“2024: The Year Western Movies Make a Strong Comeback”
Why 2024 is Reigniting the Western Genre
If 2024 is any indication, the Western genre is far from dead. This year, Kevin Costner premiered the first installment of his self-directed “Horizon” series at Cannes—a 3-hour, self-financed labor of love. Despite receiving mixed reviews, Costner’s ambitious project suggests that the Western still holds sway in the film landscape.
Recent releases like The Thicket, The Last Stop in Yuma County, The Dead Don’t Hurt, The Settlers, and Place of Bones have sparked renewed interest in the genre. These films not only showcase modern production values but also reflect a shift in how they portray the West’s inhabitants. Where earlier Westerns often depicted settlers in a more one-dimensional manner, today’s films offer more nuanced and sympathetic portrayals, a trend that began during the genre’s Revisionist era in the late 1960s.
So, what makes 2024 a standout year for Westerns? And what does this resurgence say about our current appetite for tales of good versus evil? Are there signs of a broader Western revival? Here’s an overview of the genre’s unexpected comeback.
The 21st Century Western
The core elements of the Western—good versus evil—remain integral to many contemporary films. Although modern Westerns may present these themes in more psychologically complex ways, the genre’s DNA continues to permeate current cinema. Films like Taylor Sheridan’s Hell or High Water and Wind River embrace classic Western motifs with contemporary settings, while even superhero movies such as Logan draw parallels to revisionist Westerns like Shane. Logan includes a scene where characters watch Shane, underscoring the genre’s influence.
Movies like Hell or High Water, Wind River, and Logan distill the archetypal Western cowboy into figures seeking justice or grappling with their pasts, echoing characters from 1960s Westerns such as The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Once Upon a Time in the West. The Westerns of 2024 build on this tradition, incorporating modern filmmaking techniques and audiences’ appetite for moral complexity.
This year’s Westerns align with a broader cinematic trend where even films with modest budgets can make a significant impact, as seen with Longlegs. Similarly, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 defied expectations by achieving blockbuster success. The resurgence of the Western genre in 2024 might reflect a collective desire for change and a fresh take on a classic genre.
While superhero movies like Deadpool & Wolverine continue to enjoy success, their impact on general audiences remains uncertain. The Western’s return suggests that while some genres may fade, others can rise again with renewed relevance. This year’s Westerns, such as Costner’s Horizon, offer an opportunity to reassess and enrich cinematic depictions of marginalized communities, potentially rewriting the genre’s narrative and historical context.
As 2024 unfolds, it could signal not only a revival of the Western but also a chance to honor and reinterpret its legacy. Whether the Western can fully embrace this potential remains to be seen, but the genre’s return invites movie fans to revisit the iconic heroes and villains of yesteryear and explore how these enduring archetypes have evolved.
Predicting trends in film is notoriously difficult. One year, an actor returns to win an Oscar; the next, a highly anticipated film disappoints. Yet, amid this unpredictability, there’s hope that the Western, with its storied past, can reemerge, better than ever, and continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
