The Western genre used to dominate the film industry. Beginning in the 1940s and 50s, the Western movies became major box office hits, which many forget is exactly what helped to make Hollywood the bona fide cultural force it is today. In fact, many of the largest studios now owe their modern successes to those Western hits of yesteryear.
While any film genre’s popularity tends to wax and wane, this is especially true for Westerns. They were all the rage during the Silent Film Era, but their popularity dipped in the late 1930s, only to go back up again as one of the most-watched genres of the 50s, 60s, and even 70s.
From Disney to Warner Brothers and MGM, studios cemented their box office revenues with dependable flicks (and movie stars). Without these classic Westerns, it’s unlikely the entertainment industry would be as profitable as it is today.