15 Greatest Western Movie Characters Of All Time, Ranked Worst To Best
Whether good, bad, or somewhere in between, great Western characters are defined by traits like morality, skill in shootouts, and their philosophy.
- Some Western characters are known for their distinct attitudes, iconic outfits, and philosophies that continue to inspire generations.
- Even if a Western film fared poorly with critics and audiences, it likely produced a memorable protagonist or antagonist.
- Western characters with nuanced motivations and questionable morals have lasting power and can impact the genre and other stories beyond Westerns.
Some of the greatest characters in cinematic history have come from the Western genre, and their impact on cinema has sustained its popularity through the decades. Some characters in the Western genre have long-lasting appeal simply because they’re cooler than everyone else in their respective genre, while others are known for their distinct attitudes and personalities, iconic outfits, and philosophies about life and death that continue to inspire generations. In special cases, more memorable Western characters have not only impacted the tropes in the classic genre, but they’ve influenced stories and characters outside of Westerns, thus reinforcing certain characters’ legacy.
Even if a particular Western fared poorly with critics and audiences, there’s a strong chance it produced a memorable protagonist or antagonist one way or another, thus lending further credence to the genre’s impact. While things like witty dialogue and incredible skill with a six shooter are plenty reason enough to like most Western characters, there are other aspects that some Western characters possess, like nuanced motivations and questionable morals that have given them lasting power. Whether on the right side of the law, firmly against it, or somewhere in between, some of cinema’s best characters live and thrive in the Western genre.
15, Joshua, Joshua (1976)
Fred Williamson plays Joshua
Joshua is a bold and fearless cowboy whose bravery wills him through the immense opposition he’s constantly faced with. Joshua tells the story of a Black soldier returning to the deep south after fighting for the Union in the Civil War, and discovering that his mother was brutally murdered by a gang of White bandits while he was away. As a Black man firmly rooted in the deep south, Joshua often navigates just as much racial persecution as he does gunfights, and because he works alone, he does it with a flair that makes Joshua embody the traits of courageousness, strength, and compassion that every Western hero needs.
14, Roland Deschain, The Dark Tower (2017)
Idris Elba plays Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain is a stoic and mysterious gunslinger based on the character of the same name in the Stephen King novels. Although Roland’s characterization is that of the typical drifter archetype seen in Western lore, often opting for shooting evildoers rather than bartering with them, Elba’s performance offers a charm otherwise absent from the novels. Although Roland is often depicted as an emotionally unavailable man, this makes for interesting interactions with people like Jake when he provides glimpses of his life. Nevertheless, Roland’s integrity, horseback riding skills, and marksmanship make more than make up for his lack of social skills.
13, John Herod, The Quick And The Dead (1995)
Gene Hackman plays John Herod
As a result of his former life as an outlaw, The Quick and the Dead‘s sheriff of Redemption, John Herod, manipulates civilians and engages in unscrupulous business practices. Furthermore, Herod abuses his power, delights in the torture of captured criminals, and rules Redemption with an iron fist since he earned his position through questionable means. Hackman’s work as Herod is similar to Little Bill Dagget from Unforgiven in that his sadism and abuse of power offer viewers thought-provoking themes such as police brutality, without being preachy. Herod’s twisted sense of justice and his delight in the pain he causes both civilians and criminals makes him a complex and engaging villain.
12, Jack Wilson, Shane (1953)
Jack Palance plays Jack Wilson
Jack Wilson is an antagonist in Shane and his unwavering charm and charisma makes it just as difficult for audiences to tell his true intentions as it does the Starrett family. Despite veering on the cartoony side of villainous portrayals, the sense of danger and anxiety that he perpetually exudes keeps him grounded. With his boyish looks and disarming smile, Jack effectively uses his charisma to weasel his way into situations that most other villains could only dream of, before revealing his true nefarious intentions. Additionally, Jack’s incredible speed with his revolver and skill on horseback makes him one of Shane’s greatest threats.
11, Wyatt Earp, Tombstone (1993)
Kurt Russell plays Wyatt Earp
Considered one of the best Western movies based on real people, Tombstone portrays Earp as a fearless and intense man who cares deeply for his brothers and the citizens of Tombstone. While the Kevin Costner film, Wyatt Earp, focuses on Earp’s pre-peace officer days, Tombstone shows how committed Earp was to preserving justice well into his retirement, thus reinforcing the aging former lawman’s bravery. His decision to quit his quiet retirement and take on Johnny Ringo and his Cowboys at the O.K.Corral, despite being outnumbered, has solidified his legacy, and acts as a shining example of the brand of bravery required to be a lawman.
10, Sheriff Bart, Blazing Saddles (1974)
Cleavon Little plays Sheriff Bart
Sheriff Bart is a Black sheriff in Blazing Saddles, and is the unsuspecting hero after being appointed sheriff of an all-White town. While the decision to put Bart in power is a business move to evacuate Rock Ridge’s residents out of town to make way for a railroad’s construction, Sheriff Bart shows incredible heart, bravery, and wit after deducing what’s truly at play. Sheriff Bart is more the physical embodiment of how ignorant racism is than a typical Western lawman, but that’s largely what makes him so great. His bravery develops over time, and with the help of Jim the Waco Kid, eventually defeats Hedley Lamarr before he can escape justice.
9, Chris Adams, The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Yul Brynner plays Chris Adams
Chris Adams’ ability to keep the group of vastly different personalities and philosophies together and in check spoke to his ability as a true leader. Chris’s empathy and patience also allows him to see things from multiple perspectives in the group with a sincerity that makes him perpetually endearing. In addition to his horseback riding skills and competency with revolvers, Chris’s character would inspire Denzel Washington’s Sam Chisholm in the 2016 remake, The Magnificent Seven, and his quick thinking, bravery, and integrity both pay homage to Takashi Shimura’s Kambei Shimada from 1954’s Seven Samurai, the film that inspired both Western remakes.
8, Stephen, Django Unchained (2012)
Samuel L. Jackson plays Stephen
Stephen is presented to audiences in Django Unchained as a curmudgeonly old man with a noticeable limp, who acts as the head slave on Calvin Candie’s Candyland plantation. However, as the events of the story unfold, it is eventually revealed that Stephen is far more cunning and capable than he originally let off. Boasting much of director Quentin Tarantino’s signature dialogue, Stephen excels as a great Western character because of his ability to remain a constant threat no matter what the situation calls for. Additionally, Stephen discovering Django and King’s plan, thus leading to King’s death and Django’s recapture, speak volumes to his intelligence.
7, Shane, Shane (1953)
Alan Ladd plays Shane
Shane follows a weary gunslinger who is hired as a farmhand for the Starrett family, a small family whose son grows to idolize him. Attempting to leave his past as a gunslinger behind, Shane eventually protects the family from a ruthless gang attempting to force them off their ranch. Despite being mild-mannered and soft-spoken, Shane’s bravery and skills with his revolver make him a formidable hero. Moreover, Shane is also a strong father figure not only to the young Joey, but also to many of the young audiences who the film was made for, thus solidifying Shane’s influence on and off the screen.
6, King Shultz, Django Unchained (2012)
Christoph Waltz plays King Shultz
King Shultz’s charisma, empathy, and skills as a bounty hunter made him one of the best characters in Django Unchained, as well as the Western genre as a whole. Similar to Shane‘s Shane, King was a father figure to the titular Django, thus not only teaching him how to become a battle-hardened gunslinger, but how to become a capable man in the deep Antebellum South. His quirky behavior and sincere disdain for slavery endeared Django and audiences to him, and his knack for thinking of practical solutions to seemingly impossible situations was arguably the biggest quality that the film’s hero adopted.
5, Harmonica, Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
Charles Bronson plays Harmonica
Once Upon a Time in the West follows Harmonica, a mysterious man who plays the instrument, on his quest for revenge against the ruthless Frank. One of the most stoic protagonists in Westerns, Harmonica is a taciturn man, often letting his actions speak for him, but his bewildering behavior is partially what contributes to his greatness. After it is revealed that Harmonica got the instrument from Frank after he killed his brother, it depicts the formerly mysterious man in a new light that makes audiences root for him instantly. Harmonica’s great lines and nuanced motivations help make him a compelling Western character.
4, Django Freeman, Django Unchained (2012)
Jamie Foxx plays Django Freeman
Whereas King is more of a showman, Django’s a terse speaker who conveys most of his emotions through his eyes and body language. Furthermore, Django’s eventual skill with six shooters, dynamite, and ability to talk his way out of complex situations similar to how King did, further reinforced his skills. However, Django’s ability to adapt to nearly any situation on the fly, and face any overwhelming challenges with courageousness is perhaps his most defining trait. As seen during Django’s shootout with the slavers and eventually talking his way out of being recaptured, Django proved that King’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain, and he also proved why he’s one of the best.
3, Frank, Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
Henry Fonda plays Frank
Frank is Once Upon a Time in the West‘s main antagonist, and his piercing blue eyes and authoritative presence make him one of the most unique forces of evil committed to film. After witnessing Frank murder a young child in cold-blood within the film’s opening moments, it becomes impossible to view Frank as anything less than the Devil himself. Additionally, Frank’s accompanying Harmonica and electric guitar motif that plays throughout the film helps establish Frank as more a force of nature than a mere mortal man. Considered one of the best Spaghetti Westerns, Once Upon a Time in The West owes much of its success to the villainous Frank.
2, Angel Eyes, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
Lee Van Cleef plays Angel Eyes
Arguably the most famous villain in a Western movie, Angel Eyes is depicted as a cruel and unrelenting force of evil in Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Known for his sharp, piercing eyes, all-black attire, and well-groomed mustache that helps shape the character’s visage into that of the devil himself. Although a ruthless man, Angel Eyes’ true defining characteristic that makes him so great is his tenacity and indomitable will, as seen throughout A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More. His continued presence in the trilogy combined with his intelligence speaks to his effectiveness as a Western villain.
1, The Man With No Name, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
Clint Eastwood plays The Man With No Name
Often cited as the best Western movie of all time, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is the conclusion to Leon’s Dollars trilogy, and Eastwood’s performance in A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More are both overshadowed by his work in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Arguably the character responsible for writing the playbook on taciturn Western characters, The Man With No Name’s intentions are almost impossible to read, thus making for genuinely unique interactions with everyone he encounters. However, despite his mysterious ways, The Man With No Name usually acts in good faith on behalf of others when the situation calls for it.
Additionally, The Man With No Name’s iconic serape and perpetual cigarillo jutting from his tightly clenched mouth have become synonymous with the Spaghetti Western and Western genres. While they could just be purely stylistic, they’ve now come to represent a character who will fight, with unwavering courage, through any challenge. As such, scores of heroic characters in and out of the Western genre include a reference to him in some capacity. Although audiences know virtually nothing about him, The Man With No Name is an iconic character, and his influence makes him one of the best characters in the Western genre.
