How the West Was Won
It's here! The mightiest adventure ever filmed!
1962 • 164 min • Western
Synopsis
The epic tale of the development of the American West from the 1830s through the Civil War to the end of the century, as seen through the eyes of one pioneer family.
Our family guide
Best from age 9- 100 Reviewers · 3 · 53%
- 70 Audience · 502 · 47%
This sweeping historical epic follows a pioneer family across several generations as they journey west, encountering the challenges and triumphs of settling the American frontier. It showcases key historical moments from the 1830s through the Civil War and beyond, exploring the vast changes that shaped the United States.
- Violence & peril
- 3/10
- Language
- 1/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 1/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 1/10
- Scary moments
- 2/10
Heads up
- Historical depictions of Native Americans may reflect outdated stereotypes.
- Some intense moments during battles and confrontations.
- Occasional mild peril, like river rapids and animal encounters.
What it models well
- Perseverance and resilience
- Family bonds and legacy
- Courage in the face of adversity
- Historical understanding
Talk about it after
- The complexities of westward expansion and its impact on native peoples.
- How different characters adapt to significant historical changes.
- The importance of courage and resourcefulness during challenging times.
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for How the West Was Won. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Free
- Fawesome
FawesomeRent
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
- Spectrum On Demand
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On DemandBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall • Crew: John Gay, James R. Webb
Trailers & clips
CINERAMA AT HOME
Wagon Train Attack
Brian Trenchard-Smith on HOW THE WEST WAS WON
How The West Was Won - Trailer
Reviewer notes
RecommendedIt's almost impossible to imagine how anyone could have amassed such a complete complement of Hollywood A-listers (both in front of, and behind, the camera) to make this epic tale of the pioneering American spirit in the 19th century. From the opening bars of Alfred Newman's score, you can rest assured that we are in for something grand - and, cinematographically speaking, we certainly are. The story is essentiall...
Recommended_**Unique, entertaining all-star Western epic comprised of vignettes is a mixed bag**_ Released in 1962-63 and written by James Webb, "How the West was Won" is an epic Hollywood Western covering fifty years between 1839-1889 focusing on the Prescott family's move West and narrated by Spencer Tracy. This is a history lesson amped up with melodrama, romance, adventure, violence and song & dance. The film was d...
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersBound for the promised land, indeed. One of the last great epic movies to come out of MGM that was a roaring success, How the West Was Won still has enough quality about it to warrant high praise. The story that drives the film on was suggested by the series of the same name that featured in "Life" magazine 1959. Narrative is formed around one family, the Prescott's, who set out on a journey West in 1839. They ...
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.0/10 (502)
- Age rating
- G
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $15,000,000
- Box office
- $76,729
- IMDb
- tt0056085
- Official site
- www.warnerbros.com
