Top 10 Western TV Shows of the 21st Century Ranked

Westerns are popular on TV again, with recent hits like Justified and Yellowstone. Back in the early days of television, shows like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and The Virginian were incredibly common. It seemed like every channel featured a cowboy fighting for justice.

When western films fell out of popularity, so did western TV shows. However, with the rise of new westerns like Dark Winds and sci-fi westerns like Firefly, the TV western is experiencing a revival, and it’s arguably stronger than before.

10. Outer Range

Outer Range is a compelling show that mixes the classic western genre with science fiction, thanks to strong performances from Josh Brolin and Imogen Poots. Brolin stars as a Wyoming rancher who finds a strange, dark hole on his land, opening the door to bizarre sci-fi events that disrupt his family’s way of life.

Despite being canceled after only two seasons, Outer Range actually improved with each one. The first season was good, but the second season really made the show exceptional.

9. Hell On Wheels

As a huge fan of AMC’s golden age – when they were giving us incredible shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Walking Dead – I remember being really intrigued when they decided to tackle a Western. Hell on Wheels was their attempt, and it focused on the story of the first transcontinental railroad – a massive symbol of progress out in the Wild West. It was a fascinating backdrop for a series.

The show Hell on Wheels tells the story of the people – workers, bounty hunters, and those in the sex trade – who built and lived in the traveling towns that followed the Union Pacific Railroad as it expanded across the Great Plains. It began strongly and consistently improved over its five seasons.

8. Godless

Before creating the popular series The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, Scott Frank was behind another noteworthy show for the streaming service: Godless. This gritty western tells the story of a group of outlaws seeking revenge.

I’m really hooked on Godless! It’s a gripping story of revenge, showing what both the hunters and the hunted are going through. It follows the outlaws as they pursue their man, and then we see him hiding out in this small mining town with a woman who’s lost her husband. Jack O’Connell and Michelle Dockery are fantastic – the whole cast is actually really strong.

7. Longmire

The TV show Longmire is based on the novels by Craig Johnson. It centers around a Wyoming sheriff who returns to his job after the loss of his wife. He copes with his grief by dedicating himself to solving challenging and often risky cases, alongside his close friends.

Even though it’s set today, Longmire feels like a classic western. It’s full of exciting action, combines witty humor with heartfelt moments, and features the beautiful scenery of Wyoming.

6. The Mandalorian

Despite being set in a distant galaxy, The Mandalorian feels more like the classic, self-contained adventure shows of the Old West—think Bonanza or The Virginian—than most modern westerns. The show centers on a tough bounty hunter who breaks his professional rules to protect a baby, and ultimately transforms from a solitary figure into a caring father.

The show centers on Mando, a bounty hunter traveling the galaxy while shielding his adopted son from the dangerous Empire, who seek to use the child’s abilities for their own dark purposes. It breathed new life into the Star Wars universe by returning to the western-style adventure that inspired the original films.

5. Yellowstone

Taylor Sheridan is largely responsible for the recent resurgence of westerns on television. His show, Yellowstone, and its related series have made cowboys popular again, essentially creating a modern-day superhero-style universe on TV.

Yellowstone is a compelling show that blends the drama of a family saga with the setting of a western. The series centers on the Dutton family, who own a massive ranch and constantly face challenges – both from outsiders trying to take their land and from conflicts within the family itself. This combination makes for truly captivating television.

4. Justified

The TV show Justified, based on a short story by Elmore Leonard, centers around Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens and his unique approach to law enforcement in rural Harlan County. Though set in modern times, the show feels like a classic western, offering a contemporary take on series like Gunsmoke and Lancer.

The show takes a little while to get going, starting with standalone episodes. But by the second season, it finds its rhythm and becomes a really engaging crime drama. Timothy Olyphant is fantastic as the lead, and his chemistry with Walton Goggins, who plays his recurring rival, is a highlight.

3. Dark Winds

AMC’s Dark Winds is a compelling show that mixes elements of classic westerns, gritty noir detective stories, and suspenseful psychological thrillers. It’s a hidden gem, and follows three Navajo police officers working in the 1970s American Southwest, specifically the Four Corners region. The series is based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels.

Zahn McClarnon, known for his memorable supporting roles, takes center stage in Dark Winds. He delivers a compelling performance as Joe Leaphorn, a seasoned police officer who partners with an undercover agent and a border patrol officer in this atmospheric and detailed detective story.

2. Firefly

Similar to The Mandalorian, Firefly borrows elements from classic westerns and reimagines them in a science fiction world. Like a traditional western, it’s set in a rough and dangerous territory after a big war. Expect to see things like train robberies, tense gunfights, and dry, desert scenery.

Nathan Fillion stars in what many consider to be one of the greatest TV ensembles of all time, playing a rebellious spaceship captain trying to hold his crew together. Though Firefly was canceled after just one season, it remains the ultimate space western.

1. Deadwood

Like The Sopranos defined gangster dramas during the golden age of television, Deadwood did the same for westerns. It offered a raw, realistic, and often dark take on the genre, reminiscent of films like McCabe & Mrs. Miller. The show follows the growth of the town of Deadwood, starting as a simple camp and evolving into a fully developed settlement, featuring appearances from many real historical characters.

Deadwood boasts an incredible cast, brilliantly written dialogue, and a remarkably accurate depiction of the Old West. It’s widely considered the best western television show of the 21st century, offering a fascinating and insightful portrayal of life in the Dakota Territory during the 1870s.

2026-03-06 23:02