1971 Classic, Originally a Box Office Flop, Named 'Greatest Western of All Time'
The most iconic Westerns seemed to have involved John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, but every now and then a newcomer would challenge the status quo of the genre.
Iconic director Robert Altman's 1971 classic McCabe and Mrs. Miller did just that.
Timeout declaredMcCabe and Mrs. Miller as the greatest western of all time. Timeout suggested the iconic film helped break down the narrative around the Western genre while re-imagining the "western myth."
"No doubt many will quarrel over Altman's film topping our list ahead of favourites such as The Searchers or Unforgiven. It's not even set in what we think of as the west. But we should remember that the frontier expanded in all directions – into the harsh northern territories as well as the furnace-hot dog patches of California," Timeout writes.
"Some may argue that the film lacks suspense or action. And yet, it contains one of the sweatiest stand-offs on celluloid as McCabe fronts up and then caves in to three company stooges sent by mining barons to persuade him to relinquish his holdings. And the film's finale is one of the most gripping, explosive and naturalistic gunfights in all cinema."
Robert Altman Created the 'Anti-Western'
Altman intended the film to have a fresh take on the genre and suggested McCabe and Mrs. Miller should be viewed as "anti-Western."
"He called his film an anti-western because the film turns a number of Western conventions on their sides, including the male dominance and the heroic standoff; gunplay is a solution only after reputation, wit, and non-violent coercion fail; and law and order do not always prevail,'" wrote Michael Shapiro.
The film struggled at the box office upon its initial release, but was re-released with a new advertising campaign and managed to squeak just past $8 million at the box office.
McCabe and Mrs. Miller owns a strong 85% from critics and 86% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 21, 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 21, 2026 at 5:54 AM.