Once a mainstay of Western movies, mustaches not only added a touch of ruggedness to the characters but also made them memorable. Here’s a tip of the hat to some of the most iconic soup-strainers in cinematic lore, ranked from the great to the greatest.

1.Ben Foster as Charlie Prince in 3:10 to Yuma (2007) – The thin, villainous pencil mustache worn by Ben Foster’s character displayed an edgy menace that perfectly complemented his role.

2.Sam Elliott as Virgil Earp in Tombstone (1993) – Sam Elliott’s mustache is almost a character itself, bushy and commanding, much like the man who wore it, it’s hard to imagine Elliott without it.

3.Jack Palance as Jack Wilson in Shane (1953) – Palance’s slender mustache added to his portrayal of the sinister gunfighter, enhancing his ominous presence on screen.

4.Eli Wallach as Tuco in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) – Wallach’s unkempt, scruffy mustache suited his wily character and accentuated his chaotic charm.

5.Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) – Van Cleef’s neatly trimmed mustache gave him a more polished look than his counterparts in the film, befitting his nickname of ‘The Bad’.

6.Tom Selleck as Matthew Quigley in Quigley Down Under (1990) – Selleck’s well-groomed walrus mustache became almost synonymous with the actor himself and is emblematic of Western masculinity.

7.Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone (1993) – Halfway between handlebar and walrus, Kurt Russell’s thick mustache is unforgettable and played its part in reviving the Western for modern audiences.

8.Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993) – Doc Holliday’s mustache was as sleek as his personality was slick. Kilmer’s portrayal wouldn’t have been complete without it.

9.Clark Gable as Gay Langland in The Misfits (1961) – Gable’s understated but confident mustache complemented his aging cowboy character, proving that less can often be more on screen.

10.Robert Redford as The Sundance Kid in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – Redford’s neat, medium-width mustache perfectly rounded off his charismatic performance, making it one of the most imitated and iconic mustaches ever seen on the silver screen.