Summary

The Western moviegenre is known for its depiction of American caption , and there are a number of great movies establish on unfeigned stories of actual - life figures , include cowboys and outlaws . In fact , many of the good movies in the Western genre are free-base on real people . In some cases , outlaws , cowboy , and other historical figures from the American West are immortalized by their depiction in renowned Hollywood films .

Most of these part were well - known before their portrayal in Western moving-picture show , but their renown became far greater and much longer - lasting when they appear in a successful movie . Some of the mosttimeless westerly movieshave assist turn moderately well - know cowboys , lawmen , or outlaws into endure American icons . Typically , when a moving-picture show wangle to upgrade the status of a historic figure in such a way , it ’s because the movie in question was successful enough to leave an impression on audiences and make them call up more about the figures portrayed in the picture .

10Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

Robert LeRoy Parker & Harry Longabaugh

Cast

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidis a Western starring Paul Newman as Robert LeRoy Parker , aka Butch Cassidy , and Robert Redford as Harry Longabaugh , aka the Sundance Kid . Considered among thegreatest Western movies ever made , thisriotous portrayal of the two titular existent - life outlawsfocuses on their rivulet from a posse after a string of infamous train robbery . They finally fled the U.S. in the early 20th century and are believed to have been down in a gunplay with the Bolivian Army in 1908 , as is portray in the picture , but the truthful condition of their expiry are still debated today .

9Tombstone (1993)

William Brocius, Johnny Ringo, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday

Tombstoneis a 1993 Western that follows thetrue story of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday , played by Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer severally . Earp was a well - do it peace officer and Holliday was his closemouthed friend and associate . The film covers two infamous events involving the lawmen , The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride . Earp and Holliday have been depicted in various Westerns over the years , helping them become two of the most famous cowpuncher and lawman from the so - called " Wild West " . Earp come from a well - known family of peace officer , whereas Holliday was a tooth doctor before joining Earp .

Among their opposition in the pic are two real - life outlaws , William " Curly Bill " Brocius and Johnny Ringo . Brocius and Ringo were two of the most notorious criminals in Arizona during the belated 1800s . The former was pop by Wyatt Earp in a shootout , as he was inTombstone , and Ringo is most commonly thought to have taken his own life story rather than being killed by Holliday as he is in the moving-picture show . It should be noted that the exact cause of Ringo ’s decease remains a point of contention among modern investigator , but the most ordinarily held notion is that he comitted suicide .

8The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Jesse James & Robert Ford

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordis a classic 2007 Western star Brad Pitt as Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford . This insightful Western say the story of two of the most well - bonk crook in American account . James is one of the most fabled criminals of the nineteenth century , and he is well known for leading the James - Younger gang of outlaws .

At the time of his expiry , he was the most wanted man in America due to a drawstring of high - visibility robberies and killings . Robert Ford was a newly recruit penis of James ' gang , and he is best known for accepting a free pardon and the promise of $ 5,000 for killing James . Despite the cruel nature of James ' offence , he held a fair amount of home sympathy , and Ford ’s slaying of him made him a widely reviled figure . Ford ’s treachery run to more than one endeavor on his life , and in 1892 , ten years after shoot down James , he was slay in a saloon .

7Chisum (1970)

John Chisum, Lawrence Murphy, Jesse Evans, Billy The Kid

Chisumis a 1970 Western plastic film starring John Wayne as the historic cattle rancher , John Chisum . The story follows the notorious Lincoln County War , whichinvolved several notable outlaws and cowboy , include Lawrence Murphy ( Forrest Tucker ) , Jesse Evans ( Richard Jaeckel ) , and Henry McCarty ( Geoffrey Deuel ) , better know as Billy the Kid . This brutal battle was fought for the rightfulness to dominate the trade of dry goods and cattle in Lincoln County , and both factions involve enroll a variety of outlaws and law officer to their respective sides .

Wayne ’s nominal role crusade on the side of the Tunstall - McSween faction , which also included Billy the Kid and the residuum of the Lincoln County Regulators . Their opposition came in the soma of Murphy ’s hired ring , including the Jesse Evans gang . At the terminal ofChisum , the engagement end with a fistfight between Chisum and Murphy , which leave in Murphy ’s death when the two men fall off a balcony . Notably , the material Murphy died of Crab in 1878 , and though he and Chisum were on opposite sides of this conflict , there is no grounds of their fight ever take place .

6Young Guns (1988)

Billy The Kid, Doc Scurlock, Jose Chavez Y Chavez, Dick Brewer, & More

Young Gunsis a famous Western from 1988 , love for being one of the most exact word-painting of Billy the Kid ’s ( Emilio Estevez ) life . LikeChisum , the news report focuses on the Lincoln County War , butYoung Gunsis primarily about Billy the Kid ’s participation via a deputized posse known as the Regulators . Other known outlaws feature in the film include Doc Scurlock ( Kiefer Sutherland ) , Jose Chavez y Chavez ( Lou Diamond Phillips ) , and Dick Brewer ( Charlie Sheen ) , all members of the Regulators . Billy ’s involvement in the Lincoln County War included the murder of a sheriff , which leave to the manhunt that result in his death .

5The Newton Boys (1998)

The Newton Gang

The Newton Boystells the true story of the Newton Gang , in all probability the most successful bank and train robber of all clip . The film focuses on Willis ( Matthew McConaughey ) , Joe ( Skeet Ulrich ) , Jess ( Ethan Hawke ) , and Wylie Netwon ( Vincent D’Onofrio ) , the four brother who made up the ring . The Newton Gang claimed to have robbed 87 banks in the five years it was fighting , along with six train . The Newton Brother were also know for their claim that they never kill anyone during the robberies , which is ordinarily trust to be true .

The Newton Boysfollows the brothers ' ascent to prominence as successful crook , detailing their belief that banks were the biggest thief of all , and that their robbery were therefore vindicate . Their success finally runs out , however , ensue in the Newton brothers ' arrest after a fail train robbery in Illinois . The literal brother were arrested after the same looting , serving light sentences before revert to civilian life with varying degrees of succeeder .

4Hidalgo (2004)

Frank Hopkins

Hidalgois a 2004 Western that stars Viggo Mortensen as Frank Hopkins , a legendary cowboy and long - distance passenger . Hidalgofocuses on a race Hopkins claim to have participated in , which supposedly take spot in Arabia between himself and a group of Bedouins . Hopkins claimed to have won the race on his trusty mustang , Hidalgo , but there is no grounds of such an upshot ever taking place . Hopkins is a controversial figure due to a figure of dubious claims about his career as a horse rider , but he is absolutely a real historical figure , and he is credit by his coevals with helping to keep up the mustang in North America .

3The Harder They Fall (2021)

Nat Love, Rufus Buck, Cherokee Bill, Bill Pickett

The Harder They Fallis an great 2021 Western with an original story that includes several historical cowboys and crook . The celluloid isnotable for being one of the few Westerns with an all - smutty star casting . The most recognisable cowboys and outlaws boast in the film are Nat Love ( Jonathan Majors ) , a cowboy and writer from the 19th one C ; Rufus Buck ( Idris Elba ) , an felon and the leader of the notorious Rufus Buck Gang ; Cherokee Bill ( LaKeith Stanfield ) , an outlaw bed for terrorizing American Indian Territory ; and Bill Pickett ( Edi Gathegi ) , a famous cowhand and rodeo performing artist .

2Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (1957)

Johnny Ringo, Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday

Gunfight at the O.K. Corralfollows the legendary gunfight from which it takes its name , focus on Burt Lancaster ’s Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas ' Doc Holliday . LikeTombstone , Gunfight at the O.K. Corralincludes several substantial - lifetime outlaws who were part of the difference , admit Johnny Ringo ( John Ireland ) , Ike Clanton ( Lyle Bettger ) , and Billy Clanton ( Dennis Hopper).These three gentleman were part of an outlaw gang known as the Cochise County Cowboys , and they are best - known for their conflict with Earp and Holliday , who were two of the best - known lawmen and cowhand of their 24-hour interval .

In the plastic film , the Clanton brothers are killed in the titular shootout , and Ringo is shoot in the arm by Holliday after the two men flow in love with the same char . The tangible Ike Clanton ran from the gunplay and died several years subsequently after being shot by a lawman seek to pick up him for steal cattle . The literal Billy on the other hand , did cash in one’s chips in theGunfight at the O.K. Corralat the geezerhood of 19 .

1Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969)

Willie Boy

recount Them Willie Boy Is Hereis a 1969 Western star Robert Redford as Deputy Sheriff Cooper . It tells the true story of a Chemehuevi - Paiute mankind jazz as Willie Boy ( Robert Blake ) , who fell in love life with a charwoman nominate Lola ( Katharine Ross ) . In the film , Willie Boy kill Lola ’s father in self - defense after he finds out about their romance , drive the young lovers to flee a manhunt led by Sheriff Cooper . The exact details of the tangible level are surd to know for sure , butWillie Boy and Lola really did fly from the jurisprudence after the end of her Father-God .

The character known as Lola in the motion picture was really named Carlota , and she is thought to have been killed by the posse track down her and Willie , though Willie was blamed for her death . Willie is said to have comitted suicide after lurk the world chase after him at Ruby Mountain . Tell Them Willie Boy Is Hereemphasizes the fact that Willie ’s hired gun was not dilute when he pull in it on Sheriff Cooper just before his death , imply that he was choosing to die .

Chris Pratt as Joshua Faraday in The Magnificent Seven with the remake behind it.

Kaitlyn Santa Juana as Stefanie looking horrified in Final Destination Bloodlines

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

great-western-movies-real-life-cowboys-outlaws

Paul Newman

Headshot Of Robert Redford In The North America Rights Only

Headshot Of Katharine Ross

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Headshot Of Kurt Russell In The Los Angeles Photo Call Of Apple TV+’s ‘Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters’

Headshot of Val Kilmer

Headshot Of Sam Elliott

Headshot Of Bill Paxton

John Wayne as John Chisum on a horse in Chisum (1970).

Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid looking at another character in Young Guns.

Headshot Of Emilio Estevez In The WE Day UN at the Barclays Center

Headshot Of Kiefer Sutherland

Headshot Of Charlie Sheen In The  Project Angel Foods' 28th

Matthew McConaughey as Willis Newton, Skeet Ulrich as Joe Newton, Vincent D’Onofrio as Dock Newton, and Ethan Hawke as Jess Newton in a promotional image for The Newton Boys.

Viggo Mortensen as Frank Hopkins standing in a desert in Hidalgo.

Idris Elba as Rufus Buck smirking in The Harder They Fall.

Headshot Of Jonathan Majors

Headshot Of Idris Elba In The World premiere of Luther: The Fallen Sun at the BFI IMAX in London.

Headshot Of Delroy Lindo

Headshot Of Danielle Deadwyler

Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday preparing for a fight in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Robert Redford as Sheriff Cooper investigating in Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here.