Westerns have been a part of Hollywood since the early days. After all, there's something so adventurous and compelling about bank robberies, horse riding, and high-stakes shootouts. However, Westerns often come with controversy. These days, the whole "cowboys vs. Indians" trope feels… problematic, to say the least. That's where the neo-Western comes in. Essentially, the genre takes the setting and tropes of traditional Westerns but updates the formula. Whether achieved through a modern setting, unique themes, or a blend of other genres, that's up to the creatives behind them.
The Abandons (2025), hitting Netflix, proves the genre is far from dead. The series applies modern themes to a historical setting while positioning two matriarchs (Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey) as the leads, which, truthfully, we don't get enough of. So, if you're craving more stories with a similar flavor, here are the seven best neo-Westerns of the past decade worth watching on Paramount+, Hulu, and more.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Bone Tomahawk might take place in 1890, but its horror elements give it a unique, albeit brutal, neo-Western twist. In short, it follows Kurt Russell's small-town sheriff and a posse on their quest to save three people abducted by a cannibalistic tribe. And yeah, it's about as gritty and disturbing as you might imagine.
Although Bone Tomahawk starts as a slow burn, it benefits from multiple gripping, intense moments that culminate in one heck of a climax. If you dig the Western-horror fusion in movies like Near Dark (1987) or The Wind (2018), you'll find a similar vibe here, just with a lot more violence. While not without controversy for its portrayal of racist stereotypes, Bone Tomahawk might be the most unique neo-Western in the last decade.
Hell or High Water (2016)
If you're looking for a critically acclaimed movie that is nowhere near as disturbing as Bone Tomahawk, consider Hell or High Water. Set in the then-present day, the film follows two bank-robbing brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) whose desperate mission to save their family ranch involves the pursuit of relentless Texas Rangers, played by Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham.
Hell or High Water ensures you don't miss its commentary on economic hardship. However, it's also just a well-directed, beautifully shot film that will give you all the thrills of a good heist movie. Nothing feels more quintessentially Western than a bank robbery story, so if you're searching for that classic Western trope in a modern setting, Hell or High Water will have you glued to your screen for its 102-minute runtime.
Wind River (2017)
While Taylor Sheridan of Yellowstone fame wrote Hell or High Water, he also stepped into the director's seat for Wind River, the last installment in Sheridan's American Frontier Trilogy. Don't worry. Despite the trilogy sharing themes, it's not connected by plot or characters, making each movie (which also includes 2015's Sicario) work as a standalone. Here, an FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) and a Fish and Wildlife tracker (Jeremy Renner) team up to solve a murder on a Wyoming Indian reservation.
Not only does Wind River feature a female lead, which is relatively rare in the Western/neo-Western genres, but it also shines a bright spotlight on the Indigenous women neglected by the US justice system. Atmospheric, moody, and compelling, Wind River is for fans of character-driven mysteries. If you like The Silence of the Lambs (1991), you just might find a hint of Clarice Starling in Olsen's inexperienced FBI agent, too.
Yellowstone (2018-2024)
The neo-Western genre existed long before Yellowstone (thinking of you, Justified), but it most definitely helped popularize it. Taylor Sheridan and John Linson's Paramount hit took streaming and network TV by storm, as viewers tuned in to watch the Dutton family struggle through all manner of conflicts to keep their Montana ranch. While I could sit here and list all the spin-offs in the Yellowstone franchise to prove its success, that's just boring.
Really, all you need to know about Yellowstone is it's the neo-Western show. Twisty, engaging, and filled with cowboys doing all those cowboy things, it's the type of series that slowly sucks you in until the Dutton family and their drama consume you. Of all the modern-set neo-Westerns on this list, Yellowstone will give you the most authentic Western feel, if that's what you're in search of. Just boot up Paramount+, and you've got the entire franchise at your fingertips.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Maybe it's just me, but Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't exactly scream Western actor. Yet, he absolutely kills it as Phil Burbank, a domineering rancher who initially clashes with his brother's new wife and her son when they come to stay with him. Set in 1925 Montana, The Power of the Dog delivers all the expected Western tropes, coupled with gorgeous cinematography, while presenting a more psychological side of the genre.
The topics up for analysis are repression, loneliness, and most prominently, toxic masculinity. Considering toxic masculinity typically runs rampant in the genre, that alone makes The Power of the Dog worth checking out. Be warned. This isn't for fans of action-packed shoot 'em ups. Instead, this movie will appeal to anyone who loves to get lost in slow-burn, character-driven stories.
Dark Winds (2022-Present)
Just like the Western genre so often underrepresents women, it typically neglects Native Americans, relegating them to side characters or, worse, depicting them as villainous stereotypes. Dark Winds, which Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin executively produces, changes all that. The series makes a tribal police lieutenant (Zahn McClarnon) and an undercover FBI agent (Kiowa Gordon) its leads, as the two work together to solve crimes on a Navajo reservation in the 1970s.
While the authentic Native American storytelling is a big plus here, Dark Winds is also just straight-up gorgeous. The desolate desert setting and sprawling New Mexico landscape really add to the atmosphere. Filled with mystery, suspense, and even supernatural elements, Dark Winds will appeal to fans of the mysterious, surreal-like vibe of Twin Peaks (1990).
Tulsa King (2022-Present)
Like Benedict Cumberbatch in The Power of the Dog, Sylvester Stallone doesn't seem like anyone's first pick for a Western. However, he works wonderfully in Taylor Sheridan's neo-Western, Tulsa King, where he plays a recently released mafia caporegime looking to start a new criminal organization in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
As a bona fide success on Paramount+, Tulsa King isn't for audiences craving a historical vibe. With a modern setting and mafia influence, the series blends the tropes expected of the gangster and Western genres together to great effect. Think of it like Ray Donovan (2013) meets The Godfather (1972) meets a Clint Eastwood Western. Yeah, something like that.
