Forgotten Harrison Ford Western rides into Netflix top 10

Leon Miller
Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig in Cowboys & Aliens

A largely overlooked 2010s Western starring Hollywood legend Harrison Ford just cracked Netflix’s Top 10 most-watched movies chart.

Ford is best known for his roles in iconic franchises such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner. He’s also set to make his MCU debut in 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World.

Ford’s filmography isn’t limited to blockbuster fare, though. He’s also starred in everything from romantic dramas, such as Sabrina, to thrillers, such as Witness. His performance in the latter landed him his only Academy Award nomination to date.

Ford is no stranger to the small screen, either. He currently stars in Apple TV+ comedy-drama Shrinking, as well as Paramount+ Yellowstone prequel 1923.

Forgotten Harrison Ford Western rides into Netflix top 10

1923 isn’t Ford’s first foray into the Western genre, as he previously saddled up for four big-screen Westerns. The most recent of these was 2011’s Cowboys & Aliens – a box office flop that’s rarely talked about today.

Or at least, that was the case, before the Jon Favreau-directed, Daniel Craig-headlined graphic novel adaptation charted as one of Netflix’s Top 10 most-watched movies in the US. Given this surprising viewership spike, don’t rule out a whole new discourse forming around Cowboys & Aliens.

For his part, Ford is quick to defend Cowboys & Aliens. The A-list actor told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that the movie, and other poorly received productions like it, were “all entered with the best of intentions.”

The rest of the Netflix Top 10 chart breaks down as follows:

  1. The Legend of Tarzan
  2. The Hill
  3. Queenpins
  4. Lift
  5. Escape Plan: The Extractors
  6. Dumb Money
  7. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
  8. Queen Bees
  9. Cowboys & Aliens
  10. The Kitchen

Netflix reignites Tarzan movie controversy

The Legend of Tarzan maintaining its grip on the number one slot is also notable. While the 2016 film largely vanished from the pop culture consciousness after its debut, it briefly sparked controversy over its White Savior narrative and portrayal of its Congolese characters.

Predictably, these criticisms resurfaced on social media after The Legend of Tarzan swung to the top of the Netflix chart. One viewer even declared the movie made them “so mad I cried.” That said, others expressed appreciation for the flick, including Alexander Skarsgård’s lead performance.

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About The Author

Leon is a freelance Movies and TV writer at Dexerto. His past writing credits include articles for Polygon, Popverse, The Escapist, Screen Rant, CBR, Cultured Vultures, PanelxPanel, Taste of Cinema, and more. Originally from Australia, Leon is currently based in the UK.