One of the most critically acclaimed Western movie remakes is coming to Netflix on September 1, as James Mangold’s 
3:10 to Yuma lands on the biggest streaming platform. Based on Elmore Leonard’s 1953 story “Three-Ten to Yuma” – whose first movie adaptation in 1957 drew comparisons to Western classic High Noon – the 2007 remake assembled a stunning cast.
Russell Crowe and Christian Bale play men on opposite sides of the moral divide, with Bale’s former military man Dan Evans charged with escorting Crowe’s murderous gang leader Ben Wade to a train to Yuma Territorial Prison. What follows is a tense 122-minute Western drama, surpassed only by True Grit as the most critically lauded remake of a Western movie. 3:10 To Yuma‘s arrival on Netflix on September 1 makes it an essential watch for all Western fans.
Did You Know: Tom Cruise reportedly expressed interest in playing Ben Wade when Russell Crowe was initially unavailable.
For Fans Of…
- Western revival movies, like The Assassination Of Jesse James… and Seraphim Falls (both also released in 2007)
- The original: 1957’s 3:10 To Yuma, starring Gleen Ford and Van Heflin
- Action-heavy Westerns
- Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, and particularly the excellent Ben Foster
Why You Should Watch 3:10 To Yuma On Netflix
Many great Western movies depend on the central dynamic of the lead characters, with often very defined concepts of morality. The Old West is a plain where good and evil seemingly endlessly battle on the silver screen, and Crowe and Bale’s performances perfectly capture that. Crowe is both charismatic and imposing, while Bale’s devoted father dragged into the situation by financial desperation and duty to his son (Logan Lerman) is his equal and opposite in every way.
The supporting cast is excellent, with Lerman, Peter Fonda, Alan Tudyk, and Kevin Durand on strong form. The pick of the bunch is Ben Foster, who plays Wade’s volatile right-hand man Charlie Prince, in a performance that should once again remind everyone that Foster is one of Hollywood’s most overlooked genius talents.
At two hours, 3:10 To Yuma has more than enough room for several impressive set-pieces, but it’s the Bale/Crowe scenes and Foster’s scene-stealing presence that really shine most. It’s a Western that demands viewing from every fan.
What ScreenRant has said about 3:10 To Yuma:
Mangold’s film is a great example how a classic movie can lead to an equally great remake. Based upon a short story by Elmore Leonard, the original 3:10 to Yuma was made in 1957 with veteran actor Glenn Ford as Ben Wade and Van Heflin as Dan Evans. Directed by Delmer Daves, it was quite popular at the time of its release and in 2012 was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. –
12 Best Movie Remakes of All Time
|
3:10 To Yuma Key Facts |
|
|---|---|
|
Box Office |
$71.2 million |
|
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
89% |
|
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
86% |
|
Major Awards |
Academy Awards for Best Original Score (Nominated), Best Sound Mixing (Nominated). Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Cast (Nominated). |
5 Other Great Modern Westerns On Netflix Right Now
- Bone Tomahawk (2015)
- The Harder They Fall (2021)
- The Power Of The Dog (2021)
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
- The Highwaymen (2019)