All 5 Magnificent Seven Movies Ranked

Originally released as “The Magnificent Seven,” this iconic Western film gave birth to three follow-ups in its time. A modern adaptation featuring Denzel Washington came out in 2016, but it was a reimagining of a remake – the original storyline was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s renowned masterpiece “Seven Samurai.

In essence, the seven “Magnificent Seven” films collectively demonstrate a creative approach to maximizing a solid foundation, making only minor adjustments across each film. The 2016 adaptation adheres to the same blueprint as the original 1960 version, focusing on the formation of a group of sharpshooters and chronicling their journey through their final assignment. Similarly, the three subsequent “Magnificent Seven” films produced between 1966 and 1972 stick to this same plan, barely veering from the path initially laid out by Kurosawa and later followed in Western adaptation by John Sturges.

5. The Magnificent Seven Ride!

Directed By George McCowan

In the concluding chapter of the original “Magnificent Seven” saga, Lee Van Cleef assumes the role previously held by Chris Adams, making him the third actor to portray this character following Yul Brynner and George Kennedy. A notable shift from the first three films is that “The Magnificent Seven Ride!” was filmed entirely within the United States, a decision possibly taken for financial reasons. However, despite being produced on a budget of $3 million, this movie was still quite expensive. Director George McCowan steered the series towards a more rugged and ominous tone for this episode.

In this version, Van Cleef’s character, Chris, finds a deeper drive in his storyline as he forms a new team to seek vengeance for the brutal rape and murder of his wife. The script blends aspects of Death Wish with hints of The Dirty Dozen, as Chris enlists his crew from prison. However, this grittier take on a remake of The Magnificent Seven doesn’t necessarily surpass the original, and the movie didn’t achieve significant commercial or critical success.

4. Return Of The Seven

Directed By Burt Kennedy

In an unexpected turn of events, the initial “Magnificent Seven” didn’t make a significant impact at the U.S. box office. However, it found success abroad and eventually received a follow-up in 1966. Interestingly, only one original cast member, Yul Brynner, was convinced to rejoin the seven (even Chris Adams might have struggled to persuade Steve McQueen to return). The new cast brought on board some impressive reinforcements, including the talented Warren Oates.

Larry Cohen, a renowned writer and director known for B-movies, penned The Return of the Seven, a film that largely replicates the original movie’s storyline. However, John Sturges, the original director, is deeply missed compared to any of the cast members who have passed away, as Burt Kennedy doesn’t quite measure up to Sturges’ talents. Upon its release, the film was panned by critics and has since failed to gain any significant praise, evident in its 13% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The domestic performance of “Return of the Seven” was underwhelming, only managing to bring in $1.6 million from cinema rentals. However, it was the international market that came to its rescue, generating a revenue of $3.5 million from global releases. It’s worth noting that contemporary franchises such as “Fast & Furious” tend to perform better overseas than domestically, but this trend is nothing new, as evidenced by the “Magnificent Seven” series.

3. The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Directed By Antoine Fuqua

56 years following the initial journey of “The Magnificent Seven”, director Antoine Fuqua gathered his own group of outlaws to reprise this classic tale. Leading the revamped seven is Denzel Washington, portraying a character reminiscent of both Chris Adams (from Brynner’s interpretation) and real-life marshal Bass Reeves (popularized by Taylor Sheridan later on). Chris Pratt takes on the role akin to Steve McQueen, while Ethan Hawke embodies the tormented ex-military man grappling with PTSD. For the first time in the “Magnificent Seven” series, Haley Bennett brings depth and complexity to a significant female character.

In the movie adaptation by Fuqua titled “The Magnificent Seven,” they pulled out all the stops to recount the well-known narrative, with an estimated budget surpassing $90 million. However, it appears that this substantial amount was not utilized for actual explosions. Washington takes on a more captivating role than Brynner, and considering the minimal character development given to many of the secondary characters, there’s a sense that Fuqua and Washington might have preferred to create a standalone Western centered around Bass Reeves instead.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but share my thoughts on Sony’s latest venture. The movie they put out, with a production cost north of $90 million, raked in an impressive $162 million at the box office. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses for this production. Critics gave it a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting it was merely moderately well-received. Many felt that it was too reminiscent of a superhero flick set in the Old West, which didn’t quite hit the mark for them. But fear not, fans of the Magnificent Seven franchise, there are whispers of a streaming reboot brewing at Amazon Studios. So, while we may have seen the last chapter of this classic series on the big screen, there might be more adventures to come in a smaller format.

2. Guns Of The Magnificent Seven

Directed By Paul Wendkos

In the sequel to “The Magnificent Seven,” there’s a significant change at the leading roles. Yul Brynner, who portrayed Chris Adams in the initial two movies, decided to step back. To keep the central character consistent throughout the series, the producers instead introduced George Kennedy, who had just won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in “Cool Hand Luke.

Kennedy effectively fills the position of Chris, yet doesn’t possess Brynner’s charisma. Joe Don Baker and Bernie Casey add more intensity as two of the newly assembled seven, led by Kennedy. The movie incorporates a relevant racial theme as Baker and Casey transition from on the brink of fighting to becoming friends. The script ensures each character has their moment to shine, leading up to an exhilarating final action sequence that justifies the audience’s investment with genuine explosions, thrilling gun battles, and poignant self-sacrifice.

Initially, critics didn’t hold The Guns of the Magnificent Seven in high regard upon its release, labeling it as just another typical Western. However, over the years, the film has garnered a dedicated following, with Quentin Tarantino being one of its notable fans. In a recent podcast episode of his Video Archives, Tarantino praised director Paul Wendkos, considering him one of his favorite Columbia B-movie directors. He reminisced about first watching the movie on NBC’s Saturday Night at the Movies in the 1970s and finding it quite enjoyable.

1. The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Directed By John Sturges

Movies featuring teams of exceptional individuals uniting for a task have become quite common these days. However, this theme wasn’t as widespread back in 1960. Following the release of “The Magnificent Seven,” the “let’s gather a team” trend gained momentum in Hollywood. The DNA of John Sturges’ film can be traced in the Rat Pack movie “Ocean’s 11.” It’s evident in “The Dirty Dozen,” “The Guns of Navarone,” and “The Wild Bunch.” Essentially, “The Avengers” is a superhero version of “The Magnificent Seven.” (It’s known that the original comic was inspired by the movie.)

The DNA of Sturges’ film is traced back to Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” which served as the blueprint for multi-character ensemble films. However, opinions vary regarding Kurosawa’s feelings towards the remake. One tale suggests he was so fond of it that he gifted a sword to Sturges, while another indicates he felt “disappointed” by it.

The movie “The Magnificent Seven” didn’t perform exceptionally well domestically, earning $2.25 million at the box office against a production budget of $2 million. However, it found significant success internationally, raking in an additional $7.5 million and reportedly selling over 89 million tickets worldwide. The global popularity of Yul Brynner played a significant role in the film’s overseas success, with Germany being one of its strongest markets. In fact, the Jupiter Awards in Germany recognized Denzel Washington’s performance in the 2016 remake by presenting him with the Best International Actor award.

The film “The Magnificent Seven” currently enjoys a high fresh rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, demonstrating its lasting appeal and relevance within popular culture. However, it should be noted that the movie did not receive widespread acclaim when initially released, as some critics found fault with its third act. The film’s music, composed by Elmer Bernstein, has gained a level of fame that may even surpass the movie itself, due to its memorable and catchy theme.

2025-07-04 19:58