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The Wild West theme was popular in the 1960s, with movie releases including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and The Magnificent Seven. Although this era was undeniably huge for the Wild West, it seems that it’s still influencing media to this day.
The Wild West in Games and Music
The Wild West has greatly influenced gaming. Titles such as Red Dead Redemption were huge hits, and it has fans constantly uncovering new secrets within the vast open world. You also have games like Wanted Dead or a Wild, that feature a lot of nods to the Wild West. With a bandit theme and some of the symbols including cow skulls and money bags, it’s reminiscent of the classic Western image. Western games tend to attract a huge audience, with people from all around the world itching to dive into the breathtaking world of the American Midwest.
It’s also possible to find Wild West arcade-themed games, with new titles being brought out all the time. It’s a very popular theme for game developers, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s something special about the Wild West, with part of its continuous influence in gaming stemming from the fact that it’s still engrained all around us.
You can still find old Wild West towns to visit if you find yourself in the US. Some of them include Deadwood, Cody, Silverton, and Sisters. Major cities, including Jackson, Fort Worth, and San Diego also have historic sites that pay homage to the history of the area. With inspiration like this serving as a reminder of the great heroes of the West, it’s no surprise to see that games, movies, and even songs take inspiration from the theme, shaping modern-day entertainment.
Western Movies Continue to Influence Modern-Day Cinema
John Wayne is known as one of the best cowboy actors that ever lived. His role as Ethan Edwards in The Searchers made a mark on the cinematic world, changing the way cowboys were perceived. His characters are often stoic heroes, and inspiration is still taken from them to this day. Kevin Costner’s new epic movie, Horizon: An American Saga, is just one example. It’s due for release this year, but it’s not the first time that Costner has stepped into the boots of a cowboy role. His work on Yellowstone has gone down a storm with fans, as it helps to show what ranch life is like for hardworking stablehands and country folk.
Wild West movies have helped people across the world to immerse themselves in historic American culture. Many movies were based on truth or historical accounts too. Take Young Guns for example. This is a retelling of Billy the Kid, who is portrayed by Emilio Estevez. Billy the Kid was a real person and one of the most notorious cowboys in the Old West. It’s one of the most accurate tellings of the story ever released, and a firm fan favorite within the cowboy genre.
It’s factual accounts like this that help to add to the allure of cowboy movies, and it’s one of the many reasons why they are still so influential to this day. With many cowboy movies set for release in the coming years, it seems that there are still a lot more stories yet to be told.
