Bounty hunting has always been a formal business, overseen by government agencies. Bounty hunters capture fugitives and criminals and deliver them to justice agencies, and in return they receive their bounty. Formerly known for capturing escaped slaves, bounty hunters have become a part of the justice system over the years. The best bounty hunter movies tell the stories of bounty hunters whose lives are full of action.
We're used to seeing “Wanted” announcements with a picture of criminals in Western movies. Maybe that's what made bounty hunting stick in our minds. The best bounty hunter movies include classic Westerns set in the wild west, as well as movies about bounty hunters who spend their lives catching criminals in today's justice system. However, each one guarantees action and adventure from the first moment to the last scene.
Some of the best bounty hunter movies are based on true stories. Acting performance in bounty hunter movies is a key element of the movie's success. In the best bounty hunter movies, you can watch the amazing performances of Oscar-winning actors. One of the features that makes bounty hunter movies special is that some of them are among the best movies in history. These movies are much more than action scenes where everyone shoots at each other.
I wanted to put together the best bounty hunter movies of all time. Since bounty hunting is a profession older than the history of cinema, I extended my research to the early years of the art of cinema. I did not include the stories of people who were hired to catch a single person with a vengeance-oriented approach in this list. I focused on movies where bounty hunters chase criminals and fugitives, and I choose the best ones. Let's take a look at the best bounty hunter movies.
Best Bounty Hunter Movies
1
Release Date: 1966
Director: Sergio Leone
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffrè
2
Release Date: 2012
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington
3
Release Date: 1965
Director: Sergio Leone
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volontè, Mara Krupp
4
Release Date: 1982
Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
5
Release Date: 2014
Director: James Gunn
Stars: Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana
6
Release Date: 2007
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson
7
Release Date: 1992
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris
8
Release Date: 2017
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista
9
Release Date: 2015
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins
10
Release Date: 1960
Director: John Sturges
Stars: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Eli Wallach
11
Release Date: 1969
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Stars: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien
12
Release Date: 1976
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Chief Dan George, Bill McKinney
13
Release Date: 2010
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin
14
Release Date: 2012
Director: Jeff Nichols
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard
15
Release Date: 2018
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Stars: Tim Blake Nelson, Willie Watson, Clancy Brown, Danny McCarthy
16
Release Date: 1988
Director: Martin Brest
Stars: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton
17
Release Date: 1969
Director: Henry Hathaway
Stars: John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Jeremy Slate
18
Release Date: 1953
Director: Anthony Mann
Stars: James Stewart, Janet Leigh, Robert Ryan, Ralph Meeker
19
Release Date: 2000
Director: David Twohy
Stars: Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Vin Diesel, Keith David
20
Release Date: 2005
Director: John Hillcoat
Stars: Ray Winstone, Guy Pearce, Emily Watson, Richard Wilson