2003 Classic, Starring Kevin Costner, Named One of the Greatest Westerns of All Time

The Western genre might belong to John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, but Kevin Costner is the contemporary star of the Western.

From his iconic Dances With Wolves to epic Taylor Sheridan Western TV show Yellowstone, Costner has helped carry the genre forward. One of his best efforts in the genre came in 2003 when he teamed up with Robert Duvall for Open Range.

Duvall was allegedly the only actor Costner wanted for the role of Boss Spearman and said he may have ultimately not made the film if Duvall didn't agree to star. It went on to become both a critical and box office success, making nearly $70 million against just a $22 million budget.

'Open Range' Named One of the Greatest Westerns of All time

Timeout Magazine named Open Range one of the greatest Westerns of all time, placing it at No. 49.

"Few contemporary filmmakers still believe in the power of the western like Kevin Costner. Yet his most artistically successful foray into the genre may be his most overlooked. Granted, it’s easy to understand why its reputation is less than that of Dances with Wolves or Wyatt Earp – it’s not a film that insinuates itself with much force," Timeout wrote.

"Costner and co-star Robert Duvall are cattle ranchers who run afoul of a small-town landowner and a corrupt sheriff in 1800s Montana. The dialogue is soft-spoken, the landscapes painterly, the characters rugged yet largely subdued. But a palpable undercurrent of tension rumbles just beneath the film’s calm surface, eventually manifesting in one of the more impressive – and startlingly realistic – shootouts in the entire western canon."

Open Range owns a strong 79% from critics and 84% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Related: 1971 Classic, Turned Down by John Wayne, Named One of Clint Eastwood's Best Movies

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