Hold the good; we’re going all out on the bad and the ugly here. Throughout cinematic history, there has perhaps been nothing that has defined the scope and spectacle of what the medium is capable of quite like the immersive grandiosity and drama of the Western genre. Ranging from cherished and idealistic American classics to the intoxicating grit and savagery of the spaghetti Westerns from Europe, the greatest highlights of the genre mark enduring triumphs of film at large.

However, while there have been many outstanding Westerns that have made for essential viewing, there have been some bad ones that have come to be regarded as must-see films as well, even if only from a so-bad-it's-good sense. From star-studded shockers to some of the most famous flops in film history, at least once.

Following his major career breakthrough with his rugged roles in the Dollars trilogy, emerged as one of the defining icons of Spaghetti Western cinema. was eager to capitalize on the actor’s newfound stardom, and his performance is one of tremendous grit, intrigue, and even sympathy at times. Alas, the film around him is tiresome as .

A revenge thriller, it follows a young man’s violent vendetta as he hunts down the bandit gang that brutally raped and murdered his family in front of him when he was a child. Van Cleef portrays Ryan, a gunslinger recently released from prison who has his own score to settle with the bandits. Not only is Van Cleef’s performance an excellent example of Spaghetti Western coarseness, but ’s sublime score is typically magnificent as well. Even as the film falters in all other areas, spectacle for all lovers of Western cinema.

Western cinema underwent something of a revival in the early '90s. While it is seldom heralded as one of the era’s great Western films, 1991’s offers a fantastic comedy spin on the genre as it follows three depressed middle-aged friends as they escape their urban lifestyles by embarking on a Wild West experience. Heartfelt and humorous, the original film is a wonderful marriage of adventure, comedy, and Western intrigue. Its sequel, however, is not.

While the prospect of returning to Mitch Robbins () and his friends’ journey is an inviting one, is . Bereft of the charm, creativity, and vibrancy that defined the adventurous allure of its predecessor, it mishandles its central characters to prioritize the hunt for the missing gold. While everyone who enjoyed the first film would feel compelled to see how the story of Mitch and his pals progressed — and hopefully have a few more laughs in the process — this listless sequel ultimately offered an underwhelming slump that, if anything, only tarnished the legacy of its excellent predecessor.

It seems utterly inconceivable that a Western imbued with the star power of , , and could be released without anyone knowing about it. Owing to its awful execution, however, managed to do just that. It follows Max Borlund (Waltz), a veteran bounty hunter whose assignment to retrieve a runaway bride becomes a moral dilemma when he learns she was fleeing her abusive husband. Further complicating the situation, Max crosses paths with Joe Cribbens (Dafoe), a gambling crook who Borlund had imprisoned five years earlier.

experience, but Dead For a Dollar is never able to convert its premise into . Whatever suspense the movie does muster is merely momentary, while its lack of dramatic depth makes for an arduous viewing experience when combined with its inability to excite, enthrall, or entice. It ultimately withers as an uninspired genre flick that is neither dramatic nor exciting.

Slated as one of the biggest releases of 1999, has become infamous as one of the biggest blockbuster blunders in cinematic history. Taking place in an absurd steampunk alternate history of post-Civil War America, it follows special agents James West () and Artemus Gordon () as they are tasked with thwarting an attempt on the life of U.S. President (also Kevin Kline) being conceived by the wheelchair-bound and vindictive Confederate scientist, Dr. Loveless ().

It incorporates elements of action spectacle, comedy chaos, and sci-fi nuance in addition to its Western basis. Alas, rather than resulting in a frenzied spectacle of effervescent entertainment, it instead suffers as . Given the sheer magnitude of its failure, Wild Wild West needs to be watched. Adding further insult to injury, audiences today can watch it knowing that Smith turned down the role of Neo in to appear in the film.

If ever there was a Western that could become a so-bad-it’s-good cult classic and undergo something of a public resurgence through its glaring pitfalls, then it would be . With a mismatched cast that includes , , , and , the misguided movie is very loosely based on the establishment of the Texas Rangers. Led by (McDermott), the ragtag law enforcement group fights against the odds to defeat a bandit army wreaking havoc on Texas.

It is difficult to discern if the film intentionally hams up its campy presentation of the West or if its ridiculously cheesy execution is merely an unintended result of production woes. Regardless, Texas Rangers is a movie that stands as . True lovers of the genre may also be swayed to give it a chance, given it stands as one of ’s final films — and his last ever Western — with the Hollywood star serving as the picture’s narrator.

While Hollywood remakes usually only result in disgruntled fans and forgettable viewing experiences, Western fans in the mid-2010s perhaps had more cause for optimism. After all, the ’ remake of was a rousing success, while the genre at large was going through something of a resurgence with hits like and released in prior years. As such, when a remake of came along in 2016, flaunting an all-star cast and ’s direction, it is understandable why genre fans viewed it as a must-see movie.

Granted, the film does have some impressive elements, such as ’s typically brilliant lead performance and some elaborate action set pieces. However, it never manages to mesh all its components to be anything of substance. In fact, much of 2016’s The Magnificent Seven is that falls painfully flat both as an eye-popping action extravaganza and a modern Western blockbuster.

It is rare for a film riddled with as many pitfalls and inconsistencies to become a bona fide Hollywood classic, but has managed to become something of an enduring success even with its damning woes. An amalgamation of real-life Western icons, the film follows (), (), and () as they are played against one another by the alluring yet deceitful Rio McDonald ().

The reason for The Outlaw’s success and longevity isn’t the film itself but rather the talent involved in it and the controversy it sparked. In addition to being just the second and last film officially directed by , it also established Jane Russell as a Hollywood star and sex symbol. As such, it is an , and while it may still be rewarding in this regard, its tonal imbalance and its complete lack of urgency or tension will be noticeable.

is such an icon of Western cinema that even some of his less impressive movies stand as essential viewing experiences for all genre lovers; is a prime example. The 1960 historical Western war film dramatizes the famous battle in which a small force of Texans defended the titular fortress from the invading Mexican army. Despite being hopelessly outnumbered, the Texans thrive under the command of Colonels (Wayne), (), and ().

Interestingly, Wayne had no desire to appear in the film but could only secure funding if he agreed to star in it in addition to directing it. This decision ultimately saw the movie suffer, as one of its major criticisms was that. To add insult to injury, the decision didn’t even pay off in a commercial sense, with Wayne himself losing money on The Alamo’s box office performance. However, given how integral John Wayne is both as the major star and the creative force behind it, The Alamo is a must-see picture for all lovers of American Westerns.

After establishing his career in the American television series through the '50s and early '60s, became an international star in the mid-'60s through his work with in the genre-defining movies of the Dollars’ Trilogy. In the years following his breakout, Eastwood appeared in such gritty classics as and before changing things up completely by starring in , a Western musical comedy that also featured the talents of and .

Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, it focuses on the love triangle that blooms between two prospectors who stake a claim in California and the wife of a polyamorous Mormon whose desire to sell one of his wives leads to a bidding war. It was received initially as being a limp and uninspired adaptation that played it too safe, with its source material. While this remains true over 50 years on, Paint You Wagon does remain an essential watch for Westerns fans, if only for it being .

A retrospective classic by virtue of the fact that it stars Marlon Brando — whose career lean streak through the 1960s has been all but forgotten today — The Appaloosa is required viewing for Western lovers, but it is still a hard watch. Based on Robert MacLeod’s novel of the same name, the film follows a man with aspirations of starting a horse breeding farm as he tracks down the Mexican bandit who stole his prized stallion. Venturing into Mexico, he crosses paths with a rowdy gang of crooks and falls in love with the girlfriend of the outlaw who stole his horse.

The film was largely dismissed upon release by critics and audiences alike and only began to rise to prominence again in later decades as Brando’s career underwent a monumental revival off the back of The Godfather. While it does have some intriguing elements, such as its cinematography and Brando’s performance, The Appaloosa is ultimately a bad movie that was fortunate enough to become a resurgent must-see Western for reasons far beyond what it offered.

NEXT: The 50 Best Westerns of All Time, Ranked