In a genre that has explored the American frontier through rose-colored glasses, revisionist westerns stand out for their more gritty and realistic portrayal of the Old West. These films often examine themes of morality, myth-making, and the harsh realities of settler colonialism. Here are 10 of the best revisionist westerns, ranked for their influence, storytelling, and unique approach to the genre.

1. “Unforgiven” (1992) – Directed by Clint Eastwood who also stars in the film alongside Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman, “Unforgiven” critiques the glorification of violence in traditional westerns and explores the consequences of a life of violence.

2. “Django Unchained” (2012) – Quentin Tarantino’s tale of a freed slave on a mission of vengeance mixes spaghetti western elements with a deep analysis of America’s history with slavery, creating a film that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

3. “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (2007) – Andrew Dominik’s beautifully shot film deconstructs the myth of infamous outlaw Jesse James while examining the nature of celebrity and infamy in the old west.

4. “No Country for Old Men” (2007) – Though not a western in a traditional sense, this Coen brothers’ adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel uses western motifs to tell a modern story of crime and morality.

5. “The Wild Bunch” (1969) – Directed by Sam Peckinpah, this film broke new ground with its graphic violence and complex characters, challenging perceptions of heroism in a rapidly changing world at the turn-of-the-century.

6. “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid” (1969) – Pairing Paul Newman and Robert Redford as two charming outlaws, this film blends adventure and humor with an underlying sense that time is catching up to the traditional outlaw archetype.

7. “High Plains Drifter” (1973) – Another Eastwood classic that blends supernatural elements with western tropes to critique both Hollywood’s portrayal of western heroes and America’s historical violence.

8. “Dead Man” (1995) – Jim Jarmusch’s “Dead Man”, featuring Johnny Depp, reimagines the Western with an existential twist, as it follows an accountant’s journey into a nightmarish yet poetic American West.

9. “Little Big Man” (1970) – A picaresque story starring Dustin Hoffman who survives various adventures from being raised by Native Americans to fighting with General Custer, exposing different aspects and atrocities tied to Western expansion.

10. “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” (1971) – Directed by Robert Altman this anti-western focuses on two entrepreneurs who start a business in a remote outpost; it’s less about gun-slinging and more about character study against a snow-bound frontier setting.

Revisionist westerns offer an introspective look at an otherwise glamorized era in American history. They remind us that there are multiple sides to every story, especially when it comes to understanding our past.