15 Movies Like No Country For Old Men That You Certainly Must Watch!

Feeling like going retro? 15 Movies Like No Country For Old Men is sure to satiate your thirst for age-old drama. There’s a case for saying that Joel and Ethan Coen are not only the most consistently excellent filmmakers of the last several decades but also rank among the finest filmmakers of all time, transcending any generational comparisons. 

The Coen brothers have developed innumerable unique characters, revived old forms, innovated with orchestral choices, and developed prose that is still referenced by film buffs over the course of their 18 films.

15 Surefire Movies Like No Country For Old Men | Watch It Or Regret Later!

One cannot really point out the director’s best work, but certainly, this movie was one of the greatest works of all time. The movie and the characters revolve around a deal (a drug deal) that actually doesn’t pan out the way the dealers would have wanted it to, After this follows the incidents we are afraid of – absconding, ransom, and whatnot. The movie has it all.

We have picked out literal gems which you will definitely like if you liked No Country For Old Men.

#1 The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

The Coens have such a distinct filmmaking approach that they can even reimagine the works of other great filmmakers. The 1968 western True Grit (2010), directed by Henry Hathaway and featuring John Wayne in one of his greatest roles in one of the great American westerns, but the Coen brothers’ 2010 remake, starring Jeff Bridges, is an even better interpretation of the same plot. 

The Coens also remade The Ladykillers (2004), a great British comedy from 1955, with Tom Hanks taking up the character that Sir Alec Guinness had made famous; it’s not often regarded as a high point in their careers, but it demonstrated their willingness to put a new twist on renowned original material.

However, working in the spirit of Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense, was an onerous challenge even for the Coens. Hitchcock homages seldom work, and some, like Gus Van Sant’s 1998 version of Psycho, are still derided today. Thankfully, the Coen brothers’ 2001 techno movie The Man Who Wasn’t There provided a fantastic fresh twist on Hitchcock’s noir themes. While not explicitly based on any of Hitchcock’s films, the Coens’ black-and-white Old Hollywood homage echoed his stories of men in over their heads.

• Director – Joel Coen
• Run Time – 1h 56mins
• IMDb Rating – 7.5/10
• Genre – Crime, drama

#2 The Counselor (2013)

The distinctive inspiration of novelist Cormac McCarthy is among the causes No Country for Old Men stands out in the Coens’ filmography. McCarthy is a superb writer who creates harsh, isolated tales about the hazards of humankind, and his dark novels have spawned a slew of excellent cinema adaptations. 

Some of McCarthy’s most renowned writings were adapted into films such as John Hillcoat’s The Road etc. With The Counselor, about which McCarthy penned his first spec film in 2013, Ridley Scott takes on an intriguing task, and the strange crime circle continues to split admirers of both the writer and Scott.

The Counselor, just like No Country for Old Men, is an ensemble epic about the aftermath of a brutal crime and how it impacts a group of morally ambiguous characters. Michael Fassbender plays The Counselor, a dishonest lawyer who utilizes his participation in an illegal drug ring near the Mexican frontier to buy pricey luxury items for his love Laura (Penelope Cruz), whom he plans to marry soon. 

The Counselor buys rare antiques from an exotic trader named Reiner (Javier Bardem), who enjoys pushing Laura to her limits with his girlfriend Malkina (Cameron Diaz). However, the Counselor’s obviously bright future is jeopardized when he talks with his business associate Westray (Brad Pitt), who warns him that one of their deals has gone awry, and they’ve all become victims.

• Director – Ridley Scott
• Run Time – 1h 57mins
• IMDb Rating – 5.4/10
• Genre – Crime, drama, thriller

#3 There Will Be Blood (2007)

Just like No Country for Old Men, this movie is a character study that explores the aspects of greed and ambition in humans and shows the darker side of the American dream. There Will Be Blood is made by Paul Thomas Anderson, who is known for his camerawork, gutsy filmmaking, and emphasis on dialogues.

With his Oscar-nominated masterpiece, There Will Be Blood, Anderson made his mark in the film industry and became Hollywood’s one of the most elite filmmakers. The movie portrays the introduction of capitalism and the transition of the country to the great depression due to the impact of oil. The world belongs to Daniel now that he has control over the blood of the land, and Americans will worship wealth and power more than spiritual healing. This is clearly indicated by the words ”I am the third revelation” by Daniel Plainview in the movie.

There Will Be Blood tells a story about Danie Plainview, a silver miner turned oil prospector. He moves to oil-rich California and uses his adopted son to project a family man image in order to win the trust of the people. He then cons local landowners to sell their valuable properties to him for a pittance. A local teacher, Eli, suspects Plainiew’s motives, and it starts a fight over ideologies that threatens their own lives.

• Director – Paul Thomas Anderson
• Run Time – 2h 38m
• IMDb Rating – 8.2/10
• Genre – Epic period drama

#4 The Maltese Falcon (1941)

The novel No Country for Old Men is a wonderful puzzle. Although Anton Chigurh’s actions and link to Llewelyn aren’t instantly obvious, the Coens gradually expose details about the failed drug trade and the motivations of each of the protagonists. Llewelyn keeps much of the information hidden from his spouse, Carla (Kelly McDonald), in order to protect her. 

Llewelyn even comes to the crime scene to repay the stolen money, only to find Chigurh slaughtering all of the participants. Other significant instances of conflict are left to the audience’s mind rather than being seen on screen. After arriving late, Ed is left to puzzle together the clues.

• Director – John Huston
• Run Time – 1h 40mins
• IMDb Rating – 8.0/10
• Genre – Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery

#5 Roshomon (1950)

No Country for Old Men is a sophisticated film that sensitively depicts the diverse worldviews of the three major characters. The audience understands all the mystery by evaluating the facts that each character is subjected to, Ed, Anton, and Llewelyn all have distinct perspectives on the major crime. 

Ed is only interested in protecting people from future attacks, and he has no personal stake in the bounty being recovered. Llewelyn isn’t naturally greedy, but he recognizes that the stolen funds could help him and Carla live a better life. Anton is unreadable; he displays almost no emotions aside from occasionally relishing in his own heinous deeds.

With his 1950 film Rashomon, famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa perfected the ensemble crime epic. The murder of a samurai warrior appears to be a simple case, but Kurosowa reveals a more complicated knowledge of the situation by unraveling it from the perspectives of four separate people. 

Tajmaru (Toshiro Mifune), a devious robber, claims that he was able to dupe the great warrior into heroic combat for his wife’s honor. The samurai’s spouse (Machiko Ky) alleges, on the other hand, that both men treated her badly and grew to loathe her.

• Director – Akira Kurosawa
• Run Time – 1h 28m
• IMDb Rating – 8.2/10
• Genre – Crime, rape, drama

#6 Mean Streets (1973)

No Country for Old Men is a film that shows no mercy. In their brutal criminal epic, the Coens make no attempt to sanitize anything, and the picture is devoid of romantic moments that would detract from the story’s authenticity. 

They’re also not hesitant to break the rules of storytelling, as No Country for Old Men doesn’t have a standard three-act structure. Martin Scorsese has undertaken comparable chances throughout his life, and while his initial stuff in the 1960s indicated the infamous savagery for which he would become renowned, it was 1973’s Mean Streets that cemented Scorsese’s Hollywood reputation.

No Country for Old Men is an unforgiving picture. The Coens made no effort to sanitize anything in their harsh criminal epic, and the film is devoid of tender moments that would distract from the story’s reality. They’re also not afraid to defy storytelling standards, as No Country for Old Men doesn’t follow the traditional three-act format. 

Martin Scorsese has taken similar risks throughout his career, and while his early work in the 1960s hinted at the famed ferocity for which he would become known, Mean Streets in 1973 solidified Scorsese’s Hollywood reputation.

• Director – Martin Scorsese
• Run Time – 1h 52m
• IMDb Rating – 7.2/10
• Genre – Crime, drama, thriller

#7 Badlands (2015-2019)

Movies like No Country for Old Men can help us rethink our attitudes toward outlaw culture by presenting these acts in minute detail. The activities of violent outlaws are frequently idolized and even celebrated in classic Western fiction, with little regard for the victims. 

When these stories are set in the Old West, the audience is given emotional distance, but when they are set in a more familiar setting, the implications of violence become clear. With its stripped-down picture of Anton Chigurh’s deadly quest, No Country for Old Men undoubtedly achieves this.

Badlands, Terrence Malick’s directorial debut from 1973, took a similarly sympathetic approach to violent subjects. The film explores the actions of a Bonnie + Clyde-like team largely based on the real-life killings of adolescents Charles Starkweather. Kit Carruthers is a traveling outlaw who dreams of being the next James Dean.

Kit, infatuated with Holly Sargis, assists her in eluding her controlling father (Warren Oates). The infatuated person goes on a murderous rampage across West Texas, becoming a media superstar in the process. Surprisingly, other young people regard them as superstars and admire their acts. Malick ponders why youngsters are lured to violence and how they can avoid it.

• Director – Alfred Gough, Miles Millar
• Run Time – 42mins
• IMDb Rating – 7.9/10
• Genre – Action, adventure, drama

Other Options To Explore For Movies Like No Country For Old Men

We bring to you other options that you would probably like if you loved No Country For Old Men.

Final Words

We present to you the best options which you can use to make good use of your weekend. We sincerely hope you liked the list. Do get back to us regarding the same in the comment section. Enjoy!!