The American Film Institute (AFI), based in Los Angeles, celebrates the art of cinema and the practice of filmmaking. From the point of view of status and opinion, it may seem that this is all-and-all-all, but this, of course, is not so. In 2008, the American Film Institute released a series of lists that honored the best films in a particular genre. The American Film Institute, naming it AFI's "Top Ten of Ten", named the best films in the fields of animation, comedy, science fiction and westerns among many others.
However, this type of listing is subjective, and so it's interesting to see the discrepancy in the Rotten Tomatoes scores. What AFI considers to be the best may not be what the critics think.
The % next to the movie title is the Rotten Tomatoes rating (foreign popular movie audience rating).
10. McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) (#8) - 84%
Released in the summer of 1971, anti-Western movie "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" earned $4 million at the box office, equivalent to about $25 million today. It was not a big box office success, which may have indicated a decrease in interest in the genre among the population.
However, the film received countless accolades from the start. The American Film Institute ranked it the 8th greatest western of all time and the 16th greatest American film ever made in the BBC's "100 Greatest American Films".
9 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969) (#7) - 88%
Possibly the last film of the Western Golden Age (i.e. from the 40s to the late 60s),"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" was a huge success. By the end of 1970, the film had grossed $36.8 million, equivalent to $270 million today.
It also won four Academy Awards (Best Original Song, Score, Cinematography and Original Screenplay), was ranked the 7th Greatest Western by AFI, and its screenplay was voted the 11th best of all time by the Writers Guild of America.
8 Ballou the Cat (1965) (#10) - 88%
Kat Ballou is the only comedy western to be included in AFI's list of the 10 Greatest Westerns, ranking 10th. ThoughKat Ballouwas adapted from a serious novel, it is darkly comedic and mimics many of the dramatic westerns of the time. Starring Jane Fonda, whose father Henry will play Frank in "Once Upon a Time in the West Sergio Leone four years later.
Kat Ballou took 7th highest-grossing film of 1965 and received five nominations at the 38th Academy Awards, with Lee Marvin winning Best Actor.
7. Wild Bunch (1969) (#6) - 90%
The first film that is 90%exceeded Rotten Tomatoes rating, became the film"Wild Bouquet" , which ranks 6th on the AFI list. The film was released just three months before "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" , making 1969 one of the best years for Westerns.Wild Bunch does appear on many AFI lists.
It was also ranked 69th on the 100 Years...100 Thrills list and 79th greatest movie of all time on the 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) list. Motion Picture Editors Guild also named"wild group" as the 23rd best editing film of all time.
6. Unforgiven (1992) (#4) - 96%
The most recent western on the AFI list,Unforgiven released in 1992 and ranked 4th. The film was a huge success, earning critical praise for its many subversive works in the western genre, and grossed $159 million worldwide, the modern equivalent of $300 million.
It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won four, and was ranked as the 68th greatest film of all time by the American Film Institute in 2007. The Writers Guild of America also named its screenplay the 30th greatest screenplay ever written in 2013.
5. The Searchers (1956) (#1) - 96%
Starring legendary western John Wayne as Ethan Edwards,"Searchers" , perhaps the most celebrated western ever made, it ranks first on the American Film Institute's list. It also ranked as the 12th greatest film of all time on the 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary) list (a significant increase from 96th on the original list).
However, it has “only” 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, which puts it in 5th place for Rotten Tomatoes. John Wayne Western couldn't be better than this.
4. Shane (1953) (#3) - 97%
Box office success in 1953Shane grossed $8 million in its original theatrical run, equivalent to $80 million today. It is also one of the most famous films ever made. Woody Allen included it in his list of great American films and ranked it as the 3rd greatest western ever made by the American Film Institute.
But that's not the only AFI list it has appeared on. Shane was also ranked as the 16th Greatest Hero in Shane. Shane. Come back!" was ranked 47th on the Greatest Quotes, it was ranked 53rd on the "100 Cheers" list, and ranked 45th among the greatest films of all time.
3 High Noon (1957) (#2) - 97%
High Noon is one of the most popular westerns ever made, its title has become synonymous with both the western genre and western-style showdowns. Only modest box office successHigh Noon now considered a classic.
Many American presidents have praised the film (including Dwight Eisenhower, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan) and it has been voted the second greatest Western ever made by AFI. It was also ranked as the 27th greatest film ever made on the 100 Years...100 Movies (1st Anniversary Edition) list.
2. Red River (1948) (#5) - 100%
«Red River" ranked as the 5th greatest western ever made and one of the many great collaborations between John Wayne and producer-director Howard Hawks. It is also one of only two westerns on AFI's list to hold a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Roger Ebert includedred river to his "Great Movies" list, and the so-called "Red River D Belt Buckles" are among John Wayne's most prized and sought-after collectibles.
1. Stagecoach (1939) (# 9) - 100%
Released in 1939film "Stagecoach" was John Wayne's major breakthrough, launching a stellar and timeless career and turning him into the greatest Western icon in film history. Although its portrayal of Native Americans has long been criticized, "Stagecoach is nevertheless considered a classic of American cinema.
It holds a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, won two Academy Awards, and was ranked #9 among the greatest Westerns ever made by the American Film Institute.
