7 Western TV shows that deserve to be a movie (and would totally rule the box office)

The Western genre has always ruled both the big screen and the small screen, spawning many great movies and Western TV shows. It has some of the most memorable characters, dramatic plotlines, and dusty frontiers ever known in Hollywood. Westerns are a cinematic marvel that bring out emotions like loyalty, vengeance, stamping hooves, moral reckonings, and showdown sunsets in the most unforgettable way.

From breathtaking scenery to rough gunslingers, from dramatic redemption arcs to breaking all social constraints, Western flicks have been known for portraying something essential on screen. Human conflict shot in wide-open spaces. While movies crunch these stories into two hours, television allows a long-form exploration of characters and plots.

But sometimes, a single episode or even a season is so rich that it begs for a cinematic retelling. The following epic Western TV shows feel like movies because of their appealing stories, inspiring characters, and themes that stay with you long after the credits roll. So, here are seven Western TV shows that deserve to be adapted into feature films.

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7 Western TV shows that deserve to be a movie

For today’s audiences, a full-length film based on Western TV shows could reinstate the genre into the mainstream. It could give new generations a taste of the Old West, bringing Western flair, nostalgia, and novelty all at once. Think about it, what’s more appealing than brooding cowboys, shiny horses, frontier justice, and moral ambiguity?

So, without further ado, here are seven Western TV shows that deserve a place on the big screen.

1) The Riflemen (1958-1963)

The Rifleman is set in the early 1880s in the New Mexico Territory. It tells the story of a Civil War veteran and widowed rancher, Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors), who moves to the town of North Fork with his teenage son, Mark (Johnny Crawford).

One day, a ruthless land baron tries to force small ranchers off their lands, and with the weak local law, Lucas steps in to help. Over the course of the story, Lucas mentors his son through moral complexity, faces the demons of his haunted past, and wins an epic showdown against his enemies.

2) Maverick (1957-1962)

While most Western TV shows were about smoldering cowboys, Maverick was a breath of fresh air because of its comedy and charm. Bret Maverick (James Garner), a sly gambler traveling through the Old West, arrives in a frontier town known for its corrupt local sheriff and a railroad company that is harassing settlers. The only way out is a high-stakes poker game, and Bret brings his wit and cards into the chaos to help the townsfolk.

When the stakes rise, Bret’s brother Bart (Jack Kelly) arrives to help him. To make matters worse, the railroad baron frames Bret for a murder during a card game. Now it’s up to Bret to finish the dangerous poker tournament while navigating corruption, double-crosses, and seduction.

3) The Big Valley (1965-1969)

This is one of the classic Western TV shows, and was set in the 1870s in California’s San Joaquin Valley. It followed the chronicles of the Barkley family, consisting of the matriarch Victoria Barkley and her adult children Jarrod, Nick, Audra, and their half-brother Heath. The family owns one of the largest ranches that attracts lots of the wrong people, like a ruthless railroad company run by land-grabbers.

They threaten to take their land and exploit local settlers, and this prompts the family to unite to fight the common enemy. In the process, the family faces many obstacles. Heath’s illegitimacy becomes an issue when a claimant appears, Audra struggles with social expectations, Nick battles his violent temper, and Jarrod tries to balance his legal ambitions with ranch life.

4) Deadwood (2004-2006)

The series is set in 1870s South Dakota and is about the town of Deadwood, which has been home to hustlers, outlaws, saloons, and corruption. Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), a former marshal who now runs a hardware store, arrives in Deadwood only to get into a war with Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), the local saloon owner who holds all the power in town.

After a big gold loot results in a turf war, alliances are made quickly, with Native groups demanding justice and miners rebelling. It is then that Bullock decides to protect an innocent settler, stand up to Swearengen, and establish a sense of law in the town.

5) Godless (2017)

The show is one of Netflix’s most entertaining Western TV shows. A remote mining town in New Mexico called La Belle is run by women because almost all the men died in a mining accident. Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels), a one-armed outlaw, decides to enter the town to kill the mine owner and rule the territory. But on the other side, the town’s women, led by the brave Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery) and the widow Mary Agnes (Merritt Wever), are ready to defend La Belle at all costs.

Unbeknownst to the townspeople, a former outlaw, Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell), is hiding among them. Stakes rise as Griffin’s gang closes in, forcing Roy to face his past. Mary Agnes rallies the women against the gang and turns the entire town into a fortress. When the gang attacks, the women fight back fiercely, with Roy successfully trapping Griffin, resulting in La Belle’s victory.

6) Yellowstone (2018-2024)

Yellowstone is one of the most gripping Western TV shows of today. It follows John Dutton (Kevin Costner), a sixth-generation rancher who runs the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch on the edge of national park land in Montana. Problems arise when property developers, corporations, and the neighboring Native American reservation come to settle old scores with the Dutton family.

Push comes to shove when a corporate villain tries to put forward the Dutton land for property development. It resulted in John’s children, Kayce (Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley), and Beth (Kelly Reilly), fighting moral and physical warfare in their own ways.

Beth chooses to fight with aggression, Jamie uses politics, and Kayce struggles between doing the right thing and standing by family. These dynamics force John to decide whether to fight for his ranch or accept defeat. When the land invasions turn violent, John uses all his power to protect what his family and legacy stand for.

7) The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956-1958)

When someone mentions Western TV shows, they are sure to mention The Adventures of Jim Bowie. The series is based on the book Tempered Blade by Monte Barrett and is set in the 1830s Louisiana Territory. It follows Jim Bowie (Scott Forbes), a daring adventurer, aspiring knife fighter, and land buyer who finds himself in the middle of all sorts of frontier scuffles. He has a long list of conflicts with Spanish agents, Native American treaties, land speculators, and outlaws.

But things take a wild turn when Bowie discovers a plot to take over part of a valuable piece of land by corrupt officials. He decides to expose the conspiracy and is helped by a local woman and his best friend. Along the way, he becomes a skilled knife fighter, faces moral dilemmas about land ownership, and learns the cost of fame and life on the frontier.

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Turning Western TV shows into movies is not just about re-running old material; it’s about reimagining them in a new light for a new audience. Each of the seven shows above offers deep characters, meaningful conflict, and a setting that gives every genre tough competition. If filmmakers ever decide to restart a wave of Western films, these Western TV shows could be prime contenders.