Westerns for Kids and Teens

Looking for the best of the Wild West to share with your kids? This list of top picks brings to life the era of cowboys, cattle drives, and the open range, from classics like Shane and High Noon to newer adaptations like True Grit and Slow West. Some of these movies may even start important family conversations about outdated cultural depictions and language. So grab some popcorn and a ten-gallon hat, because it's time to giddyap! For more ideas, check our Horse Movies for Kids and Adventure Movies.

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Home on the Range Movie Poster
MOVIE

Home on the Range

age 6+

Not a classic, but cute and fun for families.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2004)
Horse Crazy Poster Image
MOVIE

Horse Crazy

age 6+

Modern-day Western for the whole family; some mild violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2006)
Old Yeller Poster Image
MOVIE

Old Yeller

age 8+

Tearjerker is one of the best early Disney dramas.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1957)
Spirit Untamed Poster Image
MOVIE

Spirit Untamed

age 8+

So-so story, strong girls in upbeat horse adventure; peril.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)
Back to the Future Part III Poster Image
MOVIE

Back to the Future Part III

age 9+

Wild West-themed final installment is fine for older tweens.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1990)
Cat Ballou Poster Image
MOVIE

Cat Ballou

age 9+

Wild West satire with strong heroine, but drinking humor.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1965)
The Man from Snowy River Poster Image
MOVIE

The Man from Snowy River

age 9+

Family-friendly Western with moments of harsh conflict.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1982)
Rango Poster Image: Rango stands with his arms around an orange fish
MOVIE

Rango

age 10+

Original Western-themed movie has guns and cultural clichés.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2011)
The Shakiest Gun in the West Poster Image
MOVIE

The Shakiest Gun in the West

age 9+

Wacky Don Knotts Western spoof has lots of drinking.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2003)
The Gunfighter Poster Image
MOVIE

The Gunfighter

age 10+

Good movie about the consequences of our choices.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1950)
Shane Poster Image
MOVIE

Shane

age 10+

"Come back, Shane!" Classic Western for the ages.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1953)
A Fistful of Dollars Poster Image
MOVIE

A Fistful of Dollars

age 11+

Guns galore in intro "spaghetti Western" serving.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1964)
High Noon Poster Image
MOVIE

High Noon

age 11+

Tense 1950s Western is still a cinema classic.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1952)
Outlaw Trail Poster Image
MOVIE

Outlaw Trail

age 11+

Unique take on Western legend has gun violence, bullying.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2007)
Stagecoach Poster Image
MOVIE

Stagecoach

age 11+

Classic John Wayne Western masterpiece promotes tolerance.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1939)
Three Amigos! Poster Image
MOVIE

Three Amigos!

age 11+

Spoofy send up of Western films is OK for mature tweens.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1986)
True Grit (1969) Poster Image
MOVIE

True Grit (1969)

age 11+

Classic Western has memorable characters, gun violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1969)
Hud movie poster: Paul Newman wears a red shirt and cowboy hat
MOVIE

Hud

age 12+

1960s Western drama has adult themes, drinking, smoking.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1963)
Maverick Poster Image
MOVIE

Maverick

age 12+

'90s Western offers a few laughs and so-so adventure.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1994)
Paint Your Wagon movie poster: a smiling white man holds a bag of gold in the air, another man looks serious and a blond haired woman smiles
MOVIE

Paint Your Wagon

age 12+

Musical Western has drinking, fistfights, sexual themes.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1969)