published on April 16, 2024 in blog

20 Best Country Movies - Classic Films About Country Living

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Steel Magnolias

Credit: Amazon

"Drink your juice, Shelby!" True friendship, a tiny Southern town, and an all-star cast (including Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, and Julia Roberts) are just a few reasons why this country movie has always been one of our favorites.

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O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Credit: Amazon

The Coen Brothers' 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? stars George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, and takes place during the Great Depression in rural Mississippi. Pro tip: Download the award-winning soundtrack too.

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Fried Green Tomatoes

Credit: Amazon

The recipient of not one but two Oscar nominations, Fried Green Tomatoes tells the parallel stories of two female friendships and stars Kathy Bates and Mary-Louise Parker.

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Crazy Heart

Credit: Amazon

This Oscar-winning country movie's unforgettable performances (and songs!) make this a must-see.

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Old Yeller

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A Texas family takes in a yellow Labrador mix and quickly falls in love. We have a feeling you will too.

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Coal Miner's Daughter

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Sissy Spacek won an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in this 1980 biopic. The film borrows its title from one of the country legend’s best-known songs, and charts her journey from rural Kentucky to stardom.

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Sweet Home Alabama

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Big city meets little town in this now-classic country movie, in which Reese Witherspoon's character heads home to rural Alabama to figure out a few things with her estranged husband.

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Nashville

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Not to be confused with the TV show of the same name, Robert Altman’s 1975 film Nashville features a mind-boggling 24 main characters and tons of weaving storylines. The tagline for this Oscar winner sums it up quite nicely: "The damndest thing you ever saw."

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Smokey and the Bandit

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A trucker is hired to transport beer across state lines, but his plans might be foiled if the sheriff has anything to do with it.

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Walk the Line

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Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon star as our favorite crooning couple, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, in this love story for the ages.

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Footloose

Credit: Amazon

It's hard to imagine what life would be like without rock music and dancing. But that's the reality for Kevin Bacon's character in the 1984 country film Footloose after he moves from Chicago to a small town.

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The Rider

Credit: Amazon

The Rider, filmed in the badlands of South Dakota, follows a young cowboy who grapples with the meaning of his existence after a near-fatal head injury.

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Country Strong

Credit: Amazon

This 2010 country movie tells the story of a country singer (Gwyneth Paltrow) whose star has begun to fade, and the up-and-coming songwriter for whom she develops feelings (Garrett Hedlund)—despite being married to her husband (Tim McGraw).

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Sweet Dreams

Credit: Amazon

Sweet Dreams gives us a glimpse into the all-too-short life of Patsy Cline, who tragically passed away at age 30.

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Forrest Gump

Credit: Amazon

This unforgettable classic country movie first taught us that life is like a box of chocolates ("You never know what you're going to get!") and won a whopping six Oscars, including the coveted Best Picture. Tom Hanks' performance is brilliant.

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The Thing Called Love

Credit: Amazon

It doesn't get much more country-classic than a movie about a group of songwriters (including one played by Sandra Bullock) trying to make it in Nashville.

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To Kill a Mockingbird

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Based on the eponymous 1960 novel, the powerful, moving film To Kill a Mockingbird was nominated for eight Oscars and won three.

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Urban Cowboy

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This 1980 film stars John Travolta and showcases the best of country music (including real honky tonk).

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Waitress

Credit: Amazon

This 2007 indie country movie may be best known these days because of its more recent Tony-nominated musical adaptation. But we still think the Keri Russell version is a must-watch.

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Pure Country

Credit: Amazon

More than just George Strait's acting debut, this country soundtrack also remains the country singer's best-selling album to this day.

Carson Blackwelder is a New York City-based writer and editor who covers all things entertainment and pop culture — be it films, TV, music, books, or video games. This North Carolina native loves all things Marvel, can always be found jamming out to Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift, and is powered by iced coffee (yes, all year long).

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