Page "Western (genre)" Paragraph 53

One of the results of genre studies is that some have argued that " Westerns " need not take place in the American West or even in the 19th century, as the codes can be found in other types of films.

For example, a very typical Western plot is that an eastern lawman heads west, where he matches wits and trades bullets with a gang of outlaws and thugs, and is aided by a local lawman who is well-meaning but largely ineffective until a critical moment when he redeems himself by saving the hero's life.

This description can be used to describe any number of Westerns, but also other films such as Die Hard, Top Gun, and Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai which are frequently cited examples of films that do not take place in the American West but have many themes and characteristics common to Westerns.

Likewise, films set in the American Old West may not necessarily be considered " Westerns.