The 9 best Western series on Netflix right now

Westerns have been popular since the beginning of cinema, and as soon as television took off, they quickly made their way to the small screen. Sure, the genre's popularity tends to ebb and flow, but it doesn’t take long for a new generation to understand why they were so popular to begin with. Soon, a new Western revival begins… kind of like the one TV is going through right now.

It also helps that the word “Western” no longer exclusively means “in the American West.” It’s more about a feel, and it can take place anywhere at any time... past, present, or future. With that in mind, here are the best Western TV series currently streaming on Netflix.

Godless (2017)

James Minchin/Netflix

An evil Jeff Daniels in 'Godless'

Set in 1884, Scott Frank’s critically acclaimed miniseries stars Jack O’Connell as Roy Goode, a wounded outlaw on the run from his onetime mentor, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels), whose violent unpredictability puts the “wild” in “wild West.” Despite his injuries, Roy makes his way to the town of La Belle, N.M., which is populated almost entirely by women. There, he freely gives himself up to the sheriff (Scoot McNairy).

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Throughout seven episodes, the stories of Bill, Frank, and the women of La Belle slowly unfold. With a cast that’s far more female-centric than the average Western, Godless truly stands out in the genre. If you’re not sold by the first four minutes, you’d best ride on, because that should be enough to convince just about anyone to stick around.

Where to watch Godless: Netflix

EW grade:B (read the review)

Cast:Jack O’Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Sam Waterston, Jeff Daniels

American Primeval (2025)

Matt Kennedy/NETFLIX

Betty Gilpin in 'American Primeval'

If Big Love taught us anything, it’s to never underestimate the possibilities of TV revolving around Mormons. American Primeval takes place in 1857 during the Utah War, delving into the violent conflict between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the culture in the Utah Territory.

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The series follows Sara Rowell's (Betty Gilpin) journey from Philadelphia to meet her husband in California. She's aided by Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch), a gruff mountain man with a dark history. What follows is a bloody tale of Mormons, Native Americans, and the rise of Brigham Young (Kim Coates).

Where to watch American Primeval: Netflix

Cast:Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey

Song of the Bandits (2023)

Yu Ara/Netflix

Seohyun in 'Song of the Bandits'

There’s no official rule saying Westerns have to take place in America’s West. Set during the 1920s, Song of the Bandits focuses on the Japanese occupation of Korea. A significant number of individuals from the kingdom of Joseon crossed the Tumen River to seek refuge in Gando, China. But Gando is a lawless territory, which puts the Koreans at a decided disadvantage.

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When Yoon (Kim Nam-gil) learns that someone he’s been searching for — Choi Chung-soo (Yoo Jae-myung) — has been spotted in Gando, he decides to travel there. He meets up with former colleague Kim Seon-bok (Cha Chung-hwa), who’s now a gun dealer and can provide Yoon with an idea of what to expect from the area. Before long, the depth of their relationship comes bubbling to the surface. This series takes its time to get where it’s headed, but if you’re patient, it pays off handsomely.

Where to watch Song of the Bandits: Netflix

Cast:Kim Nam-gil, Seohyun, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Hyun-wook, Lee Ho-jung, Cha Chung-hwa, Ko Kyu-pil

Ransom Canyon (2025–present)

Anna Kooris/Netflix

Josh Duhamel and a horse in 'Ransom Canyon'

There was a time when the only romance viewers ever saw in Westerns was the love a cowboy had for his horse, but Ransom Canyon serves as a reminder that there’s plenty of love to go around.

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Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) has had a rough life: He lost his wife a few years ago, and before the end of the first episode, he’s also lost his teenage son in a car crash. That’d be enough to send anyone spiraling into depression, so it’s a good thing he’s got Quinn (Minka Kelly), his late wife’s best friend and a local bar owner, to help him through the mourning. Does that sound like they’re an item? Well, they’re not, although it’s clear that they should be.

There are three ranching families within the area, all striving to secure as much land as possible. They’re also battling the same force of evil: Austin Water and Power, which is out to get all the ranchers to sell their land so it can build a new pipeline. Yes, it’s all very soapy, but it’s remarkably easy to get caught up in the opera of it all.

Where to watch Ransom Canyon: Netflix

Cast:Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, Eoin Macken, Lizzy Green, Garrett Wareing, Marianly Tejada, Jack Schumacher, James Brolin

Territory (2024)

Netflix

Jay Ryan, Sara Wiseman, and Anna Torv in 'Territory'

Australia has a long and proud history of creating soapy dramas. Territory may have only survived for a single season, but it nonetheless makes its mark as a "Yellowstone Meets Succession Down Under" type of series.

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Marianne Station is the world’s largest cattle operation, owned by the Lawson family. Patriarch Colin Lawson (Robert Taylor) is getting older, so he’s passing the reins to his youngest son, Daniel (Jake Ryan)... or at least that’s the plan, right up until Daniel dies in the most gruesome and most Australian way possible: death by dingo. (Yes, really.)

Suddenly, Colin has to find a new successor. Will it be Graham (Michael Dorman), whose alcoholism led to Daniel’s selection? Will it be Emily (Anna Torv), Graham’s decidedly more sober wife, who’s got a head for business? The blend of power struggles and family dynamics makes for delicious drama.

Where to watch Territory: Netflix

Cast:Anna Torv, Michael Dorman, Sam Corlett, Robert Taylor, Clarence Ryan, Hamilton Morris, Jake Ryan, Philippa Northeast

Wynonna Earp (2016–2022)

Michelle Faye/Syfy Melanie Scrofano in 'Wynonna Earp'

The longest-running of the series on this list, Wynonna Earp adds sci-fi to the Western formula. Melanie Scrofano stars as Wynonna, the great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp, who discovers on her 27th birthday that she has the ability to send revenants, a.k.a. the reincarnated outlaws killed by her ancestor, back to hell where they belong. On her hip is Peacemaker, the magic gun previously owned by Wyatt.

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Living in the appropriately named town of Purgatory on the cusp of the Canadian Rockies, Wynonna fights the forces of evil as a newly deputized member of the Black Badge Division. The result is a genre hybrid that found a cult following while also charming critics.

Where to watch Wynonna Earp: Netflix

Cast:Melanie Scrofano, Shamier Anderson, Tim Rozon, Dominique Provost-Chalkley, Katherine Barrell

That Dirty Black Bag (2022)

Stefano C. Montesi/AMC+

Douglas Booth in 'That Dirty Black Bag'

Bringing Spaghetti Western style to the small screen, That Dirty Black Bag is set in Greenville, a once-prosperous town that’s been going downhill since the end of the gold rush. If you’re wondering what to expect, well, the titular bag is one filled with heads, if that gives you any sort of clue.

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Red Bill (Douglas Booth), owner of said bag, is a bounty hunter who focuses more on the “dead” part of “Wanted: dead or alive.” He also has a somewhat unsurprising work philosophy: “A head weighs less than a body.” In Greenville, he crosses paths with Sheriff McCoy (Dominic Cooper), who instantly becomes his nemesis… at least until Bill meets Butler (Aidan Gillen), a sadistic farmer with a nasty appetite. This is a gritty, bloody drama that’s just as dark as you’d expect.

Where to watch That Dirty Black Bag: Netflix

Cast:Douglas Booth, Dominic Cooper, Niv Sultan, Christian Cooke, Rose Williams, Paterson Joseph, Zoe Boyle, Aidan Gillen

Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War (2024)

Netflix

'Trouble in Tombstone'

This is definitely an outlier, as it’s a docudrama that leans on narrator Ed Harris throughout the proceedings as events unfold on screen. There are also talking-head interviews interspersed between the dramatic reenactments, creating a nice balance between documentary and onscreen drama.

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Sure, plenty of historians have been quick to criticize the series' inaccuracies. Nevertheless, it provides a strong introduction to Wyatt Earp, including substantial backstory setting up how the Arizona Territory came into existence. And don’t worry, there’s still all the stuff you’re expecting — Wyatt’s brother Virgil, Doc Holliday, the Clantons, and the inevitable gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

While it certainly isn’t the end-all, be-all of Wyatt Earp stories, it’s enough to inspire viewers to investigate his legend even further.

Where to watch Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War: Netflix

Cast:Tim Fellingham, Ariel Eliaz, Shane Penhale, Edward Franklin, Jack Gordon, Alex Price, Peter O’Meara, Christina Leonardi, Ed Harris

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly