Though it was once one of the biggest genres in Hollywood, Western films began to see a decline near the end of the 20th century. By the 1990s, the genre was really beginning to fizzle out with some notable flops and a lack of interest by the studios in telling these kinds of stories anymore.
But that is not to say the decade is without some truly great Western movies. Many of them went ignored as popularity for the genre diminished. Then there were those few that found a large audience and acclaim yet have not stood the test of time.
Underrated: The Quick And The Dead (1995)
Sam Raimi is the kind of filmmaker who will bring a very distinct style to any film genre. Seeing him take on a pulpy Western in The Quick and the Dead was a real treat. The film follows a group of colorful characters participating in a quick-draw competition.
Perhaps the over-the-top, somewhat cartoonish approach turned some viewers off as The Quick and the Dead was a financial and critical disappointment. But there is a lot of fun to be had with the off-kilter film, which boasts an incredible cast including Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Overrated: Back To The Future Part III (1990)
The Back to the Future franchise finally came to an end with this third film. Marty and Doc Brown find themselves stranded in the Old West with trouble closing in as they search for a way to get back home.
Back to the Future Part III is fondly remembered as a fitting end to the series. However, it lacks so much of the fun of the first two films that it feels more like an unnecessary afterthought than a worthy conclusion to the beloved story.
Underrated: Dead Man (1995)
Jim Jarmusch is another acclaimed auteur who decided to put his distinct mark on the Western genre. In Dead Man, Johnny Depp plays an accountant who is on the run after killing someone. On his journey, he meets a Native American man who prepares him for his inevitable death.
Jarmusch's unique sense of humor gives it a fun tone and it is packed with many famous faces who play the colorful characters seen throughout the story. Unfortunately, audiences didn't seem to have much interest in his strange black-and-white Western.
Overrated: Legends Of The Fall (1994)
Brad Pitt further cemented his status as Hollywood's leading heartthrob of the '90s with his role in Legends of the Fall. Pitt plays one of three sons living in Montana as their family becomes torn apart by war.
The film was a box office hit, largely thanks to Pitt's passionate fanbase at the time. Though a pretty film to look at, Legends of the Fall is rather dull to revisit. Despite the melodrama of the story, it feels quite hollow in the end.
Underrated: Ride With The Devil (1999)
Acclaimed director Ang Lee made one of his first American films with this stunning Civil War feature. Ride with the Devil follows a group of young men who join an unruly group of Confederate fighters. As the war rages on and more people die, the young men begin questioning their role in the fight.
Lee brings his usual visual skills to the film, which elevates it above its contemporaries in the genre. Ride with the Devil is a powerful story of how misguided loyalty can be and knowing what you're fighting for. It is a fine film that never really found its audience.
Overrated: City Slickers (1991)
Though a modern-set film, City Slickers embraces the spirit of the Western movies for this fish-out-of-water comedy. Billy Crystal plays a businessman sick of big city life, who joins his friends on a getaway at a dude ranch to learn how to be cowboys.
The film was a big hit and even won Jack Palance a Best Supporting Actor Oscar . Sadly, there's not much to enjoy once you get over the film's one-joke premise. Before long, it feels like you're watching an extended sitcom episode.
Underrated: Maverick (1994)
Based on the popular Western television show of the same name, Maverick stars Mel Gibson as the titular gambler who cons his way through the Old West in hopes of raising enough money to join a poker tournament.
Gibson's fall from grace could have something to do with this film getting forgotten over the years, but it remains a charming and fun Western ride. James Garner, the star of the series also has a wonderful supporting role and Jodie Foster shows off her comedic talents as well.
Overrated: Wild Wild West (1999)
Yet another classic Western television show was given the big screen reboot treatment in the 1990s. Wild Wild West starred Will Smith as a suave and skilled lawman who teams up with Kevin Kline's man of science to stop a madman from taking over the country.
The movie was a hit at the box office, which is a shock considering how embarrassing it is to watch now. The performances are hammy and cringe-worthy, the plot is ridiculous, and the film seems to desperately want to be anything but a Western movie.
Underrated: Lone Star (1996)
Lone Star is a great example of taking the style and feel of a Western and transplanting it into a modern story. Chris Cooper stars as a lawman in a border town who lives in the shadow of his famous father. When a skeleton is discovered, dark secrets of the past gradually come to light.
Unfortunately, the small-scale film failed to draw much attention, despite critical praise. It remains a great movie that brings mystery elements into the Western genre to great effect. It also has a stellar early-career performance from Matthew McConaughey.
Overrated: Dances With Wolves (1990)
Kevin Costner became one of the biggest names in Hollywood after writing, directing, and starring in Dances with Wolves. In the film, he plays an officer sent to a remote outpost during the Civil War. While there, he bonds with a Native tribe in the area and adopts their ways.
The film is largely known now as the movie that beat Goodfellas to win Best Picture. Revisiting the film, it becomes clear how misguided, insulting and narrow-minded it was.