This year I’m sharing some of my favorite films in the Western Genre, counting down a new selection each Friday. Periodically throughout the year I’ll be sharing them in batches. First up is my No. 30 to No. 21 selections. They appear in ascending order. You can keep up with the countdown weekly on my blog.

No. 30: The Shootist (1976)
About: This is another western starring John Wayne, a frequent star on the first two installments of this list. This was his final film, and one that I find quite compelling. The story and performances are great, and his pairing with a young Ron Howard is interesting too.

No. 29: Old Henry (2021)
About: This is a really interesting story that has a massive twist, which I won’t spoil here. Suffice to say that Tim Blake Nelson is very good in this, and I enjoyed the action and the twist in the story. This is an under-rated film.

No. 28: Maverick (1994)
About: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner are good in this film, which is a big-screen adaptation of a story that played out on the small screen. I like the action and the kind of humorous approach to telling the story as well.

No. 27: Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
About: I enjoy this trilogy of films from Robert Rodriguez. They have a fun look, style, and commitment to action. This was the third film, returning Antonio Banderas for the second time as El Mariachi. He’s great here, as is the overall look. But I also really enjoy Johnny Depp’s creepy CIA Agent.

No. 26: American Outlaws (2001)
About: This isn’t the most serious or historically accurate take on Jesse James, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun. I love Colin Farrell in the role, and I loved Gabriel Macht as his brother, Frank. Kathy Bates is fun here, as is Timothy Dalton. The action works and this is a fun ride.

No. 25: Unforgiven (1992)
About: This comes from Clint Eastwood, who has also long been a staple of Westerns. I like the direction and pacing here. His work with Morgan Freeman and opposite Gene Hackman is solid. This is a darker tale, but it’s pulled off in a powerful way.

No. 24: Lonesome Dove (1989)
About: Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones take the lead in this adaptation of the novel. I have included some different kind of options on this list, including mini-series. This four-part journey was a great part of the late 1980s TV landscape, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

No. 23: Desperado (1995)
About: This is the other part of Rodriguez’s El Mariachi series that I have on the list. I like this first film with Banderas in the lead role better, especially because he plays of Salma Hayek so well. The action is good, but their back-and-forth is a lot of fun.

No. 22: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
About: This is a really engaging movie featuring Jimmy Stewart and Wayne sharing the screen. Much of the story is told in flashback, including Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance. But it’s a great story with some great performances from iconic actors. I love this most of all of Wayne’s films.

No. 21: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
About: Robert Redford and Paul Newman are paired in this adventure based on the classic characters. There’s action, drama, and a great buddy pairing here. We’ve seen these actors paired together a few times, but this might be one of their most iconic.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.