10 Made-For-TV Westerns That Are As Good As Theatrical Releases

Many of the best Western films that come to mind are ones with theatrical releases, but a few made-for-TV films have proven to be just as good as those on the big screen. Western films have been a staple within American cinema for decades as they represent the lifestyle and beliefs of the Old West. Though most of the defining Western films come from the genre’s “Golden Age” from the 1940s to the 1960s, there have been films in recent decades that stand out among the greatest by directors Sergio Leone and John Ford.

TNT and HBO act as the frequent homes to some of the best Western television films. The films on these television networks have similar elements to those in theaters, such as gripping storylines, classic Western confrontations, and stacked casts. Actors like Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck are just a few who appear in multiple made-for-TV Westerns. Even with their limited critical attention and viewership, some of the best Western TV films hold up well against their theatrical counterparts.

10 The Last Outlaw (1993)

Former soldiers turn to an outlaw lifestyle.

Airing on HBO in 1993, The Last Outlaw follows the journey of Graff (Mickey Rourke) after he’s betrayed by his former group of outlaws. The Last Outlaw‘s plot does feel largely predictable and underwhelming at times, but there’s still a decent amount of tension that’s wonderfully supported by the film’s cast. Accompanying the film’s core conflict are action-packed scenes of gunfire and the beautifully shot landscape of New Mexico.

Admittedly, Rourke doesn’t deliver his best performance. His approach to Graff is more subtle. However, this gives room for his co-stars to shine. Performances by Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, and Keith David — just to name a few — are strong and commanding. Because The Last Outlaw follows a standard narrative in the Western genre, the film has earned a cult-like following over the years.

9 Crossfire Trail (2001)

A drifter promises to look after a friend’s ranch.

Tom Selleck, who has led a handful of Western television films throughout his career, plays Rafe Covington in Crossfire Trail. Based on Louis L’Amour’s Western novel, Crossfire Trail sees Rafe fulfill his promise to a dying friend by watching over his ranch and widowed wife. However, Rafe and his three companions run into trouble when they arrive at the Wyoming ranch.

The confrontation between Rafe and Bruce Barkow (Mark Harmon) puts the former in a defensive and heroic position, which Selleck handles convincingly and easily. Crossfire Trail is the second film collaboration between Selleck and Simon Wincer, who also directed the 1989 Western miniseries, Lonesome Dove. Though Crossfire Trail didn’t fare well with critics, the movie did make history with its premiere viewership. Crossfire Trail premiered on TNT to 12.5 million viewers, earning the title of most-watched made-for-cable TV movie until 2007.

8 Riders Of The Purple Sage (1996)

Together, a gunslinger and rancher protect the land from an upset community.

Zane Grey’s novel, Riders of the Purple Sage, has been adapted numerous times throughout the years. Perhaps one of the more well-known on-screen adaptations of Grey’s novel is the TNT TV film starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. Riders of the Purple Sage follows the budding connection between Madigan’s Jane Withersteen, a woman who finds herself in opposition with her community, and Harris’ Jim Lassiter, a drifter who helps Jane.

Riders of the Purple Sage is relatively faithful to Grey’s novel, with an enjoyable blend of action and romance. The real-life marriage between Harris and Madigan translates well as the two have immense chemistry on-screen and build up a believable relationship between their characters. The two actors have joined forces in multiple films together, including the critically acclaimed Gone Baby Gone and Places in the Heart.

7 Monte Walsh (2003)

A traditional cowboy struggles with a changing environment.

Tom Selleck takes on the role of the titular cowboy in Monte Walsh — a character originally played by Lee Marvin in William A. Fraker’s 1970 film under the same name. In the film, Monte is an older cowboy who is confronted with the start of the 20th century and the slow death of the Old West. Unlike action-packed and violent Western films, Monte Walsh is much quieter.

Monte Walsh is a reflective, and at times melancholy, look at the dwindling job opportunities for Monte and his fellow cowboy companions who wish to hold onto tradition. Coincidentally, Monte Walsh is the last Western film Selleck starred in. It’s a genre Selleck had great control over as an actor, so it’s fitting his performance in Monte Walsh is regarded as one of his best.

6 Stranger On The Run (1967)

The town’s sheriff starts a search for a believed criminal.

At the center of Don Siegel’s Stranger on the Run is a familiar face in the Western genre, Henry Fonda. Many Western films starring Fonda show off his range and talents as an actor and Stranger on the Run is no different. In the film, Fonda plays Ben, a former prisoner on the run from the town’s sheriff after it’s assumed he is involved in a crime.

With a plot like that, Stranger on the Run easily keeps audiences entertained throughout its runtime. Fonda is also supported by a range of talented actors, including Anne Baxter as the love interest, and Michael Parks and Dan Duryea as two authority figures. Considering Fonda’s lengthy filmography, Stranger on the Run isn’t ranked as one of his top films, but it is highly regarded by Quentin Tarantino as one of Siegel’s best.

5 Kenny Rogers As The Gambler (1980)

A poker player travels to reunite with his family.

Kenny Rogers, famous for his music that spans a variety of genres, starred in a few films, most notably The Gambler film series. Loosely inspired by Rogers’ song of the same name, The Gambler series is made up of five made-for-TV Western films starring Rogers as Brady Hawkes. The first film in the series, Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, sees Brady on his journey to meet his son he hadn’t previously been aware of.

While on the train to meet his son, Brady befriends a few individuals: Jennie Reed (Lee Purcell) and Billy Montana (Bruce Boxleitner). As is the case with many of the best Western films, there are entertaining bouts of action in The Gambler. However, the greatest part of the film is watching the friendships that form aboard the train, especially between Brady and Billy. The two bond over their poker skills, teaching one another a thing or two.

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4 The Quick And The Dead (1987)

A stranger prioritizes a family’s safety from a gang.

The Quick and the Dead follows Duncan (Tom Conti) and Susanna (Kate Capshaw) McKaskel as they make their way West. During their travels, the family finds themselves in a bit of trouble. That’s when Con Vallian (Sam Elliott) comes to their rescue, protecting them against Doc Shabbitt and his group of bandits. Though the characterization in The Quick and the Dead fits the stereotypes seen in Westerns before, the performances by the cast don’t allow any of the characters to feel poorly written or flat.

Elliott is in charge of the film as Con, convincingly playing the bold, skilled stranger helping the McKaskels in their fight against Shabbitt and his gang. This conflict is the primary story in The Quick and the Dead, but there is also an undertone of romance, which allows for a wider range of viewers to get invested.

3 The Shadow Riders (1982)

Two brothers set out on a mission to save their family.

Having previously co-starred with one another in the Western miniseries, The Sacketts, Tom Selleck, Sam Elliot, and Jeff Osterhage reunite in The Shadow Riders. The three actors portray the Traven brothers: Mac, Dal, and Jesse. When one of the brothers, and additional Traven family members gets kidnapped, it is up to Mac and Dal to save them.

The writing in The Shadow Riders isn’t as strong as other Western television films, but overall, it’s a great adaptation of another novel by Louis L’Amour. The areas of weakness in The Shadow Riders‘ script are made up for in the film’s action scenes. A mission to rescue multiple kidnapped family members — and a quick pit-stop to break another family member out of jail — calls for a wildly entertaining film.

2 Deadwood: The Movie (2019)

Characters from the beloved TV series return for a sequel film.

Running for three seasons on HBO, Deadwood received a sequel film appropriately named Deadwood: The Movie. The film takes place years after the series’ final season and sees the return of many original cast members. Deadwood’s creator, David Milch, acts as the film’s writer, and it’s clear that fans’ interests were kept in mind. To the fan base’s delight, Deadwood: The Movie has a tasteful amount of fan service and brings a sense of closure that had been long-awaited.

However, the film does tend to feel like a revision of season three at times, rather than an additional fourth season. While audiences unfamiliar with Deadwood‘s run as a TV show can find enjoyment in the film, Deadwood: The Movie is best enjoyed having seen the series beforehand. Each season of Deadwood earned high levels of praise, with the series’ strong writing and dialogue as areas of excellence consistently acknowledged by critics.

1 Conagher (1991)

A wandering cowboy meets a recently widowed woman.

Sam Elliott stars in another Louis L’Amour adaptation, Conagher, this time as the titular Conn Conagher. Conn finds himself intertwined in the lives of a widow, Evie (Katharine Ross), and her children after passing by her farm while on a stagecoach. There’s a conflict within the film between Conn and the Ladder Five gang, which results in satisfying action sequences.

However, a majority of the film revolves around Conn and Evie’s evolving relationship. The real-life marriage between Elliott and Ross creates a highly palpable connection between the pair on-screen. It’s because of his relationship to the film, working as a co-writer and producer, that Conagher is an important addition to Elliott’s filmography, despite the actor’s other well-known Western films finding more success and attention.