10 Must-Watch Movies for Taylor Sheridan Fans

As a huge fan of Westerns, I have to say Taylor Sheridan has quickly become a TV icon with his incredible series, starting with 1883 and now including Landman. What I love is how he explores the modern American West from so many angles – whether it’s the lives of oil workers or the struggles of ranchers in Montana. He’s really taken the genre to a new level on streaming. And it got me thinking about all the classic films that really capture that same feeling, style, and look at America that his shows do.

Taylor Sheridan has revitalized the TV Western and become one of the most important showrunners of the last ten years. He’s known for his strong writing, often connecting themes in today’s America with those of the Old West, and there are many films that fans of his work will appreciate. From thrilling updates of classic films to suspenseful, character-driven mysteries, these movies are a must-see for any Yellowstone fan.

The Last Stand Is Sheridan To the Extreme

The Last Stand starts with the escape of a powerful drug lord from FBI custody. He makes a daring getaway in a superfast car, heading for the border to avoid capture. The only thing in his way is the small town of Sommerton Junction and its determined sheriff, Ray Owens. When the criminal’s crew shows up to construct a makeshift bridge across a canyon – a route for their boss to escape – Ray and his deputies learn about the scheme and move to intercept them.

The Last Stand doesn’t try to be as deep or meaningful as Taylor Sheridan’s other work; it’s simply an action movie starring Schwarzenegger, reimagining the story of Rio Bravo for today’s viewers. If you enjoy the Yellowstone series and wish it had more gunfights, this often-overlooked thriller is definitely worth checking out. The quirky characters add to the fun.

Deepwater Horizon Explores A Real Disaster

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig suffered a major accident, resulting in the tragic loss of eleven workers and a significant environmental disaster due to the massive oil spill that followed. Peter Berg directed Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell in a 2016 film based on this event. The movie focuses on the poor decisions made by the company and the daily lives of the workers on the rig, offering viewers a tense, moment-by-moment account of the accident.

Many consider Deepwater Horizon to be Mark Wahlberg’s strongest leading performance. The film effectively details all the errors and failures that led to the disaster on the oil platform. From John Malkovich’s portrayal of a company executive to the intense escape from the rig, this movie ranks among the most compelling and realistic disaster films ever created.

Mystery Road Is An Australian Crime Thriller

Mystery Road tells the story of Jay Swan, an Australian detective, who looks into a murder that takes place in his remote outback town. He thinks the main road is being used for drug trafficking, so he interviews the town’s struggling residents to find out more about the victim. As he digs deeper into the case, he starts to wonder if some of his colleagues might be involved in the crime, making it hard for him to trust anyone.

Even though it’s not set in the U.S., Mystery Road delivers the same gripping suspense as a film like Wind River, making it a great pick for those who enjoy Taylor Sheridan’s work. The movie launched a sequel and a TV series, and it really set a new standard for Australian thrillers, capitalizing on the recent trend of neo-Westerns that emerged after No Country for Old Men. Unfortunately, most American audiences have missed it, and the entire franchise deserves to be discovered by a wider audience of Western fans.

There Will Be Blood Is A Triumph Of Cinema

There Will Be Blood recounts the sweeping tale of Daniel Plainview, an oil prospector who becomes incredibly wealthy during the oil boom of the early 1900s. As his fortune grows, he forms a partnership with a self-serving preacher who attempts to exploit Daniel. Over time, Plainview’s journey is marked by a decline in his morals, leading him to commit terrible acts, engage in dishonesty, and become consumed by his desire for riches.

Just as captivating for viewers of Yellowstone and Landman, There Will Be Blood is a powerfully engaging look at a pivotal moment in American history – the increasing dependence on oil. The protagonist, Plainview, mirrors the shrewd negotiations and power plays seen in Sheridan’s shows. Even nearly twenty years after it first came out, the film remains a truly epic work, and few others compare in its genre.

The Highwaymen Deconstructs Bonnie and Clyde

As a film buff, I was immediately hooked by the opening of The Highwaymen. It starts with Clyde Barrow escaping from a work camp, and quickly reunites him with Bonnie Parker – and then they’re off, committing crimes. They really became the poster children for crime during the Great Depression, sadly by murdering police officers along the way. The film then focuses on the lawmen tasked with stopping them: a couple of seasoned Texas Rangers named Frank Hamer and Maney Gault. They’re the ones who get the job of tracking down Bonnie and Clyde and finally bringing their macabre spree to an end. It’s a classic cat-and-mouse story, really.

Serving as a fantastic complement to Sheridan’s 1923, this film powerfully depicts the frustration and hardship of the Great Depression. Intended to debunk the romanticized image of Bonnie and Clyde, the movie succeeds brilliantly, instead portraying Hamer and Gault as the true heroes. It’s a classic tale of law enforcement battling crime, presented with a modern Western aesthetic, and remains one of the most compelling original films Netflix has produced.

Logan Is A Superhero Story For Yellowstone Fans

Logan is set in 2029, effectively marking the conclusion of the Fox X-Men film series, and centers around an older version of the character. Logan is experiencing the effects of adamantium poisoning, which is causing him to age and become weaker. He hesitantly agrees to safeguard a young girl named Laura Kinney, who is a clone of himself. But with an elderly Charles Xavier needing his care and a group of technologically-enhanced mercenaries pursuing him, his trip to Canada is fraught with peril.

Directed by James Mangold as a tribute to the Western film Shane, this movie is based on the comic book Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven and is considered one of the greatest superhero films ever created. It’s a comic book adaptation perfectly suited for today’s neo-Western style, skillfully weaving in similar ideas to those found in a Taylor Sheridan film.

No Country For Old Men Is A Perfect Adaptation

No Country for Old Men starts with Llewelyn Moss, a hunter in Texas, stumbling upon a bag full of money after a violent shootout in the desert. This discovery puts him in danger, as he soon encounters the criminals involved, and a cold-blooded assassin named Anton Chigurh is sent to track him down and retrieve the cash. As Llewelyn tries to escape across Texas, he finds himself relentlessly pursued by the killer, whose brutality seems unstoppable.

No Country for Old Men is still considered the best film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel, even today. Many viewers consider it the most compelling portrayal of a psychopath in cinema, largely due to Javier Bardem’s performance as Chigurh. The film is a benchmark for creating suspense and tension. Since it came out in 2007, the movie has sparked a revival of Western-style storytelling, influencing shows and series like Justified, Yellowstone, and The Last of Us.

Wind River Is Sheridan’s Detective Masterpiece

Wind River opens with the finding of a Native American woman’s body on the Wind River reservation. Following this discovery, FBI agent Jane Banner and a local Fish and Wildlife officer, Cory Lambert, begin working together to solve the case. As they dig deeper, they start to suspect that employees at a nearby oil drilling site may be connected to the crime, which ultimately reveals further mistreatment of Indigenous communities.

Wind River is a movie that connects historical injustices against Native Americans with ongoing, unresolved crimes. This gripping murder mystery is Taylor Sheridan’s first time directing, and it shows he’s just as talented as a director as he is a screenwriter. If you enjoy detective stories combined with Western themes, this 2016 film is essential viewing.

Hell Or High Water Is A Hunt For Bank Robbers

I was really captivated by Hell or High Water. It’s a story about two brothers, Toby and Tanner Howard, and how desperate they become. They start robbing banks, not for greed, but to save their family’s land and pay off debts. As they rob more and more banks, two experienced Texas Rangers start chasing them all over the state, always trying to anticipate their next move. Eventually, things get really intense, and the brothers have to run for their lives into the desert, which leads to a really nerve-wracking stand-off.

Hell or High Water is a fresh take on the traditional Western outlaw story, and it’s easy to see the similarities between the Tanner brothers and the Dutton family. Widely considered one of the strongest screenplays from Taylor Sheridan, the film offers a compelling exploration of how far people will go to safeguard their family’s future – a recurring idea in his work.

Sicario Put Sheridan On The Map

Sicario starts with Kate Macer, an FBI agent, barely surviving a bombing at a drug cartel hideout on the border. A CIA officer, Matt Graver, then recruits her to join a secret task force, promising her a chance to fight back. There, she encounters Alejandro, a secretive and potentially dangerous operative. After a trip to Mexico exposes her to the task force’s questionable methods, Kate feels driven to continue, determined to uncover their ultimate goal.

Sicario really appealed to fans of both thrillers and neo-Westerns, presenting a grim and realistic portrayal of the drug war. The character of Kate Macer effectively connects viewers to the story, as we experience the situation through her eyes and share her feelings of frustration and desire for answers. With some of the most startling and suspenseful moments in recent film, the film’s success is due to the powerful combination of Taylor Sheridan’s writing and Denis Villeneuve’s direction, resulting in a truly remarkable work.

2025-10-04 03:42