Movies Like Jesse James (1939)

Jesse James is a 1939 western film from Henry King with a MovieMagicScore of 6.4/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Return of Frank James and Dakota.

Western

The Return of Frank James

1940

Farmer Frank and his ward hunt brother Jesse's killers, the back-shooting Fords.

6.3

MagicScore

Dakota

1945

In 1871, professional gambler John Devlin elopes with Sandra "Sandy" Poli, daughter of Marko Poli, an immigrant who has risen to railroad tycoon. Sandy, knowing that the railroad is to be extended into Dakota, plans to use their $20,000 nest egg to buy land options to sell to the railroad at a profit. On the stage trip to Ft. Abercrombie, their fellow passengers are Jim Bender and Bigtree Collins, who practically own the town of Fargo and Devlin is aware that they are prepared to protect the little empire... trying to drive out the farmers by burning their property, destroying their wheat, and blaming the devastation on the Indians. Continuing their journey north on the river aboard the "River Bird', Sandy and John meet Captain Bounce, an irascible old seafarer. Two of Bendender's henchmen, Slagin and Carp, board the boat and relieve John of his $20,000 at gunpoint. Captain Bounce, chasing the robber's dinghy..

5.1

MagicScore

The Great Locomotive Chase

1956

During the Civil War, a Union spy, Andrews, is asked to lead a band of Union soldiers into the South so that they could destroy the railway system. However, things don't go as planned when the conductor of the train that they stole is on to them and is doing everything he can to stop them. Based on a true story.

6.3

MagicScore

Wisdom

1986

Unable to find work after a past felony, graduate John Wisdom and his girlfriend embark on a cross-country bank-robbing spree in order to aid American farmers.

5.9

MagicScore

Oh, Mr. Porter!

1937

Comedy in which a bungling railway worker is given the job of stationmaster at a rundown station in rural Ireland, where his sidekicks are a toothless old gaffer and a portly young loudmouth. Hilarious adventures ensue, including a locomotive chase after gunrunners make off with a train.

7.0

MagicScore

The Titfield Thunderbolt

1953

When British Railways announce the closure of the Titfield to Mallingford branch line a group of local residents make a bid to run it themselves, backed by a monied member of the community who is attracted by the complete lack of licensing hours on trains. Unfortunately the local bus company starts to use methods that can hardly be seen as fair competition.

7.0

MagicScore

The Battle of the Rails

1946

A dramatized account of the French Resistance, this wartime film depicts how railway workers sabotaged German trains to disrupt troop movements and supply lines during the Nazi occupation. Blending documentary realism with fiction, it pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of ordinary workers who became central to the fight for liberation.

6.8

MagicScore

North West Frontier

1959

In the rebellious northern frontier province of colonial India, British Army Captain Scott, a young prince and the boy's governess escape by an obsolete train as they are relentlessly pursued by Muslim rebels intent on assassinating the prince.

6.8

MagicScore

Train Driver's Diary

2016

Statistics show that during his professional career every railroad engineer working for railways, unintentionally kills 15 to 20 people. This is a story about the innocent mass murderers and their lives.

6.7

MagicScore

#10

Hitler's Steel Beast

2017

Trace the history of Hitler's armored private train, a 15-car mobile headquarters boasting state-of-the-art communications and anti-aircraft cannons.

6.2

MagicScore

#11

Switchback

1997

After FBI agent Frank Lacrosse believes his son was kidnapped by a notorious serial killer, he travels to Amarillo, Texas, where he believes the murderer is in hiding. Although officially taken off the case because of its personal significance to him, Frank continues to pursue the killer, causing concern for local sheriff Buck Olmstead. When another victim pops up at a nearby car garage, Frank knows that he is as close as he'll ever be to tracking down the elusive killer.

6.0

MagicScore

#12

Final Run

1999

The Grand Royale is a new high-tech passenger train with a computerized engine. On its maiden voyage, it suffers a severe technical failure, killing the controller and gradually increasing its already high speed, at the rate of 2 more miles per minute. With heavily populated areas ahead and the risk of a deadly derailment, every minute counts and once again, it's up to Lucky singer to save the 200 passengers on board.

5.5

MagicScore

#13

Bodyguard

2011

Lovely Singh is extremely respectful of Mr Rana and his daughter Divya. While appointed as Divya's bodyguard, he falls in love with a girl he has never met, unaware that she is none other than Divya.

5.3

MagicScore

#14

The Quiet Man

1952

An American man returns to the village of his birth in Ireland, where he finds love and conflict.

7.3

MagicScore

#15

Living It Up

1954

Homer Flagg (Lewis) is a railroad worker in the small town of Desert Hole, New Mexico. One day he finds an abandoned automobile at an old atomic proving ground. His doctor and best friend, Steve Harris (Martin), diagnoses him with radiation poisoning and gives Homer three weeks to live. A reporter for a New York newspaper, hears of Homer's plight and convinces her editor, to provide an all-expenses paid trip to New York.

6.4

MagicScore

#16

The Little Foxes

1941

In 1900, a clan attempts to strike a deal with a Chicago industrialist to get him to build cotton mills in their Deep South town.

7.5

MagicScore

#17

Gentleman Jim

1942

As bare-knuckled boxing enters the modern era, brash extrovert Jim Corbett uses new rules and dazzlingly innovative footwork to rise to the top of the boxing world.

7.1

MagicScore

#18

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

2007

Outlaw Jesse James is rumored to be the 'fastest gun in the West'. An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw and, when Robert and his brother sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status.

7.0

MagicScore

#19

The Long Riders

1980

The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the James gang is told in a sympathetic portrayal of the bank robbers made up of brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge.

6.6

MagicScore

#20

I Shot Jesse James

1949

Bob Ford murders his best friend Jesse James in order to obtain a pardon that will free him to marry his girlfriend Cynthy. The guilt-stricken Ford soon finds himself greeted with derision and open mockery throughout town. He travels to Colorado to try his hand at prospecting in hopes that marriage with Cynthy is still in the cards.

6.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Jesse James?

The top films similar to Jesse James by MovieMagicScore are The Return of Frank James (6.3), Dakota (5.1), The Great Locomotive Chase (6.3). Each shares western themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Jesse James worth watching?

Jesse James holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.4/10 from 100 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Jesse James?

Jesse James (1939) is a western film directed by Henry King, starring Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, Nancy Kelly.

Where can I find more recommendations like Jesse James?

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 The Return of Frank James Movies like Dakota Movies like The Great Locomotive Chase Movies like Wisdom Movies like Oh, Mr. Porter!Movies like The Titfield Thunderbolt

About movies like Jesse James

This ranked list pairs Jesse James (1939), a western film from Henry King, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Tyrone Power 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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