1985 Classic, Originally a Box Office Flop, Ranked Among 'Best Western Movies of All Time'

There's something comforting about watching a classic Western movie, and the genre has evolved greatly throughout the years. Films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly starring Clint Eastwood and Once Upon a Time in the West are decades old, but they just get better with time and offer a glimpse into the classic Western film world of the '60s and '70s.

These classic Western films have been a part of the fabric of filmmaking for years, and it's hard to replace them with anything new, because they're simply timeless. However, these movies weren't always hits right out of the gate. Sometimes, movies were deemed a "flop" because they didn't make nearly as much as projected.

But the good news is that oftentimes, over the years, these movies that once were flops become hits. As people discover these gems and give them a second chance, they attract new audiences and become more appreciated for their cinematography and how they captured a moment in time.

Among these Westerns is a film that you may be surprised to learn was a flop. In 1985, Silverado debuted in theaters. The film, directed by Lawrence Kasdan, cost $23 million to produce, and it grossed around $32.1 million while it was in theaters. It was also No. 28 for the year at the box office, so it did okay but wasn't the big blockbuster hit that many projected.

The reality is that Silverado came out the same weekend as Back to the Future, and that hurt its initial ticket sales. Think of it this way: If you're a pop artist looking to release your new album, don't do it the same day Taylor Swift has a new release coming out, because people are going to listen to Swift.

But today, Silverado is considered one of the best Westerns of all time. In a feature from EW, they name the movie one of the very best in the genre.

"When you're talking ensemble Westerns of the '80s and '90s, the good (Tombstone, The Quick and the Dead), the bad (Young Guns) and the ugly (Young Guns II) tend to dominate the conversation," the publication states. "But Lawrence Kasdan's Silverado - arguably the best of the bunch - is often left to the tumbleweeds." One major highlight is that "Kevin Costner makes his oater debut as a spunky, baby-faced sharpshooter."

So, decades later, Silverado is finally being recognized as one of the greatest Westerns of all time. The film, which has a running time of 133 minutes, is available to stream on a variety of platforms.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 6:44 PM.