Movies Like Rio Grande (1950)

Rio Grande is a 1950 western film from John Ford with a MovieMagicScore of 6.8/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Fort Apache and Rampage at Apache Wells.

Western

Fort Apache

1948

Owen Thursday sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, he attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.

7.0

MagicScore

Rampage at Apache Wells

1965

'The Oilprince' is an unscrupulous businessman. He looks forward to a lucrative deal with the "Western Arizona Bank'. He sells the bank oil wells at Shelly Lake that do actually not exist. The Oilprince learns that the colonists would like to settle at Shelly Lake. So The Oilprince exchanges the scout of the settlers by one of his minions to give them another route. But soon The Oilprince has to recognize that he has not counted on Winnetou, the righteous leader of the Apaches, and his blood brother Old Surehand.

6.3

MagicScore

The Outlaw Josey Wales

1976

After avenging his family's brutal murder, Wales is pursued by a pack of soldiers. He prefers to travel alone, but ragtag outcasts are drawn to him - and Wales can't bring himself to leave them unprotected.

7.4

MagicScore

El Dorado

1966

Cole Thornton, a gunfighter for hire, joins forces with an old friend, Sheriff J.P. Harrah. Together with a fighter and a gambler, they help a rancher and his family fight a rival rancher that is trying to steal their water.

7.4

MagicScore

No Country for Old Men

2007

Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.

7.9

MagicScore

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

2005

When brash Texas border officer Mike Norton wrongfully kills and buries the friend and ranch hand of Pete Perkins, the latter is reminded of a promise he made to bury his friend, Melquiades Estrada, in his Mexican home town. He kidnaps Norton and exhumes Estrada's corpse, and the odd caravan sets out on horseback for Mexico.

7.0

MagicScore

Texas Rangers

2001

Ten years after the Civil War has ended, the Governor of Texas asks Leander McNelly to form a company of Rangers to help uphold the law along the Mexican border. With a few veterans of the war, most of the recruits are young men who have little or no experience with guns or policing crime.

6.0

MagicScore

Touch of Evil

1958

When a car bomb explodes on the American side of the U.S./Mexico border, Mexican drug enforcement agent Miguel Vargas begins his investigation, along with American police captain Hank Quinlan. When Vargas begins to suspect that Quinlan and his shady partner, Menzies, are planting evidence to frame an innocent man, his investigations into their possible corruption quickly put himself and his new bride, Susie, in jeopardy.

7.8

MagicScore

I Can Only Imagine

2018

Growing up in Greenville, Texas, Bart Millard suffers physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father, Arthur. When Arthur becomes terminally ill, he finds redemption by embracing his faith and rediscovering his love for his son. Years later, Bart's troubled childhood and mended relationship with his dad inspires him to write the hit song "I Can Only Imagine" as singer of the Christian band MercyMe.

7.5

MagicScore

#10

The Tree of Life

2011

The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.

6.7

MagicScore

#11

Cold in July

2014

While investigating noises in his house one balmy Texas night in 1989, Richard Dane puts a bullet in the brain of a low-life burglar. Although he’s hailed as a small-town hero, Dane soon finds himself fearing for his family’s safety when Freddy’s ex-con father rolls into town, hell-bent on revenge.

6.5

MagicScore

#12

Red River

1948

Following the Civil War, headstrong rancher Thomas Dunson decides to lead a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Missouri. During the exhausting journey, his persistence becomes tyrannical in the eyes of Matthew Garth, his adopted son and protégé.

7.3

MagicScore

#13

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

1949

On the eve of retirement, Captain Nathan Brittles takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled.

6.9

MagicScore

#14

1985

2018

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian returns to his Texas hometown and struggles to reveal his dire circumstances to his conservative family.

6.2

MagicScore

#15

Gentleman's Agreement

1947

A magazine writer poses as a Jew to expose anti-Semitism.

7.0

MagicScore

#16

Son of Frankenstein

1939

One of the sons of late Dr. Henry Frankenstein finds his father's ghoulish creation in a coma and revives him, only to find out the monster is controlled by Ygor who is bent on revenge.

6.7

MagicScore

#17

They Call Me Trinity

1970

The simple story has the pair coming to the rescue of peace-loving Mormons when land-hungry Major Harriman sends his bullies to harass them into giving up their fertile valley. Trinity and Bambino manage to save the Mormons and send the bad guys packing with slapstick humor instead of excessive violence, saving the day.

7.5

MagicScore

#18

Little Big Man

1970

Jack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, tells of his life being raised by Indians and fighting with General Custer.

7.5

MagicScore

#19

Shane

1953

A weary gunfighter attempts to settle down with a homestead family, but a smouldering settler and rancher conflict forces him to act.

7.4

MagicScore

#20

Pale Rider

1985

A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.

7.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Rio Grande?

The top films similar to Rio Grande by MovieMagicScore are Fort Apache (7.0), Rampage at Apache Wells (6.3), The Outlaw Josey Wales (7.4). Each shares western themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Rio Grande worth watching?

Rio Grande holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.8/10 from 364 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Rio Grande?

Rio Grande (1950) is a western film directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Ben Johnson.

Where can I find more recommendations like Rio Grande?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more western recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Fort Apache Movies like Rampage at Apache Wells Movies like The Outlaw Josey Wales Movies like El Dorado Movies like No Country for Old Men Movies like The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

About movies like Rio Grande

This ranked list pairs Rio Grande (1950), a western film from John Ford, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of John Wayne take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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