SOME OF THE MORE ROMANTIC WESTERN MOVIES (AND HOW TO STREAM THEM!)
Once upon a time I watched a million and one western movies. It was a whole phase I went through back when movies were, well, things that hit different for me. From classics with iconic film stars to more modern titles that uses contemporary flair to tell their stories, there are a lot out there. Since I do love a good romance story, this editorial list on this fine day is set to feature western romance movies.
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SOME OF THE MORE ROMANTIC WESTERN MOVIES (AND HOW TO STREAM THEM!). Western movies that have some #romance or have more “romanticism.” How many have you seen? Share on XBefore we move ahead, I should also clarify that these aren’t all going to be super romantic in terms of the love story between a couple (some will). The goal with this list is to also find titles that seem to embrace more romanticism than the average “high noon” showdown western. From titles that are from my childhood to movies or miniseries that may be a little unconventional, there is a variety of options which makes creating this list even more fun. Some of these also feature some pretty impressive actors, too and yes, are even set in modern times. Let’s see what we discover.
WESTERN ROMANCE MOVIES
ALL the PRETTY HORSES
Matt Damon leads this 2000 drama (which I have never seen) who is lured by the “romance” of cowboy life. The film is set in the 1940s and features Damon as a Texas man who ends up falling for a wealthy ranchers daughter.
PG-13 is the rating which is for violence and sexuality.
Digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
AMERICAN OUTLAWS
This one probably spends more time with the outlaws than it does on forming a romance, so because of this, no, the film isn’t some blueprint for how to do a romance epic. Still, compared to many films in this genre, American Outlaws does place an importance on romance, and it also gives its characters a happy end which is often not true of the genre that oftentimes kills off 90% (or all!) of its gunslingers. What romance is here is also sassy and ideally sweet, so I’m rooting it on because of this.
The story is a lighter approach to how Jesse James and the men who ride with him might have robbed banks! In addition to the romance, the film also has a great sense of humor and I think it’s one film I have some nostalgia for.
PG-13 is the rating for western violence (many people are in the line of fire, some bullets are fatal); and also some sensuality / innuendo
Digitally purchase, at publication, on Prime Video
AUSTRALIA
This one may stretches things slightly because of its time period it’s not a western if you think of the genre like Clint Eastwood or Gary Cooper titles. However, I think this landscape or “look” of the drama feels western adjacent at a minimum. It follows Lady Sarah Ashley as she arrives in Australia in the 1930s / 40s in the aftermath of her husband’s death. The film is a kind of modern (meaning it was made in more recent years) epic that is definitely unabashedly romantic because of the romance she finds with Hugh Jackman’s drifter character. western romance movies
PG-13 is the rating for violence and some “intense” war content. There is also sexual content (we see a sex scene)
Digitally purchase, at publication, on Prime Video
CROSSFIRE TRAIL
This is one of those TNT movies that has Tom Selleck in the lead role. It’s been years since I saw this one, but of the ones I looked up as a reminder, this is the one I think probably would have the “most” romance in those TV-style films. The plot revolves around Rafe and his fulfilment of a promise he makes to a dying friend. In this mission he finds love because of course he does.
Digitally purchase the film on places like Prime Video
FAR and AWAY
From Ron Howard, this one follows a young couple travelling to America from Ireland, all in pursuit of owning land in Oklahoma. Of course, their travels to get there don’t go smoothly. This 1992 film also has a young Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
PG-13 is the rating for “some violence and sensuality” western romance movies
Digitally purchase the film on places like Prime Video
SOME OF THE MORE ROMANTIC WESTERN MOVIES (AND HOW TO STREAM THEM!). List of romance-y western movies. #Romance #RomanceMovies #Disney #PeriodDrama Share on XGOLDRUSH
Remember those Sunday night Disney (TV) movie premieres? Well, back in the day, one they put out was Goldrush: A Real Life Alaskan Adventure. The film has Alyssa Milano playing the spunky Frances Ella “Fizzy” Fitz, a socialite in search of gold. Determined to do what the men do, she joins an “all-male” excursion to Alaska during the 1899 gold rush. Tagged as an “adventure,” this one probably isn’t the traditional “showdown at noon” western either, but again, I’m breaking rules.
TV-G is the rating.
At present, this isn’t available to stream; check places like Amazon or eBay for DVD copies
JERICHO, tv miniseries
A British series, this is probably technically a “TV show,” but since it didn’t get seasons, I’m categorizing it as a miniseries to make it on this list. It’s a unique drama about a widow and her two children trying to set up a new life in an uncivilized territory. Jessica Raine from Call the Midwife leads the cast in this western-like drama that yes, does have quite a bit of romance albeit of the slow burn variety.
Not Rated is the rating, but a TV-14 rating would be quite appropriate
Digitally purchase the eight-part series on places like Prime Video
THE LAST COWBOY
A film that made its debut on Hallmark (way back in the day), this one is perhaps more about a father and daughter than romance, but I’m adding it for two reasons (yes, we’re still breaking rules). One being that there is a little romance (it’s Hallmark) and secondly, the film has a before-he-was-a-box-office-draw Bradley Cooper in the role. So yeah. Jennie Garth plays the daughter of Lance Henriksen in this modern western about family trying to save their generational land.
Stream, at publication, with PixL or UP Faith and Family; or check places like Amazon or eBay for DVD copies
THE LONGEST RIDE
A modern romance that is based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. This has a young Clint Eastwood lookalike in Scott Eastwood playing opposite Britt Robertson as lovers who, after helping an elderly man, learn about his love story from decades earlier. All while their own love story goes through ups and downs. The western part of this comes from Eastwood being a bull rider, but modern or no, this is definitely a western romance movie (heavy on the romance!).
PG-13 is the rating for sexual content and some tense / adult situations
Digitally purchase the film on places like Prime Video
THE LOST HUSBAND
This is another one I’m stretching things for. But I just re-watched it so yes, I’m including it. Another modern flick, it’s based (also) on a novel by Katherine Center and follows a woman who moves her two kids to her aunt’s farm in the hopes of getting a fresh start. While doing this, she meets and falls for a closed off farm manager.
From what I remember, when this released, my social media timeline had some viewers expressing displeasure with this film. That’s fine and fair, but I really do enjoy it. It’s a slow mover, yes, but I like that it takes its time.
PG-13 is the film’s rating for some minor innuendo and thematic elements
Stream, at publication, the film with Netflix; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
LOVE COMES SOFTLY
This is a very gentle kind of western that does lean into the romance. It’s based on the novel by Janette Oke and has a then unknown Katherine Heigl starring the role of Marty, a woman who loses her husband while they travel west to set up a homestead. With no option, winter coming and a child on the way, she agrees to marry a widowed farmer and care for his headstrong daughter.
Originally airing on Hallmark, the first film is really very good and did surprise me (despite all the changes they made). The rest that come after really should not call themselves “adaptations” between the many character personality changes and the shifting actors who play the roles. But if you like simple westerns, Love Comes Softly is sweet.
Stream, at publication, with PixL or UP Faith and Family; or check places like Amazon or eBay for DVD copies
THE MASK of ZORRO and THE LEGEND OF ZORRO
Yes I’m adding these because they are dang fun and definitely have “western” flair, plus how do we resist a film that has excellent cape action? This may be set pre the “normal” gunslinger western era since it’s more about the gentlemanly standoffs with sabers, but whatever. We’re going with it.
Antonio Banderas stars as the titular masked crusader trying to do good among greedy bad guys. In addition to be fun, these also fit nicely with the romanticism “look.”
PG-13 is the first film’s rating (violence and sensuality) and PG is the sequel’s rating.
Digitally purchase this film on places like Prime Video; stream, at publication, the sequel with Netflix
MCLINTOCK
This film may primarily be a comedy, but driving that comedy is also the second chance love story between John Wayne’s titular landowner and Maureen O’Hara’s Katheirne. It’s also a love story between Katherine Ross, the pampered daughter of Wayne and a new ranch hand working for her father.
“Not Rated” is the rating of this 60s film which has innuendo and some “different” humor if that’s not your thing.
Stream, at publication, with Prime Video; or stream free on places like Plex, Roku or Tubi
MONTANA SKY
A modern story, this one has frequent Hallmark star Ashley Williams playing one of three sisters who inherit a Montana farm. The catch is, all of them must reside on the farm for a year. John Corbett’s Ben adds a bit of romance and the two sisters are played by Lauren Mennell and Charlotte Ross.
The film is TV-PG, but contains adult content including a sex scene and some tense situations / violence (the film also depicts dead farm animals). western romance movies
At present, this isn’t available to stream; check places like Amazon or eBay for DVD copies
MURPHY’S ROMANCE
This is another modern title and I’m still not sure if I should put it on here, but the fact that it’s an Oscar winner, the scenery looks very western and it has James Garner (a man familiar with western roles), well, I decided to include it. This one goes in on the romance although it’s all in a very slow-paced kind of manner. It’s also a purposeful age-gap romance that debuted before it was obviously “trendy” to tell those stories.
PG-13 is the film’s rating for some innuendo (lots of making out) and infrequent profanity; there is some mild violence, too.
Stream, at publication, with Tubi; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
OKLAHOMA!
Does a Rogers and Hammerstein musical belong on this list? Perhaps not. Is this a good musical? Objectively probably. Personally, no it’s not. But still, since so many love this movie and it does take place in a kind of farming community, I’m including it. Plus, it’s heavy on romance and yes, there is a lot of corn and countryscapes, even if it’s all fake.
G is the film’s rating
Stream, at publication, on Prime Video; or find it streaming free on Plex or Tubi
QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER
Considered a classic in its own right, this one is about Tom Selleck’s Quigley and “Crazy Cora,” the woman he ends up travelling with. I’ve seen this film a few times and while I wouldn’t put it as a favorite of “all time,” it does entertain and it’s one of those films that’s “perfect” because Selleck fits the role well.
PG-13 is the film’s rating
Stream, at publication, on MGM+; or find streaming free on Roku or Tubi
REDEEMING LOVE
Based on the novel by Francine Rivers, this one caused quite a stir when it released and was debated (heavily) on social media as being “porn” and not a Christian novel. At a minimum I would have seen the film (I saw her adaptation of The Last Sin Eater) at its release, but didn’t because the debate kind of “ruined” my interest. The plot is about a “fallen woman” who comes to have the love of a man who tries to show her that she is worthy of real love.
PG-13 is the film’s rating for sexual content and “partial nudity” plus some tense situations/violence.
Stream, at publication, on Peacock; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
ROSE HILL
One of those “from way back when” titles, this was originally a part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection (the titles that would air on network TV like CBS). A young Jennifer Garner features in a story about a found family (which is the overarching theme), but honestly, just because I’m tagging these films as “romance” doesn’t mean they are solely a romance or that they don’t have other redeeming qualities. It just means that they also look or feel more in the romanticism department than maybe the average rough-and-tumble western.
This one has a bit of romance, and has a spunky heroine who determines to create beauty in order to give the man who gave her everything some joy. In this way, Rose Hill fits my western romance movie outline
Stream, at publication, with Hallmark+; or find streaming free on Plex or Tubi
TRUE WOMEN
A miniseries from the 90s, I’ve watched this maybe three times. It’s been a long time though now but what I remember is that there is some romance. The story also has a lot of bad for the titular women. It’s multi-generational following them from settling and high prospects through raising children of their own. Among the impressive cast is Angelina Jolie, Annabeth Gish and Dana Delany.
The two-part miniseries IS more violent and emotionally “troubling” than some epics, but it’s worth seeing if you like the actors. The film is also inspired by a novel.
PG-13 is the rating for adult themes / thematic elements, sexuality and violence
At present, this isn’t available to stream; check places like Amazon or eBay for DVD copies
THE VIRGINIAN
Bill Pullman plays the titular character in this about a man who, after a betrayal of his best friend, finds his life diverging when his desire for revenge may cost him the woman (played by Diane Lane) he has fallen in love with. This TNT drama also features Bill Pullman in the director’s chair.
Digitally purchase this film on places like Prime Video
WHEN CALLS THE HEART, the movie
I have, shall we say, issues with the long running TV show (of the same name) still popular on Hallmark. But did you know that there is a standalone kind of “pilot” film that started it all? There is. In it, Elizabeth Thatcher is played by two ladies who are not Erin Krakow (star of the TV show). The original Miss Thatcher (who is the character Janette Oke’s books follow) is played by Maggie Grace and her beau, Wynn (the original male character) by Arrow’s Stephen Amell. Then many years later, the film also follows her niece (also named Elizabeth), who Poppy Drayton portrays.
Basically, the show resets everything and doesn’t follow the timeline or characters of this film, but honestly, I did enjoy this story. In my opinion, it is quite a bit better than the show.
Stream, at publication, with Hallmark+
Photos: Alamy
How many of these titles have you seen? Which ones would you watch? What western romance movies would you add to this list? Share all of your thoughts in the comment section below!
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