Premiere of ‘¡No!’ features horses playing a special role from the very first scenes. Eadweard Muybridge’s chronograph, when analyzing the animal’s gallop, once again highlights the horse figure in cinema. Beyond the medieval tournament or the western, a genre rich with films about horses and humans emerges: industriousness, desert centaurs, the courage of the law, and the hateful octagon.
The horse, notoriously difficult to draw — a challenge many comic artists have described as their worst experience with motion drawing — proves ideal for large, square-format filming. Galloping, trotting, walking, or standing still, the noble animal is a star. How many westerns have shown a burly cowboy crying after having to end a horse’s life because of an injury? From that truth, a selection of ten cinematic representations offers awe-inspiring moments, all available on streaming. It hurts to leave out other important titles like El Cid, with the legendary horse Babieca on the Peñíscola beach; National Velvet, which tracks a Grand National race; the animated Spirit, the Indomitable Horse; or rare gems such as Horses and Men, and The Wind and the Lion in Iceland, where El Raisuni (Sean Connery) takes part in an epic beach swordfight at Mónsul in Almería.
Ben Hur (1959)
Neither in the silent version of the same story nor in later productions such as Gladiator has the filming of a magnificent chariot race been surpassed. White and black horses surge into a brutal contest around the Roman circus, dragging Judah Ben-Hur and Messala through the arena. The sequence relies on analog precision and a stark reality: one extra dies during the complex filming of this moment, where the speed of the horses and their spectacular fall resolve a life-or-death conflict. It is accessible on HBO Max and Movistar+.
The Rebel Lives (1961)
John Huston, Arthur Miller, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift — the Misfits tell a broader story, but above all it centers on wild horses. For some, they represent fresh money; for others, a symbol of a longing for freedom. The horse capture scenes carry a grain of truth. Other rodeo and cowboy films, such as The Sultry Men, Junior Bonner, and Chloe Zhao’s The Rider, also loom large, yet none match the resonance of horses as emblems of an unmasterable spirit. The film captures a timeless mood and is available for viewing.
Wild Bunch (1969)
Beyond the twilight images of wounded riders and fugitives shot in slow motion, the horses in Sam Peckinpah’s stark western leave a lasting imprint with shots of steeds and riders breaking through windows. It sits alongside the bank robbery arc as a cinematic landmark. This image has echoed through Braveheart and The True Story of Jesse James. It can be rented on Google Play, Rakuten TV, and Amazon.
The Pride of Our Lineage (1971)
Written by Dalton Trumbo and directed by John Frankenheimer, this striking film features the finest Afghan horseman (Jack Palance) and his son (Omar Sharif). The father gifts a racehorse to his son, who must endure and win Afghanistan’s national sport, buzkashi. The film’s core is the absolute bond between man and horse; the original title is The Horsemen. For audiences, riding is a way of life. It is available to rent on Google Play, Apple TV, and Amazon.
Bit the Bullet (1975)
Richard Brooks’ third and final western, starring Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, and James Coburn, follows a race spanning more than a thousand kilometers filled with obstacles that have spurred nationwide bets. Fatigue tests endurance as straight-line and rugged terrain rides unfold, and Brooks treats the slender, sweat-soaked horses with respect. It is available on film and Plex.
Back to the Future III (1990)
In the third chapter of Michael J. Fox’s time-travel saga, Robert Zemeckis places part of the story in the Wild West. Horses are guaranteed, though not as they appear on screen; Fox’s character drives a chariot. Amid Monument Valley scenery, he encounters a time-traveling machine pulled by horses and then faces a flotilla of cavalry on the horizon. A hint: horses would soon be supplanted by automobiles at the turn of the 20th century. It streams on Prime Video, Fubo TV, and Film.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
In a pivotal sequence, Aragorn and his riders confront hundreds of foes on horseback. Even with heavy digital effects, the image endures: horsemen charging a riven bridge, and Gandalf arriving on his white horse to rally the troops. It is available on Prime Video and HBO Max.
Oceans of Fire (Hidalgo) (2004)
Riding can also be an act of salvation. Hidalgo follows Viggo Mortensen’s legendary horse as a man endures the harsh Arabian desert in a grueling 5,000-kilometer test. The film places Omar Sharif in a guiding role as an Arab sheikh. It streams on Disney+.
War Horse (2011)
The story centers on a farm horse that becomes a cavalry mount during the First World War. Joey appears in Spielberg’s human-centered epic, fighting through trenches and fighting to keep soldiers hopeful. The film presents a rare animal-centric perspective in a major war setting. It can be rented on Apple TV and Rakuten TV.
Japan: Father to Son (2013)
This true story follows Pierre Durand, who leaves a legal career to pursue horse jumping. He competes at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics on Jappeloup, a film that highlights the horse’s anatomy through stylized training and jumping scenes. It is available to watch as a feature.