Everyone loves a good movie, right?  Here's a question, what makes a good movie, a great movie?

In order to have a great movie, you need a few key ingredients. You need a good story that folks can believe in. You need characters that will invoke emotion, whether those are good emotions or bad, it doesn't matter. Finally, you need a great setting.  The background says a whole lot about a movie and certainly helps keep people's interest during the film.

So, having said all of that, what is the greatest Montana-based movie ever?

First, let's take a look at a few of the best movies that are Montana-based, shall we? It's not a big shocker that some of the biggest movies about Montana are set back in the days of cowboys and the wild west, or in the beauty of the mountains.

Photo by Tony Reid on Unsplash
Photo by Tony Reid on Unsplash
loading...

Some of the biggest Montana-based movies are:

Open Range.  Open Range came out back in 2003 and stars Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall. The movie is based in Montana back in 1882 and revolves around ranching and good guys and bad guys. Throw in a bit of a love story, and you get the idea.

Legends Of The Fall.  Legends Of The Fall came out in 1994 and stars Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt. Interesting fact, while set in Montana, the movie was actually filmed in Alberta and British Columbia.  The movie follows the Ludlow family and their struggles, and boy do they struggle.  The film is based on a father and his three sons.  It is set back in the early 1900s and there is everything you want in a great movie. Drama, Action, and internal strife.

The Horse Whisperer. The Horse Whisperer came out in 1998 and stars Robert Redford and a young Scarlet Johansson. The story follows a young girl and her horse after a tragic accident that left her best friend dead and missing part of her leg. The wife, daughter, and the horse come to Montana where rehabilitation and a new start for everyone begins.

A River Runs Through It. Let me just say this, not only is this my favorite movie about Montana, but it's my favorite movie of all time. A River Runs Through It came out in 1992 and stars Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, and was narrated by Robert Redford. The film follows the Maclean family and is based in Missoula, although a majority of the filming took place in Livingston. The story revolves around two brothers who are completely opposite other than their love of fly fishing. The story is tragic, yet beautiful at the same time and is one of those movies, at least for me, that I can watch over and over again.

Photo by Nick Gardner on Unsplash
Photo by Nick Gardner on Unsplash
loading...

What Montana-based movie is your favorite? What movie do you think needs to be on the list? What is it that you love about it?

Take a vote in our poll below:

CHECK IT OUT: The Best Movie Character Names of the 1980s

How long it takes to binge 'The Office,' 'Game of Thrones,' and 50 other famous TV shows

More From Mix 97.1