6 Best Ben Johnson Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 12, 2026

Ben Johnson, a former rodeo champion and stuntman, became one of Hollywood’s most respected character actors, earning an Oscar along the way. The Last Picture Show has teens in a dying Texas town, The Getaway has a parolee and his wife on the run after a heist, and The Sugarland Express has a mother and her husband leading police on a chase. Red Dawn, The Wild Bunch and Shane round out the list.

Red Dawn (1984)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A group of American teenagers forms a guerrilla resistance after their town is invaded by foreign troops.

Directed by John Milius · 1h 54m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, AMC, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Sugarland Express (1974)

TMDB ★ 6.6

Ben Johnson features in this road drama about a desperate mother and her escaped-convict husband who lead police on a chase to reclaim their child.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 1h 50m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Getaway (1972)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 84% Metacritic 55

A newly paroled bank robber and his wife go on the run after a heist splits their crew apart.

Directed by Sam Peckinpah · 2h 03m · Rated PG

1 win & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Last Picture Show (1971)

TMDB ★ 7.6

Teenagers in a dying Texas town navigate love and loss as their local movie theatre faces closure.

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich · 1h 59m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Wild Bunch (1969)

TMDB ★ 7.7

An ageing gang of outlaws plans one last robbery as the Old West gives way to modern civilisation.

Directed by Sam Peckinpah · 2h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Shane (1953)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A mysterious gunfighter helps a family of homesteaders defend their land against a ruthless cattle baron.

Directed by George Stevens · 1h 58m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · 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 Ben Johnson Movies

Red Dawn (1984)

The Sugarland Express (1974)

The Getaway (1972)

The Last Picture Show (1971)

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Shane (1953)

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