15 Western TV Shows That Outgun ‘Gunsmoke’ According To The Data
When you think of classic Westerns, Gunsmoke probably gallops to mind first.
But hold your horses—plenty of other shows packed even more punch with audiences and critics alike. Measured by ratings, cultural impact, or sheer entertainment value, several series managed to ride circles around Matt Dillon’s Dodge City adventures.
1. Deadwood
Gritty doesn’t even begin to describe what HBO unleashed in 2004. Swearing like sailors and scheming like politicians, characters in this South Dakota mining camp painted the Old West without any romantic filters.
Critics absolutely adored the Shakespearean dialogue wrapped in profanity. Viewers got hooked on morally complex characters who made Marshal Dillon look downright simple by comparison.
2. Bonanza
Nothing says family drama quite like a widowed rancher raising three sons from different mothers. Set on the massive Ponderosa spread near Virginia City, Nevada, the Cartwright clan dealt with everything from cattle rustlers to moral dilemmas.
Running 14 seasons, it dominated Sunday nights throughout the 1960s. Millions tuned in weekly, making it a cultural phenomenon that outpaced many competitors.
3. The Wild Wild West
Imagine James Bond wearing a cowboy hat and riding trains across 1870s America. Secret Service agents James West and Artemus Gordon tackled bizarre villains with futuristic gadgets that would make Q jealous.
Blending spy thrills with frontier action created something totally unique. Audiences ate up the creative mashup, proving Westerns could evolve beyond simple gunfights and cattle drives.
4. Wagon Train
Every week brought new pioneers with fresh problems as wagon masters guided settlers westward. Running eight seasons starting in 1957, it captured America’s fascination with manifest destiny and frontier courage.
Guest stars lined up to appear, from Hollywood legends to rising talents. Viewers loved the anthology format that kept stories unpredictable while maintaining familiar characters guiding each journey.
5. Rawhide
Before Clint Eastwood became the Man With No Name, he was Rowdy Yates, trail boss extraordinaire. Driving cattle across dangerous territory week after week taught audiences about cowboy life beyond saloon shootouts.
Eight seasons proved audiences craved authentic ranch work stories. Action mixed with character development created a winning formula that launched one of cinema’s biggest careers.
6. Have Gun – Will Travel
A cultured mercenary who quoted Shakespeare between gunfights? Paladin broke every Western stereotype while becoming one of television’s most fascinating characters.
Operating from San Francisco’s Hotel Carlton, he traveled wherever his business card took him. Sophisticated yet deadly, he solved problems with brains as often as bullets, earning massive ratings throughout six seasons.
7. Maverick
Who says Western heroes need to be fearless? Bret Maverick preferred running from danger while charming ladies and winning poker hands. James Garner brought humor and wit to a genre often taking itself too seriously.
Audiences refreshed by his cowardly honesty tuned in faithfully. Five seasons proved that laughing at Western conventions could be just as entertaining as celebrating them.
8. The Rifleman
Widower Lucas McCain raised his son Mark while defending their New Mexico ranch with lightning-fast rifle skills. Chuck Connors made that modified Winchester an extension of his character, firing off rounds faster than most could blink.
Five seasons explored single parenthood wrapped in frontier justice. Wholesome family values met action-packed storytelling, creating appointment television throughout the early 1960s.
9. Gunslinger
Although it only lasted one season, this 1961 series left quite an impression. Young Cord, working undercover as a gunslinger, tackled criminals across New Mexico Territory with intelligence and quick draw skills.
Short-lived doesn’t mean forgettable when quality runs high. Fans still remember the tightly written episodes that packed more excitement into twelve weeks than some shows managed in years.
10. Tombstone Territory
Real-life lawman Sheriff Clay Hollister kept order in Arizona’s wildest town during the 1880s. Running from 1957 to 1959, it capitalized on America’s obsession with Tombstone’s legendary gunfights and colorful characters.
Authentic locations and historical events gave it credibility other shows lacked. Audiences appreciated stories rooted in actual Western history rather than pure Hollywood invention.
11. The High Chaparral
Mixing cultures and families created constant tension on the Cannon ranch in 1870s Arizona Territory. When rancher John Cannon married a Mexican woman after his first wife’s death, two worlds collided spectacularly.
Four seasons explored cultural conflicts rarely addressed in Westerns. Beautiful desert cinematography and complex family dynamics elevated it above typical shoot-em-up fare.
12. Bat Masterson
Forget dusty cowboys in worn chaps. Bat Masterson preferred tailored suits, derby hats, and a gold-tipped cane hiding a deadly blade. Gene Barry played the real-life lawman-turned-gambler with irresistible charm and style.
Running three seasons, it proved Westerns could be sophisticated entertainment. Women loved the romance while men appreciated his clever problem-solving and occasional fisticuffs.
13. Tales of Wells Fargo
Special agent Jim Hardie protected Wells Fargo shipments across dangerous territory, facing bandits and outlaws determined to steal gold and valuables. Dale Robertson brought quiet authority to the role throughout six seasons.
Mixing real company history with fictional adventures created believable storytelling. Audiences trusted Wells Fargo in real life, so watching their agents triumph on screen felt satisfying and patriotic.
14. The Virginian
Wyoming’s Shiloh Ranch employed a mysterious foreman known only as the Virginian. Based on Owen Wister’s influential novel, the show ran an impressive nine seasons as television’s first 90-minute Western series.
James Drury embodied the strong, silent type perfectly. Epic length episodes allowed for deeper character development and more complex storylines than standard hour-long formats permitted.
15. The Big Valley
Barbara Stanwyck ruled the Barkley ranch with an iron will and loving heart. Set in California’s San Joaquin Valley during the 1870s, the wealthy family faced challenges requiring both brains and bravery.
It offered a rare female-led Western perspective. Strong writing and excellent casting made the Barkleys as memorable as any television family, Western or otherwise.
