Once upon a time in Hollywood, heroic loners rode their horses into dusty towns and stood tall against black-hatted villains. In these classic Westerns, marshals kept the peace, ranchers vied for land, and cowboys herded cattle (while finding time for the occasional life-altering romance). And modern Westerns? They share the same gun-slinging DNA as their earlier counterparts — but the horizons have expanded.

Movies starring actors like Clint Eastwood and John Wayne helped define the genre. Neo-Westerns and their contemporary cowboys are redefining it. Sure, these present-day wranglers’ stories share the same quintessential themes — like individualism, morality, and frontier justice — but many of them are mixing it up by exploring modern-day masculinity, examining corporate greed, and showcasing Indigenous communities.

The frontiers in these series and movies on Netflix might look a little different from the Wild West of old, but if you’re hankering for succession battles, shoot-outs, and more than a few fun hats, keep reading to learn more.

Hell or High Water

Written by Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) and directed by David Mackenzie (Outlaw King), Hell or High Water follows a pair of brothers, Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster), who go on a bank heist spree across West Texas in a desperate attempt to save their failing family ranch. They get more than they bargained for when their case is picked up by two determined Texas Rangers (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham), one of whom is on the verge of retirement. This neo-Western crime drama was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, and also stars Marin Ireland (His & Hers), Katy Mixon (Hot Frosty), and Dale Dickey (Unbelievable).

Wind River

Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) and Elizabeth Olsen (His Three Daughters) co-star in this crime mystery written and directed by Sheridan. While patrolling the Wind River Indian Reservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service agent Cory Lambert (Renner) finds the frozen body of an 18-year-old girl, Natalie Hanson (Kelsey Asbille). He begins investigating the case with FBI agent Jane Banner (Olsen) and the local police chief, Ben Shoyo (Graham Greene). But few people in and around the reservation are willing to talk about the circumstances that led to Natalie’s death, and the investigators find themselves caught in a cover-up that goes deeper than they could have anticipated. Birmingham (Yellowstone) and Jon Bernthal (His & Hers) also star in this movie, which won the Un Certain Regard award for Best Director at Cannes.