As old as cinema itself, the Western genre galloped into public favor at the dawn of the 20th century. The silent era was abuzz with gunslinger tales, their popularity shooting through the roof in 1939, courtesy of John Ford’s timeless masterpiece, Stagecoach. Names like Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper, and Burt Lancaster guaranteed a box office bounty. But alas, like the tumbleweed that drifts aimlessly across the arid landscape, the Western’s consistent box-office appeal seems to have blown away.

Many fingers point to the obsession with superhero flicks and the rise of formidable franchises. However, the world of television offers a sanctuary for Western enthusiasts, with shows like Yellowstone and Godless holding the fort. Despite this, some Westerns have turned out to be less gold rush and more Fool’s Gold at the box office. Here are ten iconic Westerns faced down at high noon by chilly box office reception.

10 "The Quick and the Dead" (1995)
Worldwide Gross: $18,636,537

Sam Raimi, celebrated for his work on the Spider-Man and Evil Dead franchises, took a punt at the Western genre in 1995 with "The Quick and the Dead". This darkly humorous throwback boasted a star-studded ensemble featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sharon Stone. Unfortunately, the worldwide gross barely reached the $18 million mark, suggesting that perhaps lighthearted Westerns weren’t quite the order of the day. Despite this, the movie remains a revered cult classic, especially among fans of Raimi’s eccentric roster.

9 "Dead Man" (1995)
Worldwide Gross: $1,085,079

If you’ve heard of Jim Jarmusch, you know his movies hardly aspire to be blockbusters. But his unique filmmaking approach, characterized by an uncanny blend of characterization and dialogue, has garnered a niche audience of cinephilia. Despite being hailed among his best works, his Western dark comedy, "Dead Man," barely made it beyond $1 million at the global box office. The movie remained predominantly within the arthouse circles, struggling to rope in a wider audience.

8 "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (2007)
Worldwide Gross: $15,003,764

Referred to as one of the top-drawer Westerns of the 21st century, the "Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" managed to snag various Academy Award nominations. However, the Brad Pitt starrer could only lasso approximately $15 million at the global box office, a number dwarfed by the film’s critical acclaim.

7 "3:10 to Yuma" (2007)
Worldwide Gross: $70,016,220

James Mangold’s "3:10 to Yuma" was a hyped remake of a heralded original. Despite generous reviews and Academy Award nods, the film stuttered to $70 million at the box office, showing that the younger audience and the R-rating resembled water and oil.

6 "The Rover" (2014)
Worldwide Gross: $2,510,007

"The Rover," an eclectic mix of Western and post-apocalyptic science fiction, failed to set the global box office alight, grossing a modest $2.5 million despite lauding Guy Pearce’s and Robert Pattinson’s prime performances.

5 "Slow West" (2015)
Worldwide Gross: $1,295,574

"Slow West," a highly praised reinterpretation of classical fables and the hero narrative, fell flat at the global box office. Despite its considerable praise from cinephiles, we found it barely inching past the $1 million mark.

4 "Bone Tomahawk" (2015)
Worldwide Gross: $382,579

As violent and disturbing as it gets, "Bone Tomahawk" blended Western and horror genres in a gruesome mix that appealed only to the niche arthouse audience.

3 "The Magnificent Seven" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $162,360,695

Despite being a remake of a cult classic, Antoine Fuqua’s "The Magnificent Seven" sputtered at the box office. A global gross of $162 million might not seem disastrous, but for a film predicted to be a favorite that year, it was a far cry from expectations.

2 "Hostiles" (2017)
Worldwide Gross: $35,669,017

A grim and distressing Western, "Hostiles" grossed a disappointing global box office total despite heavy praise showered on Christian Bale and Timothee Chalamet for their performances.

1 "Let Him Go" (2020)
Worldwide Gross: $10,835,686

Released during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin Costner’s comeback Western, "Let Him Go," saw its box office revenue severely curtailed, grossing only around $11 million.