6 Best Homesteader Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 6, 2026

Homesteading meant isolation, hardship and quiet determination, and these films are haunting. The Homesman has a frontier woman and a drifter escorting three unstable settlers across the plains, Meek’s Cutoff has settlers growing desperate after their guide leads them astray, and The Ballad of Little Jo has a woman living as a man to survive. The New Land, Heaven’s Gate and Days of Heaven round out the six.

The Homesman (2014)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A resourceful frontier woman and a drifter escort three mentally unstable settlers across the dangerous prairie.

Directed by Tommy Lee Jones · 2h 02m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The New Land (1972)

TMDB ★ 7.4

Swedish immigrant settlers endure hardship, isolation and cultural upheaval building a new life in Minnesota.

Directed by زين العابدين · 3h 22m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Meek's Cutoff (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A group of settlers following the Oregon Trail grow desperate after their guide leads them astray.

Directed by Kelly Reichardt · 1h 43m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Peacock Premium, Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cineverse, Peacock Premium Plus, Cineverse Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A woman disguises herself as a man to survive alone as a homesteader in the unforgiving Old West.

Directed by Maggie Greenwald · 2h 01m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Kino Film Collection · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Heaven's Gate (1980)

TMDB ★ 6.2

Wealthy cattle barons wage a violent campaign against poor immigrant settlers in 1890s Wyoming.

Directed by Michael Cimino · 3h 37m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Days of Heaven (1978)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A farmhand's scheme to marry his girlfriend to a dying rich farmer ends in tragedy on the Texas plains.

Directed by Terrence Malick · 1h 34m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Homesteader Movies

The Homesman (2014)

The New Land (1972)

Meek's Cutoff (2011)

The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)

Heaven's Gate (1980)

Days of Heaven (1978)

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