Filmmaker Mario Van Peebles returns to the Wild West with his 2024 film, Outlaw Posse. His latest movie is not a sequel to his 1993 film, Posse, but has a similar goal of telling the stories of the Wild West that are often left out of history books and Hollywood movies. In the year 1908, the famous outlaw, Chief, returns to Montana and assembles a team of formidable fighters to go after a stash of gold hidden away in the mountains. The film focuses on the experiences of black cowboys and other marginalized people, incorporating real figures from history, like Stagecoach Mary, played by Whoopi Goldberg, to help tell overlooked stories.

Outlaw Posse is jam-packed with historical information, as if a passionate history teacher was given the opportunity to create a big-budget Hollywood movie. The film impressively mixes history lessons with references to classic Hollywood Westerns, showing a deep love for the Old West and film history. Mario Van Peebles uses the Western genre to tackle complex issues America continues to struggle with, like civil rights and violence, while also creating a touching story about found family. The exciting fight sequences, and horseback rides through idyllic settings will win over any fan of Western films.