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An underrated Western is now finding its audience.
The Western genre isn’t as strong as it once was on the big screen, with attempts like The Magnificent Seven (2016) and Horizon: An American Saga (2024) underperforming. Still, some Westerns can strike a chord under the right circumstances, especially on streaming. Netflix, in particular, remains an interesting home for Westerns, releasing movies like The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), The Harder They Fall (2021), and The Power of the Dog (2021) over the past few years. Now, another Western is finding success on Netflix.
The Greatest Western Movie From Every Decade Over The Last 100 Years
There have been some great Westerns over the last 100 years, and here is the best movie released from each decade during that time frame.
Though not a Netflix original, Old Henry is now finding success on the streamer, ranking as the fifth most popular movie in the U.S. The Western beats a number of notable titles, including Gone Girl (2014), Hunting Housewives (2024), White Chicks (2004), The Boss Baby (2017), and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022).
Old Henry falls behind a series of much larger releases like Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Voicemails for Isabelle (2026), and Little Brother (2026). Enola Homes 3 (2026), a Netflix original, is currently the number one movie on the streamer.
Directed by Potsy Ponciroli, Old Henry was released in 2021 and was met with critical acclaim. Starring Tim Blake Nelson as the titular character, the film follows a farmer who embraces his gunslinging past after taking in an injured man carrying a bag of cash. Scott Haze, Gavin Lewis, Trace Adkins, Stephen Dorff, and Richard Speight Jr. also star.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Old Henry holds an impressive 94% critics’ score. The film earned praise for Nelson’s powerful lead performance, as well as for its touching story and gripping action. The Popcornmeter score isn’t far behind at 92%, indicating broad audience approval.
Old Henry grossed just over $77,000 worldwide in its limited release, meaning it was very underseen in theaters. The film, which carries a budget of only $1.5 million, is evidently now connecting with viewers as a home-viewing option, despite lacking a starry cast.
Nelson will be best known to viewers for his roles in films like Captain America: Brave New World (2025), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), and Nightmare Alley (2021). He also starred in HBO’s Watchmen TV series.
Old Henry‘s success on streaming tracks with how the Western genre is largely being consumed today. Westerns continue to be popular on the small screen, with Taylor Sheridan, especially, keeping it thriving with his Yellowstone universe. It’s possible that this audience is partially responsible for Old Henry‘s success.
It remains to be seen whether Old Henry will remain in the Netflix top 10 for days and weeks to come, but the acclaimed film is evidently deserving of this newfound attention. Even though Westerns don’t dominate in theaters like they used to, streaming can clearly be a great place to discover underrated gems in the genre.
- Release Date
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October 1, 2021
- Runtime
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99 minutes
- Director
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Potsy Ponciroli
Cast
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https://screenrant.com/old-henry-movie-western-netflix-streaming-success-july-2026/
Ryan Northrup
Almontather Rassoul
