Classics:
* The Searchers (1956): A stark, powerful film about vengeance and family in the Old West, directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne.
* High Noon (1952): A tense, suspenseful Western that explores themes of courage and responsibility, starring Gary Cooper.
* Stagecoach (1939): A classic John Ford film featuring a diverse group of travelers on a journey through dangerous territory, starring John Wayne.
* The Magnificent Seven (1960): A remake of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, this film features a group of gunslingers hired to protect a Mexican village, starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen.
* Shane (1953): A beautiful, emotional Western about a mysterious gunslinger who helps a family in trouble, starring Alan Ladd.
Modern Classics:
* Unforgiven (1992): Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this gritty, realistic Western about a retired gunslinger who reluctantly returns to violence.
* Silverado (1985): A sprawling, entertaining epic about a group of adventurers who arrive in a lawless frontier town, starring Kevin Kline and Scott Glenn.
* McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971): A visually stunning and unconventional Western directed by Robert Altman, starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie.
* The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007): A darkly atmospheric and psychological Western that explores the complex relationship between Jesse James and his betrayer, starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck.
* No Country for Old Men (2007): A gripping, neo-Western thriller about a hunter who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong, directed by the Coen brothers.
Beyond the Classics:
* The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966): A spaghetti Western masterpiece directed by Sergio Leone, featuring a trio of gunslingers in a quest for buried gold.
* Django Unchained (2012): Quentin Tarantino's revisionist Western, a violent and darkly humorous revenge story.
* Deadwood (2004-2006): An HBO series that offers a gritty and realistic portrayal of life in a lawless gold-mining town.
Ultimately, the "best" cowboy movie is the one you enjoy the most! I recommend exploring different genres within the Western, such as the classic, revisionist, or spaghetti Western. You're sure to find something that speaks to you.