Movies like No Country for Old Man are contemporary western movies that emphasize the harshness and solitude of the wilderness and situate the action in dry, bleak terrain.
The Academy Award-winning neo-Western No Country for Old Man is a perfect adaptation of the famous book by Cormac McCarthy.
The story has received praise for its several existential themes, which include the eternal struggle between good and evil and the inevitable presence of violence.
If you are a lover of movies like No Country for Old Man, check out the list below if you’re looking for movies comparable to the classic that may live up to its ethically complex storyline, thought-provoking ideas, and captivating villain.
1. Hell or High Water (2016)
- Director: David Mackenzie
- Cast: CJeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Gil Birmingham
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
- Running time: 1h 37m
Just like other movies like No Country for Old Man, Hell, or High Water is another modern western that incorporates elements of the neo-noir genre.
It follows both the antagonists and the rangers, much like in No Country, so that viewers can acquire perspectives from all sides.
The main contrast is that the antagonist in No Country is a cold-blooded killer, whereas Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster) are two brothers whose reason for their crime is to pay off their mortgage after their mother dies.
While it is in the same category as other movies like No Country for Old Man, it is not as brutal. Violence is sometimes required in such a pointless society, as shown in this movie.
2. The Harder They Fall (2021)
- Director: Jeymes Samuel
- Cast: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, and Deon Cole.
- IMDb rating: 6.5/10
- Running time: 2h 17m
This revisionist western, directed by The Bullitts, tells the story of black cowboys with an outstanding ensemble cast.
Idris Elba plays Rufus Buck, a cruel gang boss who, like Anton Chigurh, decides who lives and dies based on his judgment, preferring to eliminate those who are harmful to him.
The plot is motivated by a traditional Western theme: vengeance. Nat Love, played by Jonathan Majors, is an outlaw who wants to assassinate Buck for killing his parents many years before.
One of the most prominent themes that connect this picture to No Country is the world’s unruly evil and the protagonist’s inability to comprehend it.
This film also has an exceptional hip-hop-influenced soundtrack, which sets it apart from the others on this list. If you are a lover of movies like No Country for Old Man, then this is a must-watch.
3. Gangs of New York (2002)
- Director: Alberto Grimaldi
- Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas, and Brendan Gleeson.
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
- Running time: 2h 47m
This film is a brutal crime thriller, similar to movies like No Country for Old Man. Martin Scorsese directed the film, which follows Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), an Irish immigrant who attempts to avenge his father’s death.
Daniel Day-Lewis stars as William “Bill the Butcher,” an authoritarian gang lord who assassinated Vallon’s father.
Cutting’s ruthlessness, like Chigurh’s, is explained by his (though illogical) personal moral ideals, particularly his nationalist discrimination against United States immigrants.
Like Moss, Vallon must confront the antagonist’s irrational sense of justice and struggle for his release. This movie does not fit within the neo-Western genre and takes place a century before Old Country, yet it is worth mentioning because of its similar themes, general tone, and superb antagonist.
4. Old Henry (2021)
- Director: Potsy Ponciroli
- Cast: Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Haze, Gavin Lewis, Richard Speight Jr., Max Arciniega, Brad Carter, Trace Adkins, and Stephen Dorff.
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
- Running time: 1h 39m
This movie follows Henry (Tim Blake Nelson), a widower who comes across a half-dead guy (Scott Haze) near his property.
It is not as well-known as other movies like No Country for Old Man and is undoubtedly not as revered as No Country for Old Man.
Though he responds to his wounds and welcomes him into the safety of his home, Henry suspects him of being an outlaw, and things become even more confusing when three men claiming to be law enforcement officers arrive.
The brutality of the adversaries and the graphic depiction of violence are two parallels between these two flicks. Like many others in the revisionist Western genre, this picture has a melancholy, futile tone as Henry struggles with his place as an older man in a changing world.
5. The Highwaymen (2019)
- Director: John Lee Hancock
- Cast: Tim Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, Kathy Bates, Kim Dickens, Jane McNeill, Mike Young, Johnny McPhail, Dean Denton, Karson Kern, Arvin Combs, Thomas Mann, W. Earl Brown, Jason Davis,
- IMDb rating: 6.9/10
- Running time: 2h 12m
This movie is also set in Texas and happens roughly fifty years before No Country for Old Man.” Based on actual events, it tells the tale of retired rangers Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson), who re-enters the workforce to find the notorious Bonnie and Clyde.
The Highwaymen focuses mainly on devoted police officers, while the terrible killings are merely hinted at and given less screen time.
However, this enables the audience to relate to the rangers and their individual hardships, while Bonnie and Clyde grow more dreadful owing to their mysterious nature.
If you want to read a rewarding account of how law enforcement officers battled a senseless evil, then this movie stands on the list of movies like No Country for Old Man; check it out.
6. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
- Director: Andrew Dominik
- Cast: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner, Garret Dillahunt, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Alison Elliott, Ted Levine, Zooey Deschanel, Kailin See, Michael Parks, James Carville, Nick Cave.
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
- Running time: 2h 40m
Andrew Dominik directs this somber neo-Western period film about Jesse James, the outlaw leader of the James-Younger gang (Brad Pitt).
Casey Affleck gives an outstanding performance as Robert Ford, a young fan of James who wants to join his infamous gang. But his bond with James deteriorates as jealousy and paranoia take over.
This film, just like other movies like No Country for Old Man, does not shy away from violence. However, James’ aggressive disposition is not as absurd as Chigurh’s.
The film’s devastating message about the world’s unfairness is well supported by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ emotional Score, which is also highlighted by Sheriff Bell’s dreams at the end of No Country.
7. True Grit (2010)
- Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
- Cast: Jeff Bridges, Rooster Cogburn, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld ·, Mattie Ross, Josh Brolin, Tom Chaney. Barry Pepper, and Lucky Ned Pepper.
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
- Running time: 1h 50m
Another movie on the list of movies like No Country for Old Man. True Grit is a novel adaptation screen written and directed by the Coen brothers.
This film follows a 14-year-old named Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) as she seeks the assistance of obstinate lawman Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) in tracking down Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), who murdered Mattie’s father for only two medallions.
The movie’s focus on the characters and their progress, rather than the world’s cruelty, distinguishes it. True Grit depicts how a young teenager, rather than an older man, perceives an unfair reality, infusing a feeling of hope into the story through her naiveté.
8. The Road (2009)
- Director: John Hillcoat
- Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, Molly Parker, Michael K. Williams, and Garret Dillahunt.
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
- Running time: 1h 52m
The Road is based on McCarthy’s novel The Road. This adaptation was published approximately a year after No Country for Old Man and continues the theme of bleakness and sorrow.
A man and his son trek toward the sea, hoping to survive in a ruined society, navigating an uprising of deadly savages who threaten their lives.
As with No Country for Old Man, the film frequently questions where the good may be found in an uncertain civilization. Furthermore, it is repeatedly stated that the older protagonist (Viggo Mortensen) comes from “another universe,”
As opposed to the terrible setting that his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) has become accustomed to. The dismal, solemn tone may be off-putting to some, but the compelling story is undeniably remembered. If you fancy movies like No Country for Old Man, then this movie should be on your list.
9. A History of Violence (2005)
- Director: David Cronenberg
- Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, William Hurt, Ed Harris, Ashton Holmes, Heidi Hayes, Stephen McHattie, Greg Bryk, Peter MacNeill, Kyle Schmid, Gerry Quigley, Aidan Devine, Sumela Kay
- IMDb rating: 7.4/10
- Running time: 1h 35m
In this film, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is a modest family guy whose dark, violent background as a mobster is revealed after he kills two thieves in self-defense.
This movie presents a protagonist who must show his inherent violent nature when the safety of himself and those he loves is jeopardized.
This film depicts harsh and graphic violence and the idea of society’s unavoidable need for it. A History of Violence is a must-see for anyone looking for a new spin on common Western themes with a neo-noir ambiance.
10. Appaloosa (2008)
- Director: Ed Harris
- Cast: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall, Lance Henriksen.
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Running time: 1h 56m
Appaloosa is a little-known but superb crime Western starring Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renee Zellweger, and Jeremy Irons, among others.
Though it is primarily a Western in the usual sense, its dip into psychology sets it apart from the pack.
Due to a rancher terrorizing the residents, two buddies are appointed as marshal and deputy by a tiny town. Along the way, the pals become embroiled in a love triangle with a young widow who has just moved to town. A cherry-pick if you are a fan of movies like No Country for Old Man.
11. The Sisters Brothers (2018)
- Director: Jacques Audiard
- Cast: John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, Rebecca Root, Allison Tolman, Rutger Hauer, Carol Kane, Ian Reddington, Richard Brake, and Creed Bratton.
- IMDb rating: 6.9/10
- Running time: 2h 02m
If you are looking for something similar to movies like No Country for Old Man, your search is over. The Sisters Brothers contain four superb actors in the key roles, including one of Joaquin Phoenix’s best performances (John C. Reilly, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Riz Ahmed alongside Phoenix).
The Criminal Western subverts well-known genre clichés in unexpected ways. Reilly and Phoenix play the infamous assassin brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters, who are on the trail of a gold prospector (Ahmed) and a private detective (Gyllenhaal) who appears to be working with the Sisters brothers.
12. Silverado (1985)
- Director: Lawrence Kasdan
- Cast: Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Jeff Goldblum, Lynne Whitfield, and Linda Hunt.
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
- Running time: 2h 13m
Silverado, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score, was a critical and economic triumph. Interestingly, Lawrence Kasdan, known for writing and co-writing films in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series, co-wrote, produced, and directed the crime Western.
In 1880, a group of four misfits arrived in Silverado, where they must combat the evil guys and redeem the wrongs done to the residents. This movie is similar to movies like No Country for Old Man, but with a touch of the 80s.
13. The Proposition (2005)
- Director: John Hillcoat
- Cast: Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, John Hurt, David Wenham, Emily Watson, Richard Wilson, Noah Taylor, Jeremy Madrona.
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10.
- Running time: 1h 44m
The Proposition is an exciting entry on the list of movies like No Country for Old Man. Set in Western Australia, the movie is notable for accurately portraying indigenous Australian culture in the story’s period.
In this episode, Captain Stanley apprehends two of the three legendary criminal brothers in late-nineteenth-century rural Australia.
The middle brother is presented with an unusual proposition: he can Save his younger brother from execution by tracking down and killing their older sibling.
14. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
- Director: Tommy Lee Jones
- Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, Julio Cedillo, Dwight Yoakam, and January Jones.
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10.
- Running time: 2h 01m
A smart pick if you love movies like No Country for Old Man. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada was a critical success, winning Best Actor and Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival and receiving a Palme d’Or nomination.
This movie is directed by Tommy Lee Jones (who also stars in the film) and co-produced by Luc Besson, and it employs a narrative rich in flashbacks, with specific events shown from multiple perspectives.
Inspired by actual events and the novel As I Lay Dying, it follows a ranch foreman attempting to honor a vow to a recently deceased buddy who must be buried in his Mexican birthplace.
15. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
- Director: James Mangold
- Cast: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Ben Foster, Dallas Roberts, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shaw, and Logan Lerman.
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10.
- Running time: 2h 01m
Just like in other movies like No Country for Old Man, Sam Mendes’ 3:10 to Yuma, starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, is a film that combines aspects of Western, action, crime, and drama.
Authorities have apprehended a famed outlaw, who must now be given to a train that will transport him to Yuma for trial. A small-time rancher is among those accompanying the bandits as they strive to outwit one another during the voyage.
16. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969)
- Director: George Roy Hill
- Cast: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Henry Jones, Jeff Corey, George Furth, Cloris Leachman, Ted Cassidy, and Kenneth Mars.
- IMDb rating: 8.0/10.
- Running time: 1h 50m
I believe this movie is perhaps one of the best Westerns ever made. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was immensely successful in every way, despite initially receiving mixed and bad reviews before becoming a classic over time.
The Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy led a band of outlaws during a train heist in Wyoming in the early 1900s. The band, now on the run, decides to travel to Bolivia. This is a movie you should not miss on the list of movies like No Country for Old Man.
