1958 Classic, Named Among Gregory Peck's Best Westerns, Is Still Beloved by Fans
John Wayne and Clint Eastwood dominated the genre, but several acting legends dipped their toes in the respective waters of the Western.
Among them was Gregory Peck, who is most well-known for his role as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. However, Peck filmed a number of Westerns including The Gunfighter, which was initially billed for John Wayne.
One of his other Westerns, though, sits near the top of the leaderboard as his best Westerns.
'The Big Country' Named One of Gregory Peck's Best Westerns
ScreenRant rankedThe Big Country as the second-best Western of his career.
"The best epic films tell a grand story but keep the drama on a personal scale, and The Big Country is one western that does that excellently. Gregory Peck plays a retired sea captain who finds himself in the middle of a bitter feud over water on the plains of the American West," it said.
"Peck's McKay is the ultimate western hero who is pushed too far. The Big Country features beautiful color photography that accentuates the interpersonal drama that drives the plot. Romantic and opulent, it's one of the crown jewels of Hollywood's Golden Age. The only blemish on its record is that it lacks the same complexity as Peck's best western."
Fans Still Love 'The Big Country'
The film sits with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and a rare 91% rating from fans, with more than 5,000 reviews under its belt.
"Western epic that remains one of the best ever produced, thanks to a top notch cast and superb direction. The actors are excellent across the board, with Gregory Peck giving his usual superb leading performance as James McKay, a quietly strong man who looks to avoid a fight but is quite able to finish one," one fan said.
Released nearly 70 years ago, the film still has its fans.
Related: 1953 Western Classic Among John Wayne's Best - But He Was The Second Choice
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published July 18, 2026 at 8:37 PM.