John Wayne’s Racist Epic Probably Killed 46 People and Isn’t Streaming
Often considered one of the worst movies ever made for several reasons, The Conqueror is undoubtedly the biggest blemish in John Wayne’s career. Produced by Howard Hughes and directed by Dick Powell, the 1956 historical epic stars Wayne as Mongol chieftain Temujin, who climbs the ranks of his army to become emperor Genghis Khan. In addition to woefully miscasting Wayne in an overtly racist role, The Conqueror was eviscerated by critics at the time for its subpar filmmaking. To no one’s surprise, the film cannot be streamed anywhere in 2024.