10 Underrated Westerns From The 1980s

Summary Western films of the 1980s offer a variety of story tropes to appeal to all types of viewers, not just traditional fans.

Underrated Westerns from the 1980s like Barbarosa and Rustlers' Rhapsody offer unique elements and fresh perspectives to the genre.

Films like Hard Country and Cattle Annie and Little Britches showcase rare female-led Western stories worth rediscovering for their authenticity.

Plenty of Westerns came out in the 1980s, but some are more underrated than others. Western films often take on personalities of their own, with an incredibly wide range of story tropes that all fit under the genre. In this way, they offer something for everyone, even those who may not consider themselves fans.

More than other genres, Westerns are often heavily influenced by the period they are released in. The 1980s are said to be the worst decade for Westerns as far as earnings go, but that doesn't discount the many interesting, action-packed films that came out at the time. From Western comedies like Rustlers' Rhapsody to dramas like Hard Country, there are plenty of underrated Westerns of the '80s that deserve a spot on your watch list.

Related The 25 Best Westerns Ever Made Ranked The best Western movies of all time range from the likes of High Noon in the 1950s to The Revenant in the 2010s, but each one is timeless.

10 Barbarosa (1982)

Directed By Fred Schepisi

Barbarosa's appeal comes from how unexpected many of its elements may be to those who haven't heard of the movie before. For one, it stars music icon Willie Nelson as the title character, alongside Gary Busey as Karl Westover. That pairing is worth the price of admission alone, as Barabarosa is quite different from what you'd probably expect from either of the two men.

Additionally, Fred Schepisi is not a typical American Western director. He actually comes from Australia and brings a fresh perspective to the genre as a result, with Barbarosa his first American movie. Schepisi's other work also makes a pretty solid case for checking out Barbarosa. Though it's one of his early films, he went on to direct plenty of other well-known and critically beloved features including Roxanne with Steve Martin and Six Degrees of Separation, featuring Stockard Channing, Will Smith, and Donald Sutherland.

9 Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985)

Directed By Hugh Wilson

Rustlers' Rhapsody stars Tom Berenger as Rex O'Herlihan, a good-natured singing cowboy who is taken from his usual surroundings and transported to a future of sorts. There, Rex has an awareness of the Western genre that others don't. He often references traditional tropes, leading to some hilarious and deeply meta moments

Rustlers' Rhapsody received largely negative reviews at the time it was released, perhaps because it is trying to do a lot – at once commenting on the genre while also trying to be a part of it. However, director Hugh Wilson's fondness for Westerns shines through, and in many ways, it serves as a love letter to the classic films that defined the genre several decades earlier. For those who feel Westerns take themselves too seriously at times, Rustlers' Rhapsody's self-aware humor may be the perfect antidote.

8 The Quick and the Dead (1987)

Directed By Robert Day

The Quick and the Dead is a made-for-TV movie starring Sam Elliott as the main character, Con Vallian. The film has largely been forgotten, perhaps because it didn't have a traditional theatrical release. Not helping matters: there are several movies with the same name, including 1995's The Quick and the Dead, which starred Sharon Stone and was directed by Sam Raimi.

Still, the 1987 The Quick and the Dead is worth checking out. For one, with his deep voice and signature mustache, Elliott was practically made for the Western genre and, indeed, has starred in several films in that vein. It's a joy to watch Elliott so at home in a story, and his take on Con Vallian is incredibly believable. While it's understandable why The Quick and the Dead has slipped under the radar, that should be rectified.

7 Bronco Billy (1980)

Directed By Clint Eastwood

Like Elliott, Bronco Billy director and star Clint Eastwood is well-known for his work in Westerns. Between that and his extensive list of films in other genres, it's a given that any Eastwood movie will have at least some merits. Still, Bronco Billy didn't make much of a splash when it was released and has largely been forgotten since.

Beyond Eastwood's involvement being a major selling point, Bronco Billy has a fun meta quality similar to Rustlers' Rhapsody. Eastwood's character is the leader of a Wild West Show that isn't very successful, leading him to bring on an assistant played by Sondra Locke. As both an actor and director, Eastwood makes the most of this premise, with his deep knowledge and appreciation for the Western genre shining through. Bronco Billy also gives Eastwood one of his funniest roles, which makes it worth checking out.

6 Comin' At Ya! (1981)

Directed By Ferdinando Baldi

Comin' At Ya is not a very well-known Western, so many people today might not be familiar with it. However, the movie was a big deal when it first released due to the fact it was made in 3-D. This was quite rare for the time period, and Comin' At Ya is credited with leading the charge for that style of film in the '80s, with several other movies following suit in later years. It was also a bit unconventional to utilize 3-D in the Western genre.

For those reasons alone, Comin' At Ya is worth watching. It serves as a fascinating evolution of filmmaking at the time as well as a look at what the Western genre was capable of when creatives thought outside the box. Of course, director Ferdinando Baldi was incredibly experienced at the time, as Comin' At Ya was one of his final films. His confidence comes through in the movie's direction and contributes to the project's appeal.

5 Hard Country (1981)

Directed By David Greene

Hard Country tells the story of Jodie (Kim Basinger), an ambitious young woman who wishes to pursue her dreams. However, she has the realization that she can only do so if she moves out of Texas, and her boyfriend, Kyle (Jan-Michael Vincent), stops her from leaving. Despite director David Greene's extensive filmography, not many people remember Hard Country today.

Female-led Westerns were pretty rare in the '80s, and Hard Country is worth watching for that reason alone. Notably, it's also Basinger's film debut, which provides another solid argument for checking it out. She's gone on to have a massive career, starring in films like Batman and 8 Mile, and it's fun to look back on her very first role. In addition, Hard Country has a nice authenticity to it, bolstered by a performance from beloved country star Tanya Tucker.

4 Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Directed By Lamont Johnson

Cattle Annie and Little Britches follows the two wild teenagers, Jennie and Cattle Annie, tracking their involvement with the Doolin-Dalton gang in a fairly inventive story. At the time the movie was released, some critics felt it had merits, celebrating the actors' performances in particular. However, the relatively mixed response, with few outright loving the film means it's faded into obscurity in the years since it came out.

Still, critics made a good point about the actors – perhaps the biggest draw is a 16-year-old Diane Lane and a similarly young Amanda Plummer, who show they're more than capable of leading the film against their older cast members. Like Hard Country, Cattle Annie and Little Britches is also a rare '80s Western focused on young women and their ambitions. It doesn't hurt that the movie is funny, too.

3 The Man from Snowy River (1982)

Directed By George T. Miller

The Man from Snowy River is an Australian Western that was fairly well-received when it first came out. It was considered a box office success in its home country but is not as widely known in the United States. This is a shame, as it brings a lot to the table.

For one, it tells a beautiful and heartfelt story, focusing on Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson), who has lived his life on his father's farm in the mountains. He travels to the lowlands after his father's death to earn money to save the farm. Aside from that quality premise, The Man from Snowy River ups the intrigue with its inclusion of Kirk Douglas in a dual role. It lets the beloved actor show off his skills in a unique way and certainly adds to the argument that The Man from Snowy River is worth watching.

2 Tom Horn

Directed By William Wiard

Tom Horn is a Western full of action that boasts an impressive cast including Steve McQueen, Linda Evans, Richard Farnsworth, Billy Green Bush, and Slim Pickens. The movie was not well-received upon its debut, and part of its appeal isn't so much what happens on screen but rather the story behind it.

Tom Horn was a notoriously tumultuous production, partly due to McQueen's behavior. Several directors were brought in and then departed, and McQueen wanted to direct the film himself. Since the DGA did not allow this at the time, William Wiard was brought on instead. While Wiard was well-known for his work in TV, Tom Horn is a somewhat surprising blip in his career. At its core, the movie provides a fascinating look at what happens when a lot of creatives are involved in a film and how that isn't always for the best.

1 Heaven's Gate (1980)

Directed By Michael Cimino

Heaven's Gate is a gritty western that follows James Averill, a Harvard graduate and sheriff in Jackson County, Wyoming. A battle soon begins between immigrants in poverty and the wealthy cattle farmers of the area who are politically connected to mercenary Nathan D. Champion. Despite this rich premise, Heaven's Gate was a box office bomb that also received universally negative reviews when it was released.

However, the movie has been reevaluated in recent years, and some are already starting to recognize its merits. For one, the cast is incredibly stacked, featuring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, and Isabelle Huppert. This absolutely adds to the film's appeal. Additionally, Heaven's Gate's culture clash, which also involves income inequality, remains prevalent today. Although not successful upon release, the epic western with romance, drama, and action is still worth looking back on.