Johann Hunt
There’s something uniquely thrilling about a great Western movie opening. These moments make you sit up, hold your breath, and know you’re in for a wild ride. So, dust off your boots and settle in as we explore 15 Western movie openings that are so unforgettable that they’ve become the stuff of legend.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Three gunslingers—Stony, Snaky, and Knuckles—wait at a desolate train station, their faces etched with anticipation. As the train arrives, tension fills the air. Suddenly, a mysterious figure known only as Harmonica appears, and with swift and deadly precision, he takes out the three men.
The Great Silence (1968)
In this stark and chilling opening, we are introduced to a lone rider battling through a relentless snowstorm. The silhouette of the mysterious gunslinger, Silence, is revealed as he rides into a trap set by bounty hunters. Tension escalates, and the scene breaks into a brutal shootout.
Django Unchained (2012)
This film opens with Jamie Foxx’s Django shackled and marching through the unforgiving desert alongside his captors. When the camera pans to reveal the harsh landscape, it emphasizes Django’s plight. The moment is punctuated by the arrival of Dr. King Schultz.
The Searchers (1956)
After a long absence, John Wayne makes a grand entrance, riding into his family’s homestead. An emotional reunion is beautifully captured as family members rush to greet him. A heartwarming moment that quickly turns dark as the film hints at the violent conflict to come.
A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof (1968)
As passengers are mercilessly slaughtered in this movie, the opening scene is chaotic, filled with gunfire and desperate screams. It captures the frantic energy of the chase, with horses galloping through the dust.
High Noon (1952)
Right from the start, the audiences hear the haunting ballad “Do Not Forsake Me, My Darling” as we see a group of men on horseback riding into town. The music sets a somber tone as we see the sheriff, played by Gary Cooper, preparing for a showdown.
Shane (1953)
This 1953 classic Western opens with sweeping shots of a picturesque homestead and nostalgic music that brings a sense of peace. As the credits roll, a lone cowboy rides into view, symbolizing the arrival of a hero in a world on the brink of chaos.
The Wild Bunch (1969)
A group of outlaws riding into town, guns at the ready, are what set the opening scene. The locals watch in fear as the men prepare to rob a bank. Cut to some children torturing a scorpion; the audience is presented with a chilling metaphor for the cruelty that permeates the film.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
The film opens with a whimsical black-and-white montage featuring Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy. Its tone quickly shifts as we see the duo’s antics, including a humorous train robbery gone awry, and balances lightheartedness with the harsh realities of life as an outlaw.
Rio Bravo (1959)
This classic Western opens in a lively saloon, where we meet the town drunk, Dude, played by Dean Martin. The scene quickly escalates as a wealthy bully humiliates him, drawing the attention of Sheriff John T. Chance. Resulting in chaos, we see a brawl that leaves an innocent bystander dead.
Hang ‘Em High (1968)
The film begins with a tense lynching scene as Clint Eastwood’s character narrowly escapes death. There is high tension as the camera captures the mob’s fervor and Eastwood’s defiance. This hooks the audience and sets up Eastwood’s transformation from victim to lawman.
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
In this iconic opening, we see a small Mexican village threatened by a ruthless bandit. Tension builds as the villagers, desperate for help, begin to seek out gunslingers to protect them. The scene is filled with urgency and desperation, setting the stage for the arrival of the titular heroes.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Right from the start, the audience is presented with a poetic narration that describes the life and legend of Jesse James. The imagery is haunting, with shots of the American landscape bathed in golden light. It tells that the movie is as much about the myth of the West as it is about reality.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Though not a traditional Western, this modern classic opens with a scene that immediately grabs your attention. Anton Chigurh strangles a deputy with his handcuffs in a moment of horrifying violence, definitely setting the scene for the film.
True Grit (2010)
Beginning with a stark narration by young Mattie Ross, the movie sets the tone for her quest for revenge. The camera captures the bleak landscape as she recounts her father’s murder, drawing the audience into her world of loss and determination.