Best Modern TV Westerns Ranked

The Wild West was a time of great excitement and endless conflict, making it one of the most fascinating periods in America's long history. Settlers contended with exploitative robber barons, Native Americans were forced to defend their very lives, and renegade outlaws terrorized isolated frontier towns all across the plains. Few eras offer a more dramatic environment in which to set a story. 

Unsurprisingly, Westerns have been a popular TV genre for as long as television has existed. Recent years have seen a particularly strong resurgence of the Western, and many intriguing reinterpretations of the genre. "Western" has come to encompass stories that carry the spirit of the Wild West, even if they're set in the modern day. Shows like "Justified" and "Longmire" prove that the age of smartphones has not dulled the genre — they're just as much a part of the Western tradition as "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke." In fact, some of the finest recent TV Westerns are among the best recent TV shows period. Whether they're set in the 1880s or the 2020s, these are the very best modern TV Westerns, ranked by IMDb score.

The first neo-Western on our list, "Deputy" puts a modern twist on the lone sheriff attempting to bring law and order to the wild frontier — in this case, contemporary Los Angeles County. The series centers around Bill Hollister, a long-time mounted deputy who is appointed county sheriff on an interim basis when the series begins. Hollister finds his complex new position frustrating, as he's always done things his own way.

A throwback to classic Westerns that canonize the lawman who metes out his own brand of justice, "Deputy" has undeniable style. Stephen Dorff is convincing in the lead role of an old-fashioned sheriff forced to operate in a world that has seemingly passed him by. Sadly, "Deputy" didn't receive a second season. Perhaps the show's allegiance to tried-and-true tropes was too much, or perhaps it was caught up in the shuffle of Disney's Fox acquisition. Regardless, "Deputy" is worth watching for Dorff's swagger alone.

"The Son" tells the story of Eli McCullough, a wealthy cattle baron with a complex past, by following two periods in his life: His boyhood, circa 1849, and his adulthood, circa 1915. We are first introduced to Eli in his youth, when he is abducted by the Comanche. This horrifying experience shapes his worldview, eventually transforming him from an innocent young man into an embittered tycoon. In 1915, Pierce Brosnan plays Eli, now a ruthless and greedy cattle baron whose business may be failing. While his family begins a new endeavor in the oil business, his two sons assist him in saving his company in their own unique ways. Soon enough, however, we discover that one of his sons may have something to hide.

Based on Philipp Meyer's 2013 novel of the same name, "The Son" is the rare TV adaptation co-created, co-written, and co-produced by the author of the source material. That influence might be why the show's epic dual narratives weave together so nicely, one constantly giving context to the other. While it received mixed reviews from critics, "The Son" is worth any Western fan's time.

2020's "The Good Lord Bird," based on the novel by James McBride, is as much a comedy as it is a historical Western. An almost unrecognizable Ethan Hawke stars as John Brown, one of American history's most famous abolitionists, who busily recruits fighters for his infamous 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry. Historical figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman make appearances as well, but they might not be entirely who you expect.

"The Good Lord Bird" hinges on Hawke, who is brilliant. Grizzled, eccentric, and sporting a scraggly beard, he gives an imposing and enjoyably scenery-chewing performance as the storied American hero as he embarks upon a mission to alter the nation's fate. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, make no mistake: This is most definitely a dark comedy. This isn't to imply the series makes light of slavery and abolition — rather, it manages to deliver an intensely good time against a weighty backdrop. This unique mixture of story and tone proves to be a winning one.

"Hatfields and McCoys" is a 2012 miniseries based on the true story of two historic families who engaged in a vicious blood feud following the end of the American Civil War. Hollywood film stars Kevin Costner and the late Bill Paxton headline as the patriarchs of the warring families. This was an early stab at scripted drama by the History Channel, and a darn good one: "Hatfields and McCoys" makes a splash with solid action, bold drama, strong performances, and good historical accuracy to boot.

Essentially "Hatfields and McCoys" is a revenge drama, with all the intensity of the true story cranked up for the small screen. To this day, there is still much discussion and debate regarding who really ignited the war between the Hatfield and McCoy families. The History Channel eschews taking a side as well — in fact, neither clan comes across as particularly loveable or sympathetic here. But, given that this show is about a feud between two murderous families, that's not entirely unexpected. You won't find any noble heroes in this three-part series, but you will find incredible entertainment.

The title of "Hell on Wheels" refers to the shanty town that followed construction of the United States' first continental railroad as it plowed westward. While heavily fictionalized, the series' cast includes many real-life figures, including Ulysses S. Grant, Mormon leader Brigham Young, and trailblazing mail carrier Mary Fields.

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" star Anson Mount headlines as Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier looking for work in the aftermath of the Civil War. He finds it in the Wyoming Territory with the Union Pacific Railroad, which just so happens to be made up of former Union boys and newly freed slaves — a hostile environment for the former "Johnny Reb." But Bohannon eventually earns their trust and befriends Elam, a Black railroad worker played by rapper-actor Common. Together, the unlikely pair sets about bringing order to the chaotic mobile town in classic Western fashion. Bohannon must also contend with Durant's corruption and Union Pacific's rival, Central Pacific — all while being ruthlessly hunted by the Swede, a man out to destroy him based on a personal vendetta.

Widely regarded as one of the most satisfying shows in the genre, "Hell on Wheels" has been named one of the all-time greatest TV Westerns by outlets like The Independent. It's not hard to see why.

A Western procedural, "Longmire" centers around Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor), a strong-and-silent type who moves to Wyoming and becomes sheriff of Absaroka County in an effort to rebuild his life after his wife's death. Taylor plays Longmire with a combination of macho grit and piercing resolve that never ceases to impress. Katee Sackhoff co-stars as Victoria "Vic" Moretti, the sheriff's deputy with a murky past of her own. Lou Diamond Phillips, Bailey Chase, Cassidy Freeman, and Adam Bartley round out the top-notch cast.

"Longmire" is an expertly written and impeccably cast series that does more with the Western genre than most. Absaroka County feels like the classic Western towns of old, as a backwater burg where the old ways have survived. Scant few lawmen can bring order to this community, rife with chaos as it is — but of course, Longmire isn't most lawmen. Debuting in 2012 on A&E, this neo-Western aired for three seasons before being canceled, despite solid ratings and reviews. Thankfully, Netflix scooped up "Longmire" and gave it three more seasons before its ending hit the small screen in 2017.

Though it's not a Western in the most traditional sense, much of "Westworld" is set within an immersive Wild West theme park, and features some of the most outstanding Western action on this list. Moreover, "Westworld" offers an astute exploration of morality, as the genre's best entries always do.

Based on Michael Crichton's 1973 movie of the same name, HBO's "Westworld" begins with William (Jimmi Simpson), a soon-to-be-married man visiting the titular park with his future brother-in-law. Westworld's painstakingly recreated Wild West is filled with android "hosts" who allow guests to live out their Western fantasies, no matter how depraved. Twists, turns, and some flat-out crazy moments occur within Westworld and outside its walls over the course of the series. This show's vast scope encompasses far more than gunslingers and cowboys — it uses the genre as a jumping-off point to examine the human condition and the very nature of intelligence.

Filled with all the action and excitement you expect from a Western, "Westworld" mixes in dark and mysterious characters and a star-studded cast including Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Aaron Paul, Tessa Thompson, and Anthony Hopkins. "Westworld" is almost certainly the most unique series on this list, and one of the best shows on TV.