The 1980s was the worst decade for Westerns, with the failure of one movie being (rightly or wrongly) to blame. During the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood, Westerns were one of the most popular genres. John Ford and John Wayne's Westerns are some of the most iconic, but there was also the works of directors like Howard Hawks (Rio Bravo) and actors such as Gary Cooper, James Stewart and Henry Fonda. Even B-Westerns tended to perform well, but moving into the '60s and '70s, audience interest in "Oaters" diminished rapidly.

https://screenrant.com/western-movies-1980s-worst-decade-heavens-gate-flop/