Cowboys, outlaws, deserts, shanty towns, and gunslinging—these are the quintessential elements of the Western genre in both literature and cinema. For many fans, this genre evokes the era of Spaghetti Westerns, which emerged during the 1960s. Unlike traditional Westerns, these films were often low budget, laden with violence and questionable morals, and technically considered foreign films. As Francesco Dama put it: “A worldwide sensation in the 1960s, the legacy of Spaghetti Westerns can be attributed to one man from Rome: Sergio Leone.”
So, what exactly is a Spaghetti Western, and why is it called such? How did they gain such immense popularity and leave behind an enduring legacy? Dive into this gallery to find out!