12 Movies Like Heartland You Need to Watch
Find 12 heartfelt picks with ranch drama, horses, family bonds, western charm, and romance, from Heartland to Yellowstone, Flicka, and more.
If you’re searching for movies like Heartland, you’re probably after stories with wide-open landscapes, close-knit relationships, and a mix of grit and warmth. This roundup brings together drama, family, western, adventure, and romance picks that share that same heartfelt spirit, from Heartland (2007) and Flicka (2006) to Drovers' Gold (1997) and My Best Friend (2016). You’ll also find TV favorites such as Yellowstone (2018), McLeod's Daughters (2001), The Ranch (2016), and the newer Dutton Ranch (2026), all of which tap into ranch life, loyalty, and emotional stakes. Whether you want horses, rural family drama, or a story with a little romance and adventure, these titles make an easy next watch.
-
01
Yellowstone
drama · western
Follow the violent world of the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Led by their patriarch John Dutton, the family defends their property against constant attack by land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park.
Directed by Stephen Kay, Taylor Sheridan, Christina Alexandra Voros, Guy Ferland, John DahlCast Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole HauserPeacock Premium -
02
Flicka
adventure · drama · family
Katy McLaughlin desires to work on her family's mountainside horse ranch, although her father insists she finish boarding school. Katy finds a mustang in the hills near her ranch. The headstrong 16 year old then sets her mind to tame a mustang and prove to her father she can run the ranch. But when tragedy happens, it will take all the love and strength the family can muster to restore hope.
Directed by Michael MayerCast Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Alison Lohman, Ryan Kwanten, Danny PinoDisney Plus -
03
McLeod's Daughters
drama · romance
When Jack McLeod passes away, his two daughters inherit Drovers Run, a vast cattle ranch in the Australian outback. Ultimately, Tess and Claire decide to run the ranch together, with their housekeeper, Meg, her teenage daughter, Jodi, and a local girl, Becky. Their lives are hard and the obstacles many, but the rewards are every bit as grand as the wild open land they've inherited.
Directed by Richard Jasek, Arnie Custo, Chris Martin-Jones, Karl Zwicky, Steve JodrellCast Aaron Jeffery, Rachael Carpani, Simmone Mackinnon, Bridie Carter, Myles PollardAmazon Prime VideoHuluPeacock PremiumFreevee -
04
Dutton Ranch
drama · western
Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler fight to survive on their cherished 7,000-acre ranch amid tough times and stiff competition, while ensuring young Carter becomes the man he's supposed to be.
Directed by Christina Alexandra Voros, Phil Abraham, Jessica Lowrey, Greg YaitanesCast Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Finn Little, Juan Pablo Raba, Jai CourtneyParamount Plus -
05
Drovers' Gold
drama
This show is about a couple broken and cheated Welsh families that decide in order to live they need to drive their cattle beasts to London for the best price. Unfortunately, there's the evil landholder that wants to kick everyone out of the valley and see the good families starve and go to workhouses. His conniving treachery enables several issues to arise while the fellas and a few more travellers in their party attempt to persevere. Talk about cattle plague and cholera outbreaks, punishment for driving cattle on a Sunday, and other interesting issues are just a fraction of what six episodes will bring you. Adventure, horses, and a young Ray Stevens without a shirt on.
Directed by Lesley Manning, Tristram PowellCast David Calder, Andrew Howard, Emma Fielding, Ruth Jones, Danny LlewelynFreevee -
06
My Best Friend
family
Kristen feels like the luckiest 13-year-old on the planet - but when her family moves out of town to a ranch, she has to get used to her new rural life. She makes an astonishing new best friend - a talking horse called Stanford.
Directed by Paul Della PelleCast Catherine Bach, Patrick Muldoon, Alexis Rosinsky, Madeline Vail, Spike SpencerStarz -
07
The Ranch
comedy · western
Being a pro athlete didn't pan out for Colt. Now he's helping his dad and brother keep the ranch afloat, and figuring out how he fits into the family.
Directed by David TrainerCast Ashton Kutcher, Sam Elliott, Grady Lee Richmond, Elisha Cuthbert, Debra WingerNetflix -
08
Faraway Downs
adventure · drama · history · romance · war · western
The story of an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley, who inherits a large cattle ranch in Australia after her husband dies. When Australian cattle barons plot to take her land, she joins forces with a cattle drover to protect her ranch.
Directed by Baz LuhrmannCast Shea Adams, Eddie Baroo, Ray Barrett, Tony Barry, Jamal Sydney BednarzHulu -
09
Take
crime · drama · thriller
The lives of two strangers - a struggling mother and a gambling addict - meet in tragedy. Years pass, and they must come to terms with themselves, and one another.
Directed by Charles OliverCast Minnie Driver, Jeremy Renner, Bobby Coleman, Adam Rodriguez, David DenmanAmazon Prime Video -
10
Territory
adventure · drama · western
When the massive Lawson cattle station lacks an heir, Australia's rival factions see a chance to seize control. The land grabs threaten to destroy the declining dynasty.
Directed by Greg McLeanCast Anna Torv, Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor, Sam Corlett, Philippa NortheastNetflix -
11
The Missouri Breaks
drama · western
When vigilante land baron David Braxton hangs one of the best friends of cattle rustler Tom Logan, Logan's gang decides to get even by purchasing a small farm next to Braxton's ranch. From there the rustlers begin stealing horses, using the farm as a front for their operation. Determined to stop the thefts at any cost, Braxton retains the services of eccentric sharpshooter Robert E. Lee Clayton, who begins ruthlessly taking down Logan's gang.
Directed by Arthur PennCast Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid, Kathleen Lloyd, Frederic ForrestAmazon Prime Video -
12
Heartland
drama · western
Widowed Elinor Randall and her young daughter Jerrine arrive in a barren stretch of Wyoming in 1910 after Elinor's application for work as a housekeeper is accepted by Clyde Stewart, a rancher. The work is back-breaking and the isolation is brutal, particularly as winter arrives. Elinor begins to think about homesteading her own property near Stewart's ranch, but Stewart tries to dissuade her with explanations about the killing conditions and poor rewards, especially for a woman with no man to help her ranch. Although their temperaments are different and little affection exists, Elinor and Stewart agree to marry and combine homesteads. What lies ahead is the severest test of all.
Directed by Richard PearceCast Rip Torn, Conchata Ferrell, Barry Primus, Megan Folsom, Lilia SkalaFreevee
Wrapping Up
These picks offer plenty of the same qualities that made Heartland so easy to love: strong characters, horse-country settings, family tension, and moments that feel earned instead of overdone. Some lean harder into western energy, while others bring in romance, adventure, or a gentler family focus, so there’s a little something here for different moods. If you’re building a watchlist, bookmark this page and come back when you want another set of similar recommendations. We update it regularly so it stays useful as new titles arrive and old favorites keep finding new fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Heartland?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
Related Guides
Last updated: September 7, 2026