Director Walter Hill once commented that every film he’d done had been a western, even if it wasn’t set  in the Old West. Many of his works have been critical and commercial successes, while others have become regarded as cult classics with the passage of time. If you’d like to discover a filmmaker who often goes unappreciated, I proudly present the works of Mr. Walter Hill.

Movies Directed by Walter Hill

If you’d like to experience a mixture of movies you’ve heard of and classic cult movies, be sure to give these works of Walter Hill a try:

• Hard Times (1975) – Charles Bronson is a bare-knuckle fighter in Depression-era New Orleans, and James Coburn is his manager and business partner. Includes some great hand-to-hand fights.
• The Driver (1978) – Ryan O’Neil is a no-nonsense getaway driver, and Bruce Dern is the cop on his trail. Obviously a huge influence on The Transporter.
• The Warriors (1979) – When they’re framed for the murder of New York’s most powerful gang leader, a group of Brooklyn hoods must try to navigate the perils of the city and return to the safety of their turf.
• The Long Riders (1980) -  The story of Jesse James and his gang, including the disastrous Minnesota bank robbery that led to their downfall. The film is filled with real-life siblings, including the Quaids, Keeches, Carradines, and Guests. I rank it right up there with A Fistful of Dollars, which is one of the best spaghetti western movies in my opinion.
• Southern Comfort (1981) – A group of undisciplined National Guard soldiers from Louisiana go on weekend maneuvers in the bayou and run afoul of vengeful Cajuns. Starring Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, and Fred Ward.
• 48 Hrs. (1982) – A veteran cop (Nick Nolte) is on the trail of a madman, but he needs the help of a streetwise con (Eddie Murphy) in order to catch him. One of the first examples of the “buddy cop” genre.
• Crossroads (1986) – A young musician (Ralph Macchio) busts a blues legend (Joe Seneca) out of a nursing home and heads down South. What follows is a coming-of-age drama, including a rousing finale that features our hero in a guitar duel with his soul on the line.

While Walter Hill’s success peaked in the 1980s, he’s still alive, well, and making feature films. He’s flown under the radar of many moviegoers over the years, but this is your chance to make up for lost time. On your next visit to Netflix, be sure to fill up your queue with some of these titles.