John Wayne’s 1959 Western Rio Bravo is leaving the streaming service Fawesome, prompting renewed attention because Quentin Tarantino has called it one of cinema’s greatest “hangout movies”. The article presents the film as a particularly cherished example of Tarantino’s enthusiasm for classic Westerns and character-driven storytelling.

Tarantino first saw Rio Bravo at the age of five and says his affection for it has increased over time; he has even described it as a potential compatibility test when dating. The film was reportedly made partly in response to High Noon, which Wayne disliked, but Tarantino values Rio Bravo primarily for the pleasure of spending time with its characters rather than its politics.