8 Western Shows With Better Action Than Most Movies
If you’re looking for a Western series that rivals the action you’re used to on the big screen (particularly when it comes to Old West-styled movies), then you’re in luck. With so many great horse operas to choose from, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best Western programs that push the action to the limits — the types of shows you won’t want to turn off.
From long-form dramas to one-and-done miniseries events, the Western has been at the center of some of television’s finest moments in the past few decades, even if it isn’t always its most popular genre. Those seeking the action found on the big screen but itching for tales that run far longer than your average Western should consider some of these dramas for your next binge. Saddle up, because we’re hitting the trail!
‘Comanche Moon’ (2008)
A direct prequel to the profound Lonesome Dove, the Comanche Moon miniseries takes Larry McMurtry‘s popular novel and translates it to the small screen for a three-part tale that features Steve Zahn as Augustus “Gus” McCrae and Karl Urban as Woodrow F. Call. As the pair of Texas Rangers carry out their duties across the growing Lone Star State, they find themselves against the warring Comanches as they seek to take the land back by force.
The opening battle sequence sets the stage for this tragic drama, and the later attack on Austin feels like something ripped right out of a Clint Eastwood film. Comanche Moon is one of those Western programs everyone should watch at least once. It may not be as grand or compelling as Lonesome Dove, but it sets the stage masterfully for Gus and Call’s later years. More than anything, it feels like a movie.
‘Justified’ (2010–2015)
Anyone who knows anything about Justified knows that the FX series has been highly praised for Timothy Olyphant‘s stunning portrayal of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. But for those who adore the neo-Western crime drama, there’s more to it than just that. The action on Justified is top-notch, and there’s a reason that you can find compilations online of all Raylan’s best duels. No wonder it was so beloved throughout its six-season run.
When considering the best episodes from every Justified season, there’s no doubt that you’ll come across some of the show’s most memorable action-heavy moments (Season 4’s “Decoy” comes to mind). As far as Elmore Leonard adaptations go, Justified hits all the marks. For more beyond those 78 episodes, consider adding Justified: City Primeval to your watchlist as well, though some are a bit mixed about how it compares to the original.
‘Damnation’ (2017–2018)
When former Longmire scribe Tony Tost described Damnation for the Fayetteville Flyer, he did so by calling it “1/3 Clint Eastwood, 1/3 John Steinbeck, [and] 1/3 James Ellroy.” If that’s not enough to warrant your attention on the Depression-era neo-Western drama, then perhaps the promise of action-packed gunfights, town brawls, and pitchforks (see above) will do just that? As a farmer’s strike breaks out in rural Iowa, a Marxist preacher (Killian Scott) wars against an uncompromising strikebreaker (Logan Marshall-Green) for the soul of the town.
Damnation is an intense TV-MA take on the complicated battle between social classes that pits brother against brother. With plenty of movie-style action to move the plot along, you’ll never find yourself bored during this 10-episode USA Network/Netflix drama. Easily one of the best single-season Western dramas to be cancelled before its time, the tragedy of Damnation is that it could easily have lasted a while longer… Still, you’ll find that it’s just as thrilling as any movie you’ve seen set in this era.
‘Godless’ (2017)
When it comes to modern Western television projects, the genre took a stark turn in 2017 when Netflix dropped Godless. The miniseries chronicled the tale of wounded outlaw Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) on the run from the ruthless Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) who arrives in a town full almost exclusively of women after a mining incident killed most of the men in town. With a posse of outlaws on his tail and a mining company set to take over the town, the citizens of La Belle band together to stop the invasion.
Godless is full of great action sequences, from a daring train robbery and escape to the final shootout throughout the town, the whole thing is quite explosive. The high-quality production value is remarkable, as Godless stood on the cusp of the movement for more cinematic television. The exceptional Netflix miniseries raised the bar for modern horse operas, and paved the way for streaming attempts at the historical genre.
‘1883’ (2021–2022)
Off the heels of Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan went back in time to the tougher age of westward expansion in 1883. The novel Western miniseries tells the story of the first band of Duttons to settle in Montana as they travel from Texas all the way to the Treasure State. With the intensity of programs like Deadwood and the quality of a theatrical, big-screen production, 1883 is full to the brim with Old West suspense and action that hits all the right notes.
In only 10 episodes, 1883 proves itself to be a remarkable prestige Western drama that rivals anything else Sheridan has ever done. More than that, it’s way better than Yellowstone. With more intriguing characters, on-location production values, and brutal action sequences that speak to the clear harshness of the American West, 1883 offers a complicated picture of the wild frontier. It’s a bit much at times, but the whole thing is tame compared to the next series on this list…
‘American Primeval’ (2025)
As if you could expect anything less from action director Peter Berg and the scribe behind The Revenant, American Primeval is about as intense as you can get when it comes to Western-related action. Not only is the whole Netflix miniseries of the highest caliber cinematically, but the action sequences (especially the infamous “Mountains Meadow Massacre”) are some of the most harrowing you’ll ever see on a television show. This one goes almost beyond TV-MA, and would be equivalent to a “hard R” rating on the big screen.
As Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch) leads a woman and her child through the frontier, they encounter Native Americans, depraved travelers and outlaws, merciless bounty hunters, and the Mormon militia lead by the bloodthirsty Brigham Young (Kim Coates). Blood and guts reign supreme here, with visuals that can be a bit difficult to sit through. As far as movie-level quality goes, American Primeval more than lives up to the hype — and it’s much better than Netflix’s The Abandons, which premiered later that year.
‘Hell on Wheels’ (2011–2016)
Not unlike HBO, AMC has been known for its feature-quality entertainment across a broad spectrum of genres, with the Western being one of its most consistent in the past two decades. Hell on Wheels is a prime example of how the network elevates its material into something explosive, with action sequences that range from knife fights and brawls to elaborate battle sequences with plenty of firearms. The high production value alone is worth giving this five-season drama a shot.
As one of the grittiest Western TV shows, Hell on Wheels may not be for the faint of heart, but then again, perhaps the Old West isn’t either. The AMC drama pushes its hero, Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), to the limits as he seeks vengeance for his murdered family. With plenty of action to keep you invested, you’ll find the quality of material here to be worth the time commitment.
‘Billy the Kid’ (2022–2025)
For the very best Western action that television has to offer, Billy the Kid is where you want to be. The high-octane tale of the titular outlaw is known for its clever gunplay and elaborate action sequences that include everything from an impromptu gunfight outside a burning home to a climactic final shootout at a political rally to finish the series off. Tom Blyth plays the cool action hero with ease as Billy plows through gunman after gunman to get to his goal.
It helps that Billy the Kid was made at a time when television has been elevated to feature film status. The MGM+ series certainly benefits from modern filmmaking techniques and action styles that blend well with the Old West aesthetic. So, if you’re looking for some great movie-quality action but are in the mood for a Western program that runs for a few seasons (even if it’s not always historically accurate), Billy the Kid ought to be your first stop.
Billy the Kid
- Release Date
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2022 – 2025-00-00
- Showrunner
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Michael Hirst
- Directors
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William A. Graham
- Writers
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Michael Hirst
