If you've ever wondered what happens when the creator of Family Guy tries his hand at a Western parody, you might want to act fast. Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West is set to ride off into the sunset from Netflix at the end of July 2026. The film, which arrived in 2014 with high expectations and a star-studded cast, was met with a critical drubbing that still stings a decade later.
MacFarlane, fresh off the massive success of Ted, was given considerable creative freedom for his follow-up. Instead of diving straight into a sequel to his hit comedy about a foul-mouthed teddy bear, he chose to spoof the Western genre—a risky move given that neither Westerns nor parody films were exactly setting the box office on fire at the time. The result? A 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus calling it an "overlong, aimless" and "disappointingly scattershot affair." Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com went further, labeling it a "failure on nearly every level."
The film stars MacFarlane as Albert, a sheep farmer who loses his girlfriend (Amanda Seyfried) to the town's mustachioed villain (Neil Patrick Harris) and then finds unexpected romance with a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron). The cast also includes Liam Neeson as a notorious outlaw, and cameos from the likes of Jamie Foxx and Christopher Lloyd. Despite the A-list talent, the movie earned just $87 million worldwide against a $40 million budget—a disappointment, especially compared to MacFarlane's previous blockbuster.
Interestingly, Neeson's appearance in this Western spoof came during the peak of his late-career action resurgence. A decade later, he bounced back with a well-received The Naked Gun reboot in 2025, which grossed over $100 million worldwide. But A Million Ways to Die in the West remains a curious footnote in his filmography—a parody that failed to capture the magic of the genre it was mocking.
For those who missed it the first time—or who want to see if it's as bad as everyone says—the film is currently streaming on Netflix. But don't dawdle: it's leaving the platform at the end of July 2026. If you're in the mood for a Western that's more serious, you might want to check out Clint Eastwood's WWII classic Flags of Our Fathers, which is also leaving a streaming service soon. Or, if you prefer your comedies with a bit more bite, Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen Season 2 is coming to Netflix in 2026.
While A Million Ways to Die in the West hasn't exactly gained a cult following over the years, it does have its defenders who appreciate its irreverent humor and the sheer audacity of its premise. Whether you're a completionist or just curious, now's your chance to see what all the fuss—and the critical scorn—was about. Just don't expect a masterpiece.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on what's leaving Netflix and what's arriving next.
