5 Most Rewatchable John Wayne Movies, Ranked

John Wayne starred in lots of great movies that have stood the test of time. He's one of Hollywood's most notably rugged actors, which is why he had a knack for playing cowboys and military men. Of course, there is more to Wayne's oeuvre than Westerns and war flicks, but those genres agreed with his gruff sensibilities. That is especially true for horse operas, which gave us some of The Duke's most rewatchable performances.

Whether or not some of the most rewatchable movies in Wayne's filmography are among his best is debatable, as the actor lent his talents to many classics. That said, they are all deserving of repeat viewings for a myriad of reasons, and fans of Westerns will find plenty to enjoy.

Some of our picks are comfort food flicks that showcase Wayne delivering what we want to see from him. Others are more complex tales that require rewatches to fully understand and appreciate. With that in mind, here are five great John Wayne movies worth revisiting.

Howard Hawks' "El Dorado" isn't the most original movie in John Wayne's oeuvre. In fact, it's essentially the third movie to loosely remake "Rio Bravo," the 1959 classic that is widely regarded as one of the best Westerns of all time. So why is such a derivative film listed among the most rewatchable Wayne efforts?

The answer is simple — "El Dorado" is a fun, undemanding hangout movie featuring legends doing what they do best. The 1966 film sees Wayne play an old gunfinger who helps a drunken sheriff (Robert Mitchum) take on a ruthless rancher in the titular town. Bullets fly, as does the banter between no-nonsense men in the Old West.

How can any movie featuring Wayne and Mitchum go wrong? Throw in a young James Caan, and it's even better. "El Dorado" was just another day at the office for Wayne, Hawks and Mitchum, but it's effortlessly enjoyable, frequently humorous, and tougher than nails. Think of it as the cinematic equivalent of reuniting with an old friend.

John Wayne is the poster boy of American Westerns, many of which present a romanticized notion of life in the wild frontier. The Duke contributed to these notions, as many of his Westerns are admirable stories about noble cowboys doing what's right while carving out their slice of the American Dream. Every once in a while, though, his films challenged viewers' idealistic view of the Old West, which brings us to 1962's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance."

This one sees James Stewart play a politician whose career is built on a lie. Everyone believes he shot the notorious outlaw Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin), but John Wayne's humble cowboy Tom Doniphon actually pulled the trigger. When Stewart's character wants to confess the truth, though, the media chooses to publish the legend instead.

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" boasts a simple story, but it's one of Wayne's best movies due to its moral ambiguity and complex themes regarding the myths of the West. The film benefits from rewatching, as you're likely to discover or learn something new every time you watch it. "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is cinema at its pessimistic best, and that's why it's one of the best revisionist Westerns of all time.

"True Grit" is the film that won John Wayne his only Oscar, making it one of his most standout performances. The story sees him play Rooster Cogburn, a drunken, one-eyed marshal who helps a teenage girl hunt down her father's killer in the wild frontier.

"True Grit" is a spirited, old-fashioned Western that was released at a time (1969) when the genre was fascinated with genuinely bleak horse operas like "The Wild Bunch." As expected, Wayne steals the show as the dissolute gunslinger, giving a performance that embraces his tough guy bravado while also poking fun at himself. His chemistry with his younger co-star, Kim Darby, is off the charts, and she does an excellent job at keeping up with the Hollywood veteran.

"True Grit" is a lighthearted adventure, which makes it endlessly rewatchable and the perfect Western to watch when you want to have some fun with a traditional entry in the genre.

John Ford's "The Searchers" is often hailed as one of John Wayne's best movies. For that reason alone, it deserves to be viewed time and time again. However, it's also one of his most complex and morally challenging works — one that actually benefits from repeat viewings.

Wayne plays a Confederate soldier who embarks on a years-long crusade to rescue his niece from a Comanche tribe who murdered his family members. When he eventually finds her, he learns that she's been assimilated into the tribe, so he plots to kill her instead. Why? Because he's a racist who'd rather see her dead than be with an Indigenous tribe.

That doesn't sound like a pleasant story, does it? It isn't, but that's what makes 1956's "The Searchers" fascinating. It's an ambitious Western that examines the poisonous nature of racism, regardless of which side harbors these views, and the lessons to be gleaned from that. There are no clear-cut heroes or villains, but the characters are complicated and multi-layered. Wayne delivers one of his career-best performances, and it deserves to be appreciated.

"Rio Bravo" is one of the most rewatchable Westerns of all time, so it was always going to top this list. Directed by Howard Hawks, the 1959 film was made as a response to "High Noon," a Western with a similar storyline that John Wayne perceived as an insult to American patriotism. "Rio Bravo" is more politically aligned with Wayne's vision for horse operas, and while that might alienate some viewers with opposing viewpoints, it's still an all-timer.

"Rio Bravo" is essentially a hangout movie about a band of heroes who take a stand against a ruthless land baron. John Wayne plays the sheriff who assembles the group, and they spend most of the movie waiting for the baddies to arrive. However, these are the moments that make "Rio Bravo" so enjoyable. It isn't concerned with action, which makes for a leisurely, breezy viewing experience.

The movie gives us characters who are fun to spend time with, which in itself will make you want to revisit the film. Like "El Dorado," "Rio Bravo" feels like getting together with old friends — but this one does it better.