Rio Bravo

Rio Bravo has built a devoted audience in Australia on HBO Max, and in the US on Fawesome among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 1,274 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for John Wayne — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Start it on HBO Max whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Rio Bravo is worth clearing space for. Rio Bravo takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy. John Wayne and Dean Martin lead a cast doing genuinely serious work here. It was released in 1959. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Rio Bravo. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. John Wayne is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.