All 6 Taylor Sheridan Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
For over a decade now, Taylor Sheridan has captivated audiences with his neo-Western dramas and overall gritty takes on Americana. Although Sheridan began his career as an actor (first appearing in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger), the filmmaker began pursuing both screenwriting and directing in the 2010s, quickly making a name for himself with his breakout American Frontier trilogy and, eventually, Yellowstone. But if you’re anything like this author, you may prefer Sheridan’s feature-length tales to his multi-season melodramas. If that’s you, then you’ve come to the right place.
It wasn’t until Sicario in 2014 that the world began to take Sheridan quite seriously as a screenwriter, and by 2017, he was firmly in the director’s chair with Wind River. But which of his movies is his best? Well, the folks over at Rotten Tomatoes have their own opinions on Sheridan’s filmography, and some of their conclusions may be surprising to you. However, we should note that, for the purposes of this article, we’re not including the 2011 horror flick Vile, since Sheridan told Rotten Tomatoes that he doesn’t consider it his directorial debut (and RT offers no critical consensus for the picture). The same line of thinking extends to films that Sheridan has produced or acted in, rather than been at the creative helm of. So, with that in mind, here is every Taylor Sheridan-written or directed film ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
6
‘Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 45%
The second union of Taylor Sheridan and director Stefano Sollima, Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse (often just called Without Remorse) is a military action-thriller that stars Michael B. Jordan as Ryanverse operator John Kelly, aka John Clark. A former U.S. Navy SEAL, Kelly takes revenge on those who killed his family, putting him at odds with anyone in his path. Although a version of the film was written back in the ’90s, Sheridan was hired on to modernize and rewrite the project, which was released on Prime Video in 2021. Despite the exciting premise and the apparent ties to the greater world of Tom Clancy thrillers, Without Remorse is nothing like the book, sitting at a 45% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Although full of engaging action sequences and with a leading man who carries the film well, Without Remorse is sort of bland in comparison to many of the other projects that do this concept better (looking at you, Terminal List). It’s hard to say any of that is Sheridan’s fault, though, because he isn’t the sole credited writer for the action flick. Compared to the types of films that Sheridan is generally known for, Without Remorse is the obvious sore thumb, and audiences came to the same conclusion as the critics. While Without Remorse isn’t a total dud, it leaves a lot to be desired.
5
‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 62%
The sequel to Sheridan’s original Sicario and his first collaboration with director Stefano Sollima, Sicario: Day of the Soldado is better than most give it credit for. Sure, it’s massively different from the original Denis Villeneuve-helmed feature, but it remains a harrowing look at the conflicts that occur on the U.S.-Mexico border and the issues of human trafficking that result. With a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Soldado is still considered “fresh” by most, even if it’s not as beloved as its predecessor. But this action-crime-thriller is a pulse-pounding ride that manages to throw in a few curveballs. Sheridan certainly filled out the world of Sicario here, and Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin are as on-point as ever.
While the first film was much more introspective and forced the audience to see the messiness of border conflicts through the eyes of Kate Mercer (Emily Blunt), Soldado ups the action and excitement. Admittedly, this may contribute to the lower RT score, but what it loses in Blunt’s character it more than makes up for with del Toro’s Alejandro, who is quite the machine here. It certainly leaves us hoping for a Sicario 3 in the future, provided Sheridan returns to write (and maybe direct?) it.
4
‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 63%
Perhaps one of the most forgotten Sheridan-made flicks out there is Those Who Wish Me Dead, rated ever-so-slightly higher on Rotten Tomatoes than the Sicario sequel. Played as an action thriller with neo-Western sensibilities and scenery, this Sheridan film is based on Michael Koryta‘s 2014 novel of the same name. Sheridan once again shares writing credits here, though he was the main creative force behind the picture, as he was also its director. Although critics were generally mixed on the film, its main strength is in the fine performances from Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult, Jon Bernthal, and future Yellowstone star Finn Little.
If Sheridan’s previous directorial outing, Wind River, felt more like a mid-budget thriller, Those Who Wish Me Dead ventures further into blockbuster territory. The scope and scale are much larger as Sheridan wrestles with the ever-growing (and ever-burning) Montana canvas, something the filmmaker struggles to balance at times. Despite that, this 2021 thriller is a solid film that is arguably rated a little lower than necessary by critics. Audiences, on the other hand, loved it, with many wanting Sheridan to pursue more projects like this one.
3
‘Wind River’ (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
The conclusion of Taylor Sheridan’s exceptional American Frontier trilogy, Wind River was the filmmaker’s first “official” directorial effort, sitting at an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With a stellar cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Gil Birmingham, Graham Greene, Kelsey Asbille, and a surprise Jon Bernthal appearance, the 2017 thriller tackles the intricacies and tragedies that haunt Native American reservations nationwide. Set on the titular Wind River Indian Reservation, Renner’s Cory Lambert and Olsen’s Jane Banner investigate the murder of a local girl that turns into an intense manhunt with deadly results. It’s an exceptional film.
With a profound final 10 minutes that will blow you away, Wind River sucks the audience in and keeps them close until the mystery is solved. Renner and Olsen are particularly stunning here, though future Yellowstone star Birmingham really steals the show in the film’s closing moments. It’s kind of a downer, but it’s a sober reminder of the “epidemic of violence on the reservation that needs attention and needs addressing,” as the filmmaker told NPR.
2
‘Sicario’ (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
The film that introduced the world to Taylor Sheridan’s potential as a screenwriter, Sicario is a true masterclass in action thriller filmmaking with a well-deserved 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is directed by Denis Villeneuve, whose clear vision for the project is part of what made it successful. With a star-studded cast of Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin, there is no better fictional take on the U.S.-Mexico border conflict out there. It’s stylish, realistically complex, and frighteningly relevant, refusing to give its lead a break even when not on the job. It’s no wonder this film spawned a sequel, with many hoping that a potential third outing will live up to the original.
While Sheridan’s contributions to Sicario deserve full praise and attention, the film’s climactic ending scene between Kate and Alejandro wasn’t the screenwriter’s doing. Well, much of the dialogue is the same, but the way that Blunt and del Toro play that final bit of blackmail was completely reworked by Villeneuve and the actors on set. Despite that, Sheridan’s hand can be clearly felt here in the final product, and it remains a powerful first entry in his American Frontier series.
1
‘Hell or High Water’ (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
With a remarkable 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Hell or High Water is the quintessential neo-Western film of the past decade. Powerfully penned and superbly acted, with Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, and Gil Birmingham leading the charge, who would’ve thought that this heist thriller about two low-income West Texas bank robbers would be Sheridan’s best-written work? Directed by David Mackenzie, Hell or High Water was the film that truly put Taylor Sheridan on the map. His own personal Texas experience informs most of the picture, and the screenwriter even appears on-screen as a cowboy at one point in the film.
In a truly profound look at poverty in the Lone Star State, the tension between law and order, and the role of fatherhood in the midst of it all, Hell or High Water is everything you could ask for in a neo-Western. It’s the reason why so many want Sheridan to either helm or just write more movies of this caliber. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t in that boat ourselves. Between the well-paced action, dynamic and grounded characters, and the intricacies of the Howard brothers’ money-grabbing plan, it’s one heck of a ride and another example of the fact that movies could learn a thing or two from Sheridan’s American Frontier trilogy.
