John Wayne’s Classic 55-Year-Old Western That Ended A 21-Year Career Trend Is Now An American Streaming Hit

One of John Wayne‘s final films is now saddled up for success again.

Wayne’s name was once synonymous with the American Western, a huge contributor to the success of the genre. He was the original star of True Grit, a 1969 film that is now identified as a genre classic. Other Wayne classics include The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance, The Alamo, and The Searchers.

Now, one of Wayne’s late career movies, Big Jake, is finding success once again. As of Friday, April 3, the movie is at no. 8 in the United States on Paramount +. It ranks behind more recent hits such as two SpongeBob movies, Primate, and Top Gun: Maverick.

Big Jake was notable in Wayne’s career in that it was his last movie with actress Maureen O’Hara. The pair had first appeared together in 1950 in the film Rio Grande. They went on to make other films together throughout the next two decades, marking one of Wayne’s more notable collaborations.

Said final collaboration was co-directed by George Sherman and Wayne himself. Wayne and O’Hara play estranged spouses Jacob and Martha McCandles in the film, whose plot focuses on the kidnapping of Jacob’s grandson by John Fain.

The film was not the smash hit of some other Wayne movies. It made an estimated $4.8 million at the box office, and did not receive the Oscar fanfare of some of the actor’s other films.

Still, it was significant in ending the on-screen partnership between these two major actors. It was O’Hara’s final Western, and she would go on to largely retire after its release. This would bring an over three-decade-long career to its conclusion.

Big Jake was also situated within Wayne’s final decade of film appearances. The actor would go on to make a few more films, including The Cowboys the following year, Brannigan and Rooster Cogburn in 1975, and The Shootist in 1976.

The latter would become his final appearance before his death in 1979 at the age of 72. So, even if not his finest work, Big Jake represents the final era of a beloved star who truly defined the genre in which he made films.

Big Jake‘s decades-delayed streaming success could come for a couple of reasons. One is that 2026 marks the movie’s 55th anniversary year. Secondly, the American Western is gaining popularity once again. Those interested in TV shows like Yellowstone or Dark Winds may be looking to get back to the genre’s roots.