Westerns used to be the movies families watched together, and the genre still has plenty to offer a family movie night if you pick carefully. Many modern Westerns are too violent for kids, so we put together a dozen family friendly picks, from G rated animation to classic PG adventures and a few PG 13 titles for teens. Each entry lists the official MPA rating, a spoiler free premise and who it suits best.
Best Westerns for younger kids
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002, G)
A wild mustang roams the American frontier until he is captured and must fight to stay free. The animated film tells its story mostly through the horse’s point of view, and it is a gentle first Western for small children who love animals.
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991, G)
Fievel the mouse and his family leave New York for a fresh start in the West, where a crafty cat has plans for them. It works as a standalone movie, so kids do not need to have seen the first film.
Rango (2011, PG)
A pet chameleon with a big imagination ends up stranded in the desert and talks his way into becoming sheriff of a thirsty frontier town. It is packed with references to classic Westerns that adults will catch. The MPA rated it PG for rude humor, language, action and smoking.
Family favorites everyone can watch
Back to the Future Part III (1990, PG)
Marty McFly travels back to 1885 to bring Doc Brown home from the Old West. It is the closing chapter of the trilogy and plays like a real Western, complete with a frontier town, a showdown and a steam train. Watching the first two films first helps.
Three Amigos (1986, PG)
Three silent movie cowboys are mistaken for real heroes by a Mexican village that needs protection from bandits. Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short lean into slapstick and silly songs, which makes this a good pick for kids around ten and up.
Maverick (1994, PG)
A smooth talking gambler tries to scrape together the entry fee for a high stakes poker game, crossing paths with a con artist and a lawman along the way. Rated PG for mild sensuality, language and some western action, it is breezy, funny and full of twists.
Classic Westerns for older kids
Shane (1953, made before ratings)
A quiet drifter takes work with a homesteading family and gets pulled into their fight with a powerful cattle baron. Much of the story is seen through the eyes of the family’s young son. The film predates the MPA rating system, so services list it as unrated, but it has classic gunfight violence that suits kids around ten and older.
The Magnificent Seven (1960, made before ratings)
A village plagued by bandits hires seven gunfighters to defend it. Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen lead the cast of this classic. It also predates MPA ratings, and some services show a TV PG label. Expect plenty of gunfire but little graphic detail.
The Cowboys (1972, PG)
When his ranch hands quit, an aging rancher played by John Wayne hires a group of schoolboys to help drive his cattle across hundreds of miles. It is a coming of age story, but it is rated PG for some intense action violence and has darker moments, so it fits preteens better than young kids.
PG 13 Westerns for teens
True Grit (2010, PG 13)
A determined 14 year old girl hires a hard drinking federal marshal to track down the man who killed her father. The dialogue is sharp and the lead is a great role model for stubborn teens. It is rated PG 13 for some intense sequences of western violence including disturbing images.
Hidalgo (2004, PG 13)
Cowboy Frank Hopkins and his mustang enter a grueling long distance race across the Arabian desert. It is a big, old fashioned adventure, rated PG 13 for adventure violence and some mild innuendo.
News of the World (2020, PG 13)
After the Civil War, a veteran who travels from town to town reading the news aloud agrees to deliver a young girl to her relatives. Tom Hanks stars in this slow burning, thoughtful road movie that suits teens who like drama more than shootouts.
| Movie | Year | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron | 2002 | G | All ages |
| Fievel Goes West | 1991 | G | All ages |
| Rango | 2011 | PG | Kids and parents |
| Back to the Future Part III | 1990 | PG | Whole family |
| Three Amigos | 1986 | PG | Ages 10 and up |
| Maverick | 1994 | PG | Ages 10 and up |
| Shane | 1953 | Not rated | Ages 10 and up |
| The Magnificent Seven | 1960 | Not rated | Ages 10 and up |
| The Cowboys | 1972 | PG | Preteens |
| True Grit, Hidalgo, News of the World | 2004 to 2020 | PG 13 | Teens |
How to find where to stream them
Streaming rights for older movies move between services every few months, so any list of where to watch goes stale quickly. Instead, use these quick checks:
- Search the title on a free tracker such as JustWatch or Reelgood, set to the United States.
- Use the universal search on your TV platform, such as the Apple TV app, Google TV or Roku, which shows every service carrying a title.
- Check your library card. Library apps like Kanopy and Hoopla often carry classic films at no cost.
- Look at free ad supported services, which rotate older Westerns in and out regularly.
- If a movie is not streaming anywhere, check digital rental and purchase stores, where older movies often stay available.
FAQ
What is a good first Western for a young child?
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is the gentlest option, rated G and focused on a horse rather than gunfights.
Is True Grit (2010) OK for kids?
It is rated PG 13 for intense western violence and disturbing images. Most families save it for teens.
Why are Shane and The Magnificent Seven not rated?
They were released before the MPA rating system began in 1968, so they never received an official rating.
The verdict
Westerns are a great way to share classic movies across generations. Start little kids on Spirit, Fievel or Rango, bring everyone together with Back to the Future Part III or Maverick, and save True Grit and News of the World for teens. Check a streaming tracker on the day you plan to watch, since availability changes often.
Updated October 2026: a dozen family friendly Westerns with verified MPA ratings, age guidance and tips for finding where each one streams.
Featured photo: Taylor Brandon on Unsplash.
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