After falling somewhat dormant in the 1990s, the 2000s saw something of a resurgence of popularity in the Western genre. Hollywood became more interested in telling these Old West stories again, resulting in some truly great and entertaining Westerns like 3:10 to Yuma being made.
But with the genre still struggling to find an audience, there were other great Westerns that were largely ignored or unappreciated. There were also those successful films which feel like they got more attention than they deserved. Here are the most underrated and overrated Westerns of the 2000s.
Underrated: Shanghai Noon (2000)
It's fun to see Westerns get mashup up with other genres such as with Shanghai Noon. Jackie Chan brought his stunning martial arts skills to the comedy about a Chinese soldier who teams up with an American outlaw (Owen Wilson) to save a princess.
The movie seems to be dismissed as a lazy buddy action movie, but it's far more fun than it sounds. Chan and Wilson make for a great team and the action is genuinely great thanks to Chan's jaw-dropping talents.
Overrated: Serenity (2005)
Joss Whedon joined the Western genre with a sci-fi adventure story in the short-lived but much-beloved series Firefly. The show's cult following allowed Whedon to bring the story back for a big-screen adventure that followed the outlaw crew of the titular spaceship as they evade dangerous enemies.
Fans were very pleased to have this continuation. But the movie tries to cram so much of the show's mythology into its runtime, with the results being an overcrowded project that drags under the weight of too much story.
Underrated: Open Range (2003)
Kevin Costner has had his share of hits and misses in the Western genre, but probably his best Western is one that the least amount of people have seen. Open Range pairs Costner with Robert Duvall as two cattlemen forced to fight a corrupt lawman.
The film feels like a throwback to the simpler and smaller-scale Western stories of another era. Yet Open Range is no less thrilling thanks to some fantastic central performances and an excellent climactic gunfight.
Overrated: The Missing (2003)
The Missing is the type of film that has so much talent involved, it's a wonder the end result isn't better. Ron Howard directed the film, which stars Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones as an estranged father and daughter who set out to rescue Blanchett's daughter who has been kidnapped.
The movie's talent drew it considerable attention, but the result was uninteresting. It is nothing more than a less epic take on The Searchers, right down to the offensive Native American villains.
Underrated: Appaloosa (2008)
In another small-scale Western story, Appaloosa stars Ed Harris (who is also the director) and Viggo Mortensen as two partners hired to protect a small town from a corrupt businessman. Their job and friendship are complicated by the arrival of a widow (Renée Zellweger).
The movie was too small to get much notice but it is a very entertaining story. The leads do a wonderful job of creating a relationship that is easy to cheer for.
Overrated: Hidalgo (2004)
Viggo Mortensen took on another Western adventure, though this time on a much larger scale. Hidalgo is based on the true story of a cowboy and his horse who travel across the world to compete in a dangerous horse race in the Arabian desert.
Mortensen was just coming off the Lord of the Rings trilogy which propelled Hidalgo's modest success. However, without that boost, it's likely the dull and unimaginative film would have come and gone without much attention.
Underrated: The Proposition (2005)
In another Western that leaves the typical American setting, The Proposition looks at rural Australia in this period. The story follows a man played by Guy Pearce who, in order to save his younger brother from being executed, is tasked with killing his older outlaw brother.
The film is a stunning and brutal adventure with a fantastic cast. It does not shy away from the dirtiest aspects of the genre and showed the talent of director John Hillcoat despite making barely any noise upon its release.
Overrated: Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron (2002)
DreamWorks animation decided to try their hand at the Western genre with the adventure Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. The film follows the journey of a wild horse seeking to live free in the open Western country as men try to tame him.
The film was a hit and received praise for its admittedly stunning visuals. But the film relies on them visuals too heavily and the story is quite weak. There's not much to grab onto emotionally, and Stallion of the Cimarron becomes boring quite quickly.
Underrated: The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Jesse James is one of the most famous Western figures of all time. Brad Pitt stars as the legendary outlaw in the story of his final years before being killed by a former partner named Robert Ford (Casey Affleck).
The movie is an engrossing and haunting look at celebrity and obsession. Pitt is compelling as James while Affleck gives a stunning performance as Ford. It is one of the most beautiful Westerns you're likely to see.
Overrated: Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
Robert Rodriguez had been building a Mexican Western saga with his fantastic first two films, El Mariachi and Desperado. His trilogy came to an end with the much larger finale One Upon a Time in Mexico.
While the film's wild style can be fun at times, it also feels like Rodriguez needed someone to reel him in. The story is so large and unwieldy that it takes away from the positive aspects of the adventure.