List of Western films before 1920
A list of the earliest Western films, by decade, released before 1920.
1890s
1894
Annie OakleyBucking BronchoBuffalo BillBuffalo DanceLasso ThrowerMexican Knife DuelSioux Ghost DanceThese exhibition films are silent shorts directed and produced by William K. L. Dickson at Thomas Edison's Black Maria studio, with William Heise as cinematographer. The performers in each film were members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show with Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill themselves exhibiting their rifle shooting skills. The two dances featured members of the Sioux nation who are believed to have been the first Native Americans to perform on film. The lasso thrower was Vicente Oropeza and the stuntmen staging the knife fight were Pedro Esquivel and Dionecio Gonzales. Two real-life rodeo riders, Lee Martin and Frank Hammitt, featured in Bucking Broncho, which was filmed outside the studio.
1895
A Frontier Scene Indian Scalping SceneBoth of these films, which were scenes only, are believed lost. They were made by Alfred Clark for the Edison Manufacturing Company.
1899
Kidnapping by IndiansThis is a two-minute silent film drama shot in Blackburn, Lancashire, England by Mitchell and Kenyon. It is the earliest known dramatic work in the genre.Cripple Creek Bar-room ScenePoker at Dawson City
These two films were produced by Edison's Black Maria and have been argued to be the first Western films.A Bluff from a Tenderfoot
Filmed by Frederick S. Armitage for the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, this depicts a poker game.
1900s
1901
- ''Stage Coach Hold-Up in the Days of '49''
1903
Alphonse and Gaston, No. 3 The Cowboy and the Lady The Great Train Robbery Kit Carson The Pioneers Prairie Emigrant Train Crossing the Plains Stage Hold-Up- ''Western Card Game''
1904
A Brush Between Cowboys and Indians Bushranging in North Queensland Cowboy Justice The Great Train Robbery The Hold-Up of the Leadville Stage- ''Western Stage Coach Hold Up''
1905
Life on the Circle Ranch The Little Train Robbery1906
L'arrivo di Buffalo Bill a RomaAttack on Fort BoonesboroFrom Leadville to Aspen: A Hold-Up in the RockiesHoldup of the Rocky Mountain ExpressNed Kelly and His GangThe Life of a CowboyThe Prospectors, a Romance of the Gold FieldsThe Secret of Death ValleyThe Squatter's Daughter1907
The Bandit KingRobbery Under Arms1908
The Bank RobberyThe Fight for FreedomThe Girl and the OutlawThe Kentuckian (1908 film)The Red Girl1909
Bill Sharkey's Last GameComata, the SiouxThe Cowboy MillionaireThe House of CardsThe Mended Lute1910s
1910
Abernathy Kids to the RescueAcross the PlainsBroncho Billy's RedemptionIn Old California- ''The Two Brothers''
1911
The Abernathy Kids to the RescueAn Accidental OutlawAcross the PlainsThe BattleThe Cowboy and the LadyThe Indian BrothersFighting BloodThe Last Drop of WaterThe Last of the Mohicans The Lonedale OperatorSwords and HeartsThe Telltale Knife- ''Was He a Coward?''
1912
According to LawThe Ace of SpadesAlgie the MinerThe Belle of Bar-Z RanchThe Chief's BlanketGeronimo's Last RaidThe Girl and Her Trust The Goddess of Sagebrush GulchThe Half-Breed's WayThe Heart of an IndianHis Only SonThe InvadersThe MassacreMy HeroA Temporary TruceUnder Burning SkiesWhen the Heart Calls1913
The Abandoned WellThe Accidental BanditThe Accusation of Broncho BillyThe Battle at Elderbush GulchBroken WaysCalamity Anne's BeautyCalamity Anne's InheritanceDuring the Round-UpHearts and HorsesIn the Secret ServiceAn Indian's LoyaltyPast RedemptionThe Ranchero's RevengeThe Sheriff's BabyThe Tenderfoot's MoneyThree Friends1914
The BargainThe Girl Stage DriverHer Grave Mistake The Man from the EastA Miner's Romance A Ranch Romance Rose of the RanchoThe SpoilersThe Squaw ManA Ticket to Red Horse GulchThe Tragedy of Whispering Creek- ''The Virginian''
1915
Broncho Billy and the BabyBuckshot JohnThe Desert Breed The Girl of the Golden WestThe Heart of a BanditKeno Bates, LiarThe Passing of the Oklahoma OutlawsThe Ring of DestinyThe Slave Girl- ''The Stagecoach Driver and the Girl''
1916
According to St. JohnAccusing EvidenceThe Apostle of VengeanceThe Committee on CredentialsFor the Love of a GirlHell's HingesA Knight of the RangeLass of the LumberlandsLiberty Love's LariatThe Night RidersThe Passing of Hell's CrownThe Return of Draw EganStampede in the NightThe Three GodfathersThe Wire Pullers- ''A Woman's Eyes''
1917
A 44-Calibre MysteryThe Almost Good ManThe Bad Man of CheyenneBlood MoneyThe DrifterThe Dynamite SpecialThe Empty GunThe Fighting GringoThe Fighting TrailGoin' StraightThe Golden BulletHair-Trigger BurkeHands Up!The Honor of an OutlawThe Little MoccasinsA Marked Man The Mysterious OutlawThe Narrow TrailThe Outlaw and the LadyA Romance of the RedwoodsRoped InThe Scrapper The Silent ManSingle Shot Parker aka 'The Heart of Texas Ryan'Six-Shooter JusticeThe Soul Herder Squaring ItStraight ShootingThe Texas SphinxThe Tornado Wild and Woolly- ''The Wrong Man''
1918
The Branded ManBucking BroadwayThe Grand PassionHell BentOut WestPlay Straight or FightRevengeRiddle Gawne Riders of the Purple SageRuggles of Red Gap The Scarlet Drop The Squaw Man Three Mounted Men- ''A Woman's Fool''