Arts Studies and Criticism

Since the 1980s, the thematic expression of Chinese Western films has undergone multiple transformations. Early works focused on national history and collective destiny, shifted to individual survival and emotional dilemmas in the 1990s, and achieved thematic innovation through genre fusion and globalization in the 21st century. This paper employs methods such as literature analysis and case studies, incorporating classic films like *Yellow Earth* (1984), *The Story of Qiu Ju* (1992), and *No Man’s Land* (2013), to outline thematic characteristics across different stages. Recent works like *Balloon* (2019) are introduced as case studies to explore the cultural expression and social significance of Western films in the new era. The research indicates that Chinese Western films, rooted in regional distinctiveness, have consistently echoed social transformations through thematic evolution, showcasing the vitality of Chinese cinema in cultural self-awareness and genre exploration.