Best Movies About Native Americans

From Kevin Costner, starring Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant
Rated PG-13

Dances with Wolves is a 1990 American epic Western film directed by, produced by, and starring Kevin Costner. The film is set in 1863, after the American Civil War, and follows a Union Army lieutenant who travels to the American frontier to find a new life. While there, he befriends a tribe of Sioux Indians and falls in love with one of the tribe's women. He learns the tribe's customs and traditions and eventually earns the trust and respect of the tribe, earning himself the name "Dances with Wolves". The film follows his journey of self-discovery while also dealing with the issue of the displacement of Native Americans by white settlers. The film was a huge critical and commercial success, winning seven Academy Awards including Best Picture.

From Michael Mann, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig
Rated R

The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 American epic historical drama film set in 1757 during the French and Indian War. The film follows two distant cousins, Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Uncas (Eric Schweig), two Mohicans, who become unlikely allies as they help Cora (Madeleine Stowe) and her sister Alice, (Jodhi May) evade the pursuing Huron and British troops. Led by their father, Chingachgook (Russell Means), they embark on a dangerous journey through the wilderness of North America, all while trying to stay ahead of the enemy forces. Along the way, they converse with members of other Native American tribes, experience the beauty of nature, and fight in the battle of Fort William Henry. With the help of Hawkeye's wit and cunning, the unlikely group ultimately prevails.

From Arthur Penn, starring Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Chief Dan George, Martin Balsam
Rated PG-13

Little Big Man is a 1970 American western comedy-drama film directed by Arthur Penn and starring Dustin Hoffman. The film is about the life of Jack Crabb, a 121-year-old man (based on the actual life of Thomas "Old Tom" Hickey). The story centers around Jack's life spanning three generations of his family, the Cheyenne tribe he was adopted into, the Battle of the Little Big Horn and the changes brought to the American West by white expansion and encroachment. Jack is taken in by the Cheyenne after his parents are killed by a rival tribe, and is raised as an adopted son of the tribe's chief, Old Lodge Skins. After years of living with the Cheyenne, Jack is captured by the U.S. Calvary and taken to a white settlement. Jack is then used as a go between for the U.S. military and the Cheyenne Chief, and is asked to help broker a peace between the two sides. Through it all, Jack learns about the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit.

From Chris Eyre, starring Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Bedard, Gary Farmer
Rated PG-13

From Chris Eyre, starring Eric Schweig, Graham Greene, Gary Farmer, Noah Watts
Rated R

From Michael Apted, starring Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard, Graham Greene, Fred Ward
Rated R

From Walter Hill, starring Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Wes Studi
Rated PG-13

From Ron Howard, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Cate Blanchett, Evan Rachel Wood, Jenna Boyd
Rated R

From John Woo, starring Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Peter Stormare, Noah Emmerich
Rated R