Native Americans have been part of Hollywood movies for a long time, but they haven’t often had control over the stories as writers, directors, or producers.
However, things are changing now. Indigenous filmmakers have been working independently for years to share their own stories. And recently, there has been a significant increase in movies and TV shows with a strong Indigenous presence both on and off the camera. Many of these talented Native creatives come from or are connected to Oklahoma.
One fantastic TV show, highly praised by critics, follows four Native teenagers living in rural Oklahoma. On a major streaming service, the most popular title ever is a new installment of a film franchise, now featuring an Indigenous heroine.
If you want to learn about the real history and culture of Indigenous communities, we’ve compiled a list of 14 Native American movies and shows that will do just that.
1. Little Big Man (1970)
- Genre: Western/Drama
- Star Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Chief Dan George, Martin Balsam, Richard Mulligan
- Director: Arthur Penn
- Writer: Arthur Penn
- Run time: 2h 19m
- Year of release: 1970
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
In Arthur Penn’s film based on Thomas Berger’s novel, Little Big Man, we follow the life of Jack Crabb, played by Dustin Hoffman. Jack ages from 17 to 121, and his story gives us a new perspective on the Plains Indians. As a white orphan, Jack is raised by the Cheyennes and even marries a Cheyenne woman, but tragically witnesses her murder by Custer’s 7th Cavalry. He then becomes a scout for Custer and witnesses Cheyenne and Sioux revenge at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Through Jack’s eyes, we learn how prejudice can be challenged and reversed. The film sheds light on a different angle of history, showing us how prejudices can be turned on their heads.
2. Billy Jack (1971)
- Genre: Drama/Action
- Star Cast: Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Clark Howat, Victor Izay, Julie Webb
- Director: Tom Laughlin
- Writer: Tom Laughlin
- Run time: 1h 55m
- Year of release: 1971
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10
“Billy Jack” is a movie with a Navajo hero, played by Tom Laughlin, who was also the director and co-writer. He’s an ex-Green Beret and Vietnam vet fighting for the rights of Native Americans. The action scenes, choreographed by the father of Hapkido, attracted young viewers and hippies loved its anti-establishment message. After a re-release in 1973, it became a cult film. The courthouse fight and the line “I’m gonna take this right foot, and I’m gonna whoop you on that side of your face” are iconic moments everyone remembers.
3. Windwalker (1980)
- Genre: Adventure/Drama
- Star Cast: Trevor Howard, Nick Ramus, James Remar
- Director: Kieth Merrill
- Writer: Kieth Merrill
- Run time: 1h 48m
- Year of release: 1980
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.8/10
This is the story of Indians, but not a single cowboy. It follows the life of a Cheyenne warrior named Windwalker (played by Trevor Howard) through flashbacks. In the end, Windwalker, who has passed away, is revived by the Great Spirit for a spiritual journey to a peaceful afterlife. The whole film is spoken in the Cheyenne and Crow languages, with voiceover narration. Though it had a limited release, Windwalker gained popularity through word-of-mouth recommendations. People praised the movie for its beautiful cinematography and its respectful and positive portrayal of Native Americans.
4. Powwow Highway (1989)
- Genre: Drama/Indie film
- Star Cast: Gary Farmer, A Martinez, Joanelle Romero, Amanda Wyss, Sam Vlahos
- Director: Jonathan Wacks
- Writer: Jonathan Wacks
- Run time: 1h 27m
- Year of release: 1989
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Jonathan Wacks directed an energetic road movie with comedy and social commentary on Native American land rights. The film follows Buddy Red Bow (A Martinez) on his adventures, offering a fresh perspective on the relationship between the Cheyenne and greedy white settlers. It shows that Manifest Destiny is still relevant. Despite dealing with serious themes, the story also includes funny jail breaks, marijuana trades, and heartwarming ‘bromances.’ Powwow Highway won the Sundance Filmmaker’s Trophy and three Native American Film Festival Awards.
5. Dances With Wolves (1990)
- Genre: Western/War
- Star Cast: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant
- Director: Kevin Costner
- Writer: Kevin Costner
- Run time: 3h 56m
- Year of release: 1990
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 8/10
Kevin Costner’s “Dances With Wolves” is the only movie about Native Americans to win the Best Picture Oscar. After the Civil War, Costner’s character, a former Union Army lieutenant, heads West and becomes friends with the Sioux tribe. He learns to appreciate their ways and falls in love with their culture. However, the Army eventually forces him to leave the tribe. The film uses a lot of Lakota and Pawnee languages in its dialogue. The Director of the Native American Film Festival said that the movie received positive feedback from the Indian community and would be hard to surpass in fame and popularity by any other film depicting Native Americans.
6. Geronimo: An American Legend (1993)
- Genre: Western/Drama
- Star Cast: Wes Studi, Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, and Matt Damon
- Director: Walter Hill
- Writer: Walter Hill
- Run time: 1h 55m
- Year of release: 1993
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 6.5/10
Walter Hill’s film is about the capture of the Chiricahua Apache leader in 1886. But it also looks at current issues with Native American integration. Unlike other movies showing bad relations between Native Americans and the US Army, this underrated film portrays a few soldiers who respect and empathize with the Apache. Native American groups praised it for raising their important concerns to a wider audience.
7. Smoke Signals (1998)
- Genre: Drama/Indie film
- Star Cast: Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Bedard, Gary Farmer, Tantoo Cardinal, Cody Lightning, Simon Baker, Monique Mojica.
- Director: Chris Eyre
- Writer: Sherman Alexie
- Run time: 1h 29m
- Year of release: 1998
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Chris Eyre, a Cheyenne-Arapaho director, made his debut with a groundbreaking film, fully crafted by Native Americans. The story, based on Sherman Alexie’s tale, revolves around self-discovery. It follows Victor and Thomas, living on the Coeur d’Alene reservation in Idaho, as they embark on a transformative road trip, facing their complicated past.
Victor (played by Adam Beach) has mixed feelings for his abusive, alcoholic father, Arnold (Gary Farmer). He both loves and despises him. On the other hand, Thomas (Evan Adams) deeply admires Arnold because he saved Thomas from a house fire when he was just a baby.
This exceptional film won several prestigious awards, including the Sundance Filmmaker’s Trophy and Audience Award. It also earned recognition as the Best Film at the Native American Film Festival.
8. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001)
- Genre: Drama/Adventure
- Star Cast: Natar Ungalaaq, Sylvia Ivalu, Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Madeline Ivalu, Pauloosie Qulitalik, Eugene Ipkarnak, Pakak Innuksuk.
- Director: Zacharias Kunuk
- Writer: Zacharias Kunuk
- Run time: 2h 54m
- Year of release: 2001
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
Atanarjuat is a groundbreaking adventure story about a cursed Inuit community, revenge, and endurance. It’s the first film ever written, directed, and acted entirely in Inuktitut, the Inuit language. The movie is based on a centuries-old story, thoroughly researched for accuracy. The filmmakers changed the traditional ending to give the audience a message of hope. Atanarjuat stands as one of the finest depictions of Native American folk history in cinema.
9. Skins (2002)
- Genre: Drama/Crime
- Star Cast: Eric Schweig, Graham Greene, Gary Farmer, Noah Watts, Lois Red Elk, Michelle Thrush, Nathaniel Arcand, Chaske Spencer.
- Director: Chris Eyre
- Writer: Chris Eyre
- Run time: 1h 28m
- Year of release: 2002
- OTT Platform: NA
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
“Skins” is a movie based on Adrian C. Louis’ novel, focusing on two Lakota Sioux brothers with contrasting lives: policeman Rudy and town drunk Mogie. They live on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, known as the poorest place in the United States.
Rudy is troubled by the widespread unemployment, alcoholism, and poverty faced by his people, including his own brother Mogie. The film was shot entirely on location at Pine Ridge Reservation, showing the harsh reality of living conditions there. Director Eyre ensured that every scene depicted real events that occurred in the community. The movie aims to raise awareness about the exploitation experienced by the Lakota Sioux people and the challenging circumstances they endure.
10. Imprint (2007)
- Genre: Mystery/Thriller
- Star Cast: Tonantzin Carmelo, Carla-Rae, Michael Spears, Cory Brusseau
- Director: Michael Linn
- Writer: Michael Linn
- Run time: 1h 25m
- Year of release: 2007
- OTT Platform: NA
- IMDb rating: 5.6/10
Imprint, produced by Chris Eyre and directed by Michael Linn, delves into Native American beliefs. Besides the supernatural elements, the movie focuses on embracing one’s heritage. Shayla Stonefeather, an attorney, has ignored her Native American background. During a controversial murder trial involving a Lakota teen, she returns to her father’s home after years away. There, she encounters spirits that force her to rethink her connection to her ancestral culture and spirituality. Imprint offers a glimpse into the lives of modern Native Americans and the enduring strength of community traditions.
11. Indian Horse (2017)
- Genre: Drama
- Star Cast: Ajuawak Kapashesit, Wayne Baker, Sladen Peltier, Skye Pelletier, Edna Manitowabi, Melanie McLaren, Oracle Arrand, Johnny Issaluk
- Director: Stephen Campanelli
- Writer: Stephen Campanelli
- Run time: 1h 41m
- Year of release: 2017
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10
This film follows a young Canadian First Nations boy who becomes a skilled hockey player. However, the movie’s core theme is about how hockey becomes his way of escaping the harsh realities of boarding schools, which were once called Indian residential schools. These schools were designed to erase Native culture, causing immense pain to the Indigenous communities. As a Native woman, watching the film was difficult for me because I’ve heard stories from elders about those painful times. It’s an emotional movie, for sure.
12. Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)
- Genre: Drama/Tragedy
- Star Cast: John Reddy, Jashaun St. John, Irene Bedard, Jessica Rowland
- Director: Chloé Zhao
- Writer: Chloé Zhao
- Run time: 1h 38m
- Year of release: 2015
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7/10
Chloé Zhao wrote and directed Songs My Brothers Taught Me, a film that reveals the tough challenges Native families endure on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. The movie focuses on two siblings and their lives there. It shows the emotions and struggles Native people face in a postcolonial world, where survival is a daily battle. The film resonates with those who understand the hardships of living on reservations today.
13. Gather (2020)
- Genre: Documentary
- Star Cast: Nephi Craig, Chucky Carpenter, Elsie DuBray, Twila Cassadore, Sammy Gensaw, Kris Bergen, Samuel Gensaw
- Director: Sanjay Rawal
- Writer: Sanjay Rawal
- Run time: 1h 14m
- Year of release: 2020
- OTT Platform: NA
- IMDb rating: 6.5/10
Sanjay Rawal made a documentary about Indigenous people reclaiming their traditional foods and sovereignty. They are taking back control over their traditional ways of eating and living. This film follows the journey of several Native peoples as they reclaim their heritage. It’s all about returning to their roots and embracing their ancestral practices.
14. Shouting Secrets (2011)
- Genre: Drama
- Star Cast: Chaske Spencer, Q’orianka Kilcher, Tyler Christopher, Gil Birmingham, Tantoo Cardinal
- Director: Korinna Sehringer
- Writer: Korinna Sehringer
- Run time: 1h 28m
- Year of release: 2011
- OTT Platform: Amazon Prime
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
This film, directed by Korinna Sehringer and featuring Canadian actress Tantoo Cardinal, follows a successful Apache novelist who left the reservation but returns when his mother gets sick. It accurately portrays the diversity of Native families in today’s world. This is a good comparison to “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” as it highlights the various representations of modern Native families. It’s essential to remember that Native communities are diverse and ever-changing, just like the characters in this film.
Also read: 15 Best Documentaries on HBO Max to Watch Right Now
