John Wayne Western Movies: Best John Wayne Movies In Order

John Wayne is the most iconic actor in western movies. His tough persona and southern drawl made him a legend on the big screen.

In this post, we’ll take a look at some of John Wayne’s movies best westerns and discuss what made them so popular.

Whether you’re a fan of westerns or not, you have to admit that John Wayne is one of the all-time greats!

john wayne western movies
John Wayne western movies

Hondo (1953)

Hondo Lane is an Army despatch rider who finds himself caught in the middle of a ranchers fight with the Apache. He ends up sheltering from the Indians with a woman and her son, but when they are attacked he must choose between saving them or getting back to his troop.

Hondo (1953)
Hondo (1953)

The Shootist (1976)

John Bernard Books is a gunfighter who is dying of cancer. He comes to Carson City to die, but finds that he must deal with the townspeople and his own past before he can go.

The Shootist (1976)
The Shootist (1976)

Fort Apache (1948)

Captain Kirby Yorke is new to his post at Fort Apache, and he does not get along with the other officers. He is also not happy with the way that the Indians are being treated. When his daughter falls for an Indian chief’s son, Kirby must decide what is more important – following orders or doing what he knows is right.

Fort Apache (1948)
Fort Apache (1948)

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

Captain Nathan Brittles is about to retire from the Army when he is sent out on one last mission. He is to escort a group of women through hostile territory, but he finds that he may not be able to protect them from everything.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

When a senator comes to town, the people of Shinbone tell him the story of Liberty Valance. He was a ruthless outlaw who terrorized the town, but he met his match in a man named Tom Doniphon.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

True Grit (1969)

Mattie Ross hires Cogburn to help her track down the man who killed her father. They are joined by La Boeuf, a Texas Ranger who is also after the killer. The three of them form an unlikely partnership as they venture into Indian territory to find the killer.

True Grit (1969)
True Grit (1969)

Stagecoach (1939)

A group of people traveling on a stagecoach through Apache territory find themselves under attack by the Indians. They must band together in order to survive and make it to their destination.

Stagecoach (1939)
Stagecoach (1939)

 

Rio Bravo (1959)

Sheriff John T. Chance is trying to stop Nathan Burdette from taking over the town of Rio Bravo. To do this he enlists the help of a drunk, a woman with a checkered past and an old man.

Rio Bravo (1959)
Rio Bravo (1959)

Red River (1948)

Dunson is driving his cattle to market, but his trail boss Matt Garth has other ideas. Dunson is determined to get his cattle to market, even if it means going through Indian territory.

Red River (1948)
Red River (1948)

The Searchers (1956)

Ethan Edwards spends years looking for his niece who was kidnapped by Comanches. He eventually finds her, but she has become so assimilated into their way of life that he must decide whether to save her or kill her.

The Searchers (1956)
The Searchers (1956)

The Great K&A Train Robbery(1926)

When a group of criminals rob a train, they end up in a small town where they are pursued by the sheriff and a posse. They must find a way to escape before they are caught.

The Great K&A Train Robbery(1926)
The Great K&A Train Robbery(1926)

The Big Trail (1930)

A group of settlers head west on the Oregon Trail. They are beset by Indians, bad weather and other hardships, but they persevere and reach their destination.

The Big Trail (1930)
The Big Trail (1930)

Two Fisted Law (1932)

When the sheriff of a small town is killed, the town’s mayor asks for help from two former lawmen. They clean up the town and bring the killers to justice.

Two Fisted Law (1932)
Two Fisted Law (1932)

The Longest Day (1962)

The story of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. told from the perspectives of both the Allies and the Germans.

The Longest Day (1962)
The Longest Day (1962)

The Quiet Man (1952)

Sean Thornton returns to Ireland after killing a man in America. He falls in love with the daughter of one of his father’s creditors, but her brother is determined to stop them from marrying.

The Quiet Man (1952)
The Quiet Man (1952)

El Dorado (1966)

Elder Cogburn is a cantankerous one-eyed marshal who teamsup with a young man called Rooster to track down the men who killed his friend and stole his gold. Along the way they are joined by an alcoholic doctor and a woman travelling to claim her husbands body.

El Dorado (1966)
El Dorado (1966)

Baby Face (1933)

A woman uses her looks and her body to get ahead in life. She sleeps her way to the top of a successful business, but when she tries to leave her past behind, she finds that it is not so easy.

Baby Face (1933)
Baby Face (1933)

Fort Apache (1948)

Captain Kirby Yorke is a veteran of the Indian Wars. When he is assigned to a remote fort, he is tasked with keeping the peace between the settlers and the Indians. However, when his daughter falls in love with an Indian chief’s son, Yorke must choose between his duty and his family

Fort Apache (1948)
Fort Apache (1948)

 

The Cowboys (1972)

When a cattle drive is beset by rustlers, the trail boss enlists the help of a group of boys to help him drive the cattle to market. The boys must learn to work together and overcome their differences in order to succeed.

The Cowboys (1972)
The Cowboys (1972)

In Harm’s Way (1965)

During World War II, a group of sailors are stranded on an island after their ship is sunk. They must find a way to survive and escape the enemy soldiers who are searching for them.

In Harm's Way (1965)
In Harm’s Way (1965)

The Horse Soldiers (1959)

During the Civil War, a group of Union soldiers are sent on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. They must capture a Confederate general in order to turn the tide of the war.

The Horse Soldiers (1959)
The Horse Soldiers (1959)

 

Hatari! (1962)

A group of men capture wild animals in Africa and sell them to zoos. They must deal with the dangers of the jungle, as well as the threats from the animals they are capturing.

Hatari! (1962)
Hatari! (1962)

The Sons Of Katie Elder (1965)

When their mother is killed, four brothers return to their hometown to find out who did it and to take revenge. However, they quickly discover that the town is not what it used to be and that they are not welcome there.

The Sons Of Katie Elder (1965)
The Sons Of Katie Elder (1965)

McLintock! (1963)

A cattle baron tries to keep his ranch from being taken over by a railway company. He must also deal with his estranged wife, who has come back to town and is determined to get a divorce.

McLintock! (1963)
McLintock! (1963)

Big Jake (1971)

When his grandson is kidnapped, a retired gunfighter must team up with his estranged son to rescue him. They must put aside their differences and work together in order to find the boy before it’s too late.

Big Jake (1971)
Big Jake (1971)

F.A.Q talk about John Wayne Western Movies:

What is the most well-known film starring John Wayne?

Even now, the film is recognized as one of the most famous films ever made in the Western genre. In spite of an outstanding 21st-century remake of True Grit, the film remains one of Wayne’s most famous performances.

Did John Wayne and Clint Eastwood have a good relationship?

Despite the fact that they never worked together, Wayne and Eastwood continue to be the two actors most identified with the Western genre.

In his last words, what did John Wayne say?

And he answered with his very last words ever: “Of course I’m aware of your identity. You’re my sweetheart. “I’m madly in love with you.” Wayne lost dead as a result of gastric cancer.

Conclusion:

John Wayne is one of the most iconic western actors in history. If you’re looking to watch some classic Westerns, check out these five films starring John Wayne.

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