despite receiving generally negative reviews, renowned film critics believed that “for all its miscalculations, this is a personal picture, violent and sweet, clever and goofy.” He also believed that it was ‘misunderstood’ and it's likely to be reevaluated at some point in the future.
3 Stagecoach (1986)
The original Stagecoach movie released in 1939 is regarded by many as one of the most influential movies ever released. It holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and cemented John Wayne as one of Hollywood’s most successful leading men. The movie was later remade in color in 1966 starring the likes of Bing Crosby and Red Buttons. Both versions received considerable attention, but 20 years later, a made-for-TV remake was released, which remains an underrated gem.
Stagecoach Stars a Slew of Country Music Superstars
Country singers Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson all star in Stagecoach and turn in solid performances with each bringing a touch of their own personalities to the classic characters. The movie went down with audiences and critics alike but history has seen it overshadowed by previous adaptations.
2 The Beguiled (2017)
Remake of The Beguiled (1971)
The Beguiled (2017)
The Beguiled is a period drama directed by Sofia Coppola, set during the American Civil War. It revolves around an injured Union soldier, played by Colin Farrell, who seeks refuge at an all-girls’ boarding school in the South. The presence of the wounded man causes tension and rivalry among the women of the household, led by Nicole Kidman and featuring performances by Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning.
- Release Date
- June 23, 2017
Whilst the 1971 original starring Clint Eastwood might not quite be considered one of the definitive Southern Gothic movies, it’s certainly a notable entry within that subgenre. With an impressive 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, director Sofia Coppola certainly had a lot of inspiration to draw from as she took the reigns of the 2017 remake.
The Beguiled Remake Benefits From its Highly Impressive Cast
Looking to bring the classic tale to life for a new audience, Coppola brought in some of the industry’s finest acting talent including Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in its main competition section where Coppola became just the second woman to win the Best Director award. Despite its critical acclaim, it failed to garner the recognition it deserved at the box office and was overshadowed by several competing movies.
1 Unforgiven (2013)
- Release Date
- September 13, 2013
- Director
- Sang-il Lee
- Cast
- Ken Watanabe , Jun Kunimura , Yuya Yagira , Shioli Kutsuna , Koichi Sato , Akira Emoto
Clint Eastwood’s 1992 masterpiece Unforgiven is a tour de force of modern cinema, racking up four Oscar wins and huge profit at the box office. Anyone wanting to remake Unforgiven would certainly have some big ol’ cowboy boots to fill.
Lee Sang-il Takes Unforgiven to Meiji Era Japan
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but why not take it and give it a new setting and creative spin? Director Lee Sang-il made the wise decision and avoided trying to replicate Clint Eastwood’s inimitable style, and instead made it his own entirely. Following the same narrative, the setting of the movie is shifted from the old West to the Far East and traditional cowboys are replaced by samurais. The result is something that simultaneously feels familiar yet utterly new. The movie might not have made such a splash globally, but it was a hit in its native country and currently holds a highly impressive 94% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes.
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