Perhaps more synonymous with the genre than any actor who ever lived, John Wayne appeared in over 80 Westerns during his decorated Hollywood career. But believe it or not, despite giving splendid performances in such great movies as The Searchers, Red River, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Rio Bravo, and more, Wayne only received a single Oscar nomination for one of his performances in a Western. Not only did The Duke walk away with the Academy Award, but the movie still retains its potency almost 60 years later.
Directed by Henry Hathaway, Wayne gives a truly iconic performance as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit, a boozy U.S. Marshal tasked with helping a young girl avenge her father’s killer. Remade by the Coen Brothers in 2010 with Jeff Bridges, True Grit also inspired a big-screen sequel starring John Wayne and a small-screen sequel starring Warren Oates. With early standout performances by Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper as well, the original True Grit is a must-see for Wayne fans and Western aficionados alike.
John Wayne Gives a Career-Capping Turn in ‘True Grit’
Based on Charles Portis’ 1968 novel, True Grit was released by Paramount in 1969 to great critical and commercial success. John Wayne gives arguably his best and most famous performance as Rooster Cogburn, a lazy, hazy, laconic U.S. Marshal whose alcoholism has taken a toll on his health in 1880s Arkansas. Sporting an iconic eyepatch, the gruff, one-eyed Marshal reluctantly accepts an offer from the sassy young Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) to find her father’s murderer, outlaw Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey), in Indian Territory.
Along the way, Cogburn teams with Texas Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) and escorts Mattie through a vicious gang of outlaws led by Lucky Ned Pepper (Robert Duvall). Although much of the movie’s entertainment value derives from the droll interplay between Cogburn and Mattie and the enthralling, bullet-laced showdowns with Wayne leading the way, it’s the thematic weight that gives True Grit its timeless longevity. Despite bickering during their journey into enemy territory, Cogburn becomes a protective surrogate father figure to Mattie, with the movie underscoring the importance of extended family, companionship, and camaraderie.
Moreover, the title True Grit speaks to Mattie’s personal resilience, perseverance, and undying determination to fulfill her vengeful mission, exuding an indomitable spirit that goes a long way toward her growth and redemption. Although Kim Darby earned a BAFTA nod for Most Promising Newcomer, True Grit is also remembered fondly for John Wayne’s only Academy Award-winning performance, a commandingly assured showcase that capped a legendary screen career.
‘True Grit’s Success Spawned Two Sequels & A Great Remake
Between True Grit‘s high critical acclaim (87% on Rotten Tomatoes), box office triumphs ($31 million), and Wayne’s powerful performance, the movie’s success spawned a pair of sequels and perhaps an even better remake. Wayne reprised his iconic role in the 1975 follow-up, Rooster Cogburn, which finds the one-eyed Marshal out to regain his suspended badge by escorting a gang of bank robbers who’ve lifted a shipment of nitroglycerin. While not quite as successful as the original, Wayne’s chemistry with Katharine Hepburn, who plays his vengeful sidekick, earned high acclaim.
Rooster Cogburn gave way to a TV sequel titled True Grit: A Further Adventure, starring the underrated Warren Oates as Cogburn, aired on ABC in May 1978. A testament to Portis’s timeless tale, Joel and Ethan Coen adapted the novel and leaned into the florid dialogue in the superb 2010 remake of True Grit, which earned 10 Oscar nominations, including Hailee Steinfeld’s scene-stealing feature debut. Jeff Bridges gives a hysterically wobbly, irascible performance as Cogburn, paying homage to Wayne’s version while making the character distinctly his own.
While both big-screen versions hold up well in 2026, part of the 1969 adaptation’s lasting legacy is bridging the chasm between traditional heroic westerns and grittier, more modern-day anti-heroic examples. As the sun began to set on Wayne’s trademark style of storytelling, the genre gave way to more progressive, subversive, contemporary westerns like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Wild Bunch, and more. Without True Grit playing its part, who knows how westerns would have evolved in its absence.
