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10 Best Horse Movies for Big Time, Big Screen Equestrians

by Natalie Gasper
10 months ago

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movie theater with horse on screen
mm
Written by Natalie Gasper

Our Favorite Horse Flicks

Whether you’re an avid equestrian or know nothing about horses, there’s a horse movie that’s perfect for you. These films have it all, from comedy, drama, and romance to real-life stories of inspiring horses.

Enjoy our round-up of the top ten horse movies in a range of categories, from Animated to Mainstream to Cowboy and True Stories. A few top picks include Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron, Secretariat, and War Horse. Most of these films are available on various streaming devices, while others are available on Netflix. 

at home theater watching a horse movie

Source: Canva

Equine Movies

Here are our picks for the top ten horse movies.

Category Top Pick Release Date IMDb Rating
Best Horse Movie on Netflix Ride Like a Girl 2019 7.0 / 10
Best Animated Horse Movie Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron 2002 7.2 / 10
Best Family Horse Movie The Young Black Stallion 2003 5.4 / 10
Best Racehorse Movie Secretariat 2010 7.2 / 10
Best Mainstream Horse Movie Seabiscuit 2003 7.3 / 10
Best 90’s Horse Movie The Horse Whisperer 1998 6.7 / 10
Best Historical Drama Horse Movie War Horse 2011 7.2 / 10
Best Horse Movie Based on a True Story Dreamer 2005 6.8 / 10
Best Western Horse Movie Hidalgo 2004 6.7 / 10
Best Horse Comedy The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit 1968 6.2 / 10

Best Horse Movie on Netflix

Ride Like a Girl

This movie is based on the true story of female jockey Michelle Payne, the first to win the Melbourne Cup. Watch this Australian rider defeat incredible odds in this 1 hr 38 minute film.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You like watching movies about horse racing
  • Inspirational dramas are your thing
  • You want to watch a movie about overcoming the odds

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • Biographical films aren’t your favorite

Watch it on: Vudu, Google Play, Amazon, iTunes

Best Animated Horse Movie

Spirit Stallion of the Cimmaron

This classic film follows the adventures of wild stallion Spirit, who is captured by humans, as he fights for his freedom (and falls in love).

You’ll Love It If:

  • You’re a fan of Bryan Adams songs
  • You’re interested in films about wild horses
  • You enjoy inspirational dramas

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • Animated movies aren’t your thing

Watch it on: Netflix, Amazon Prime

Best Family Horse Movie

The Young Black Stallion

Prequel to The Black Stallion, this movie is about Neera, a young girl who gets lost in the desert, and Shetan, the young black stallion that befriends her.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You like films about wild horses
  • You’re looking for strong characters
  • Who doesn’t like to look at beautiful landscapes?!

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • This one is short–only 50 minutes

Watch it on: Vudu, Disney+, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play

Best Racehorse Movie

Secretariat

Enjoy top-notch performances from actors like Diane Lane and John Malkovich in this movie, based on the real-life story of Secretariat.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You like movies about horse racing
  • You enjoy stories about overcoming the odds
  • You relish a feel-good feature film

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • Biographical films aren’t you’re favorite

Watch it on: Disney+, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon

Best Mainstream Horse Movie

Seabiscuit

Based on a true story, Seabiscuit is about one of the greatest underdogs in racing history. Featuring top actors like Tobey Maguire, this film highlights how Depression-era Americans gained inspiration from a rag-tag team rallying for success.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You like movies about horse racing
  • You want to watch an underdog become a champion
  • You enjoy movies based on a book (and real life!)

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • You’re OK with some creative liberties at the expense of historical facts

Watch it on: Pluto, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

Best 90’s Horse Movie

The Horse Whisperer

This instant classic was inspired by Dan “Buck” Brannaman, a real-life horse whisperer.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You’re a fan of Robert Redford and Scarlett Johansson
  • You want to watch a movie about cowboys
  • You enjoy movies heavy on emotional drama

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • You’re not looking for a long time commitment–this one is almost 3 hours!

Watch it on: Vudu, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon

Best Historical Drama Horse Movie

War Horse

An all-star cast tells the moving story of horses during World War I. Albert and horse Joey are separated, but Albert searches French battlefields to find his equine friend and bring him home.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You like watching wartime movies
  • You’re looking for a heartwarming story
  • You’re inspired by great visuals

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • You don’t want a highly emotional film (tissues required for this one!)

Watch it on: Google Play, Amazon, Vudu

Best Horse Movie Based on a True Story

Dreamer

Starring powerhouses Kurt Russel, Kris Kristofferson, and Dakota Fanning, this movie tells the unbelievable tale of a horse who broke her leg and raced again. Based on a true story, this movie tells an incredible story of the power of family, faith, and determination.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You like films about horse racing
  • You want to watch a movie about defying the odds
  • You’re looking for a family-friendly film

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • Movies based on a true story aren’t your thing

Watch it on: Google Play, iTunes, Vudu, Amazon

Best Western Horse Movie

Hidalgo

This film is based on the true-life adventures of Frank Hopkins and his mustang Hidalgo as they partake in a 3,000-mile desert race.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You love anything about mustangs
  • You want to watch a film about desert races
  • You’re looking for a heartwarming story

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • You don’t have some time to invest–this one is a bit long at 2 hours 16 minutes

Watch it on: Vudu, Google Play, Amazon, iTunes

Best Horse Comedy

The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit

This comedy, based on the book The Year of the Horse, is about a struggling businessman who attempts to use a horse to appease both his daughter and his boss.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You like a fast-paced plot
  • You’re looking for a feel-good film
  • A little romance is your thing

You Might Want to Skip It If:

You don’t love old-fashioned films (in both humor and film style)

Watch it on: You can purchase the DVD on Amazon

movie tickets in popcorn with dark background

Source: Canva

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are there any horse movies on Netflix?

There are lots of horsey movies on Netflix, including Rock My Heart, The Mustang, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and Walk. Ride. Rodeo.

Q: What is the biggest horse movie?

Black Beauty is one of the most well-known horse movies. If you’re talking about movies with the most horses, Lord of the Rings used over 250 horses for the epic battle scenes. Seabiscuit was king of the box office, raking in nearly $150 million worldwide.

Q: What was the early 90’s horse movie?

While several horse films came out in the 90s, the most memorable was The Horse Whisperer, directed by and starring Robert Redford.

Q: What is the classic horse girl movie?

There are too many classic horse girl movies to name, but a few favorites include National Velvet, Black Beauty, and Flicka.

Q: What is the horse girl movie?

Horse Girl came out in 2020 on Netflix. It’s a psychological thriller about an awkward woman who likes crafts and horses. Despite the title, the central theme of this movie really isn’t all that horse-related. IMDb rated it 6 / 10.

Q: What is the best horse movie for kids?

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is an excellent choice for kids.

Q: What are some famous horse movies?

A few famous titles include Dreamer, Secretariat, War Horse, Seabiscuit, and The Black Stallion.

Q: What are some new horse movies?

Heart of a Champion (2023), Hearts & Horses (2023), and Centurion: The Dancing Stallion (2023) are all recent releases.

Q: What are the best family horse movies?

For family movie night, you can’t go wrong with Flicka, Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, Dreamer, or National Velvet.

Q: What are the best Disney horse movies?

Some Disney horse options include Secretariat, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and Black Beauty.

Q: Where can you watch free horse movies?

At your local library! Libraries have lots of great horse movies available to check out.

view from the ground looking up as racehorses run over the camera

Source: Canva

Parting Thoughts

With so many great horse movies out there, we think it’s time you planned a weekend binge!

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About the author

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With a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Central Florida and an editing certificate from the University of Washington, my decade-long writing journey has been a kaleidoscope of diverse experiences. I've had the privilege of contributing to a spectrum of platforms, including newspapers, print and online magazines, literary journals, and individual clients on subjects spanning from horse care, gardening, motorcycles, to exploring East Asia.

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