The Best Westerns Made Outside the U.S.

International Impact on the Western Genre

The western genre, traditionally associated with American filmmaking, has seen a significant international impact in the creation of some of the greatest westerns outside the U.S. From The Salvation to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, international filmmakers have brought a fresh perspective to the American West, depicting it from a less flattering and more critical viewpoint. These filmmakers, with no emotional connection to the United States, presented morally gray antiheroes and blood-soaked scenes of violence, deviating from the clear-cut black-and-white stories of good triumphing over evil often seen in American westerns.

Mads Mikkelsen surrounded by bad guys in The Salvation

The earliest westerns, directed by American pioneers like John Ford and Howard Hawks, set the stage for the genre with their straightforward narratives. However, international filmmakers took the western genre and reimagined it with a more critical lens, resulting in a diverse range of westerns that challenged the traditional American portrayal of the Wild West.

Phil standing outside in Power of the Dog.

Global Influence on Western Filmmaking

The influence of American western films extended beyond national borders, inspiring filmmakers from different parts of the world to create their own unique interpretations of the genre. Akira Kurosawa, known for his groundbreaking samurai films, utilized the tropes of American westerns in crafting his visionary works, laying the foundation for a cross-cultural exchange of cinematic ideas. Kurosawa's samurai films, in turn, inspired European directors to develop their own dark and twisted take on the western genre, leading to the emergence of iconic westerns from various international productions.

The three gunfighters confront Harmonica at the train station in Once Upon A Time In The West.

Italian spaghetti westerns, such as The Great Silence, Australian meat pie westerns like The Proposition, and Mexican acid westerns like El Topo, exemplify the diverse and innovative approaches to the western genre outside the U.S. These international productions brought a sense of bleakness and brutality to the genre, challenging traditional perceptions and offering audiences a new frontier of storytelling.

Silence holds a wanted poster in The Great Silence

Notable International Western Productions

The international landscape of western filmmaking has produced an array of notable productions that have left a lasting impact on the genre. From Danish and Japanese westerns to Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand co-productions, these films have redefined the boundaries of the western genre, offering audiences a fresh and compelling perspective on the frontier.

Clint Eastwood in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Salvation, a Danish-made western featuring Mads Mikkelsen, brings a unique perspective to the familiar vistas of John Ford and Sergio Leone's westerns. Slow West, a British and New Zealand co-production, subverts genre tropes with its somber take on the western, rewarding audiences with satisfying payoffs. Sukiyaki Western Django, a Japanese interpretation of the Italian spaghetti western, reinvigorates the genre with its high-energy action and fresh spin on classic tropes.

The gunslinger in the desert in El Topo