9. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
One of many westerns both directed and starring arguably the most famous cowboy of all time, The Outlaw Josey Wales tells the story of a quiet farmer whose life is turned upside down when his family are murdered by a band of pro-Union Jayhawkers. As a result, he saddles up, learns how to shoot and heads out to get revenge. It's a classic American movie in every sense, and more so because it doesn't shy away from factoring in some serious historical aspects, many of which have led critics to consider Outlaw to be a great and reverent anti-war movie. In The Wolverine, Mangold has no doubt used Josey Wales' stoic character as a template for Logan's journey in Japan. Both men are outsiders (though certainly not the kind of outsiders that you'd wanted to mess with). Above all, both Wolverine and Josey Wales are tortured, tormented souls. Likely, The Wolverine's director sees them both as kindred spirits of sorts.