Westerns became a popular genre in the 20th century. Many old Westerns have become classics and some newer ones are joining them.
- Westerns have been a popular genre on American television for decades, with some shows standing out for their quality and lasting impact.
- Modern Westerns are adding their own twist to the classic genre, with increased drama and stakes while maintaining the Old West feel.
- Shows like The Rifleman, The Wild Wild West, Godless, Westworld, Gunsmoke, Deadwood, Bonanza, Yellowstone, Wanted Dead or Alive, and Justified deserve recognition for their timeless appeal and unique storytelling.
The Western genre has long been a staple of American television, but some Westerns rank much more highly than others in terms of quality and staying power. Shows following the lives of cowboys, ranchers, bounty hunters, and cattle drivers have entertained viewers for decades and show no signs of slowing down. The Old West is an era that is fascinating to watch shows about, as it feels far removed from the present. Although there are issues to raise about the romanticization of the Old West, the genre stands strong.
As the years have passed, Westerns are still popular, and the newer ones are putting their own twist on the classic. Modern Westerns are turning up the drama and stakes while still maintaining the Old West feel that the classics worked to perfect. There are a variety of Westerns from across the decades that deserve praise for how well they still hold up today.
10, The Rifleman
5 seasons – 1958-1963
Taking place in the 1880s in New Mexico, The Rifleman follows Lucas McCain and his son, Mark, as they attempt to start a new life for themselves after the death of Lucas’s wife. Lucas McCain is a Winchester rifle-wielding rancher who fought for the Union during the Civil War and is now a rancher. He’s always trying to help the people of North Folk, who often find themselves in unfortunate circumstances. Despite the anachronism that the title of the show is built around, The Rifleman is still considered a classic Western.
9, The Wild Wild West
4 seasons – 1965-1969
The Wild Wild West is a sci-fi western spy show that ran for four seasons before its cancelation. The show is about two Secret Service agents named James West and Artemus Gordon who work together to protect President Ulysses S. Grant. They utilize various steampunk-style weapons and contraptions, most of which were created by Gordon, on their personal train, the Wanderer. The show spawned two television films in 1979 and 1980, and one theatrical release in 1999 starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline. Despite being canceled due to violence, The Wild Wild West mainta ins its place as a solid Western.
8, Godless
1 season – 2017
Godless is a seven-episode miniseries that debuted on Netflix in 2017. With stars like Michelle Dockery, Merritt Wever, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster leading the show, the show set itself apart from other Westerns. Godless eschews traditional Western tropes by creating a series about a town in New Mexico populated by mainly women. In traditional Westerns, women are rarely seen and when they are, are often placed in ‘damsel in distress’ situations. Part of Godless‘s success is due to the strong female leads, as well as its story.
7, Westworld
4 seasons – 2016-2022
Another sci-fi Western, Westworld is based on Michael Crichton’s 1973 film of the same name. In the show, Westworld is the name of a Wild West-themed amusement park for the rich created in the near future. The park is full of android “Hosts” who are there to drive the fantasy of the guests. The show kicks off when some of the Hosts can remember memories that were wiped from them after their jobs were done. Westworld takes place in the 2050s both inside the park and outside as various types of artificial intelligence are explored throughout the show. Despite the praise the show received, it was canceled by HBO Max before its final season. Still, it cemented a place among the top Westerns for its audacious plot.
6, Gunsmoke
20 seasons – 1955-1975
Beginning as a radio show in 1952, Gunsmoke became a television series in 1955. Gunsmoke was created as a Western for adults to highlight some of the harsh realities of the Old West. Gunsmoke follows Matt Dillon, the U.S. marshal of Dodge City in Kansas. As the show ran for 20 seasons, it’s easy to see that it was a success. The realism that the show offered connected with audiences who weren’t afraid to see the ideas of the Old West torn down and replaced by hard truths. The success of Gunsmoke paved the way for more adult Westerns.
5, Deadwood
3 seasons – 2004-2006
Set in Deadwood, South Dakota in the 1870s, Deadwood has many characters inspired by real-life figures in the American West. Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant portray Al Swearengen and Seth Bullock, respectively. Other figures such as Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, and Jane Calamity appear in the show, as well. Deadwood was well-received, and a follow-up film was released in 2019 on HBO Max. Despite some alternate history being used to spice up the plot, Deadwood remains fairly accurate as primary sources were used during its conception.
4, Bonanza
14 seasons – 1959-1973
Bonanza is the second-longest-running Western after Gunsmoke. The series follows the Cartwright family, who live in Nevada. The Cartwrights, made up of a father and his three sons, are ranchers near Lake Tahoe. What sets Bonanza apart from other Westerns is that it centers around the everyday lives of the Cartwrights, rather than wide-sweeping stories about the West itself. By narrowing the focus and making Bonanza a family drama, the show created a niche for itself that led to it becoming the classic it is today. The idiosyncrasies of the Cartwrights endeared them to both each other and the audience over the course of Bonanza‘s airtime.
3, Yellowstone
4 seasons – 2018-present
While one of its spinoffs, 1883, does occur during the 1880s, Yellowstone is a modern-day Western. Similar to Bonanza, the show focuses on a ranching family, the Duttons from Montana. Kevin Costner plays patriarch, John Dutton III, who has to juggle his family along with the various neighboring institutions around his ranch. Conflicts with the Broken Rock Indian Reservation and Yellowstone National Park permeate the series as everyone in the show works to gain some benefits from the land and each other. The show will be airing its fifth and final season in 2024.
2, Wanted Dead or Alive
3 seasons – 1958-1961
Steve McQueen, who has starred in many Western movies, is the leading actor in Wanted Dead or Alive. His character, Josh Randall, is a bounty hunter who strives for justice and fairness. Following him as he travels from town to town helping those who need it and capturing those who’ve done wrong is entertaining and strangely heartwarming. Part of what makes Wanted Dead or Alive so good is the fact that no two episodes are the same. As Randall is always moving around, he’s always meeting new people and coming across new scenarios. The freshness of each episode is what makes Wanted Dead or Alive such an excellent Western.
1, Justified
6 seasons – 2010-2015
Based on a series of short stories written by Elmore Leonard, Justified is a Western crime drama that ran on FX. The show boasts an array of well-known actors like Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, and Margo Martindale. Justified centers around Harlan County in the Appalachian Mountains as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens attempts to handle his removal from Miami to Kentucky in response to his killing of a hitman. Givens, having grown up in Harlan County, becomes enmeshed in the lives of the residents there as various plots and shady characters are revealed. The show spawned a limited series spinoff, Justified: City Primeval, that aired from July to August in 2023.