Trivia: In the Middle East, a censored version of the movie was released that eliminated all of the homosexual content. The result apparently didn't make any sense at all as the scenes were important plot points.
Trivia: Part of what made the Coen Brothers agree to make the film for Netflix was that the traditional studio system just isn't funding films like "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" the way they used to. Studios are instead focusing much more on big-budget comic-book movies and reboots, or super low-budget ventures like horror films. The Coens found Netflix to be one of the only companies that seemed to understand the project and be willing to fund it. Although co-director Joel Coen did lament that he wishes the film had a traditional theatrical release, as he feels audiences respond to and respect movies in a different way on the big screen.
Trivia: When Eli and Solara are in his room for the night there is a movie poster on the wall behind them for a similar post apocalyptic movie. "A Boy and His Dog". In Eli the survivors protect themselves from the sun's rays and in "A Boy and His Dog" they flee underground to hide from the sun.
Trivia: Jack Palance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Curly, even though he only has 12 minutes of screen time.
Trivia: When a rider is speared in the back by an Indian, he yells the Wilhelm scream.
Trivia: The scene where Quigley triggers a booby trap by swinging his rifle from horseback, at full gallop, whilst holding it by the tip of the barrel with one hand, was only possible because an alternate aluminum barrel was created for that scene.
Trivia: Anthony Quinn plays Craig Belden, the father of Rick (Earl Holliman). In real life, Quinn was only 13 years older than Holliman.
Trivia: When the cows push Junior down the mine shaft, a "Goofy Holler" can be heard.
Trivia: Director John Huston has a cameo as the white-suited man who gets increasingly irritated when Humphrey Bogart repeatedly begs him for money.
Trivia: In this film, you see for the first time a Western main road with a left-hand turn at the end of it. This was done to hide the fact that there was no wild prairie on the Pinewood lot.
Trivia: This was John Candy's last film he made. He unfortunately passed away in his sleep before filming wrapped up. Re-writes and stand-ins were used to finish the film. Candy had finished filming "Canadian Bacon", but "Wagons East" was released 13 months before "Canadian Bacon."
Trivia: While Morton's private train plays a key role in the movie, and the train moves several times, the train's engineer and fireman are never shown, nor is any reference ever made to them.
Trivia: Although they play mother and son, Katy Jurado was only six years older than Robert Wagner.
Trivia: When Sergeant Snow thrusts his sword into a horse rustler, he yells a Wilhelm scream.
Trivia: When Charlton Heston first arrives at the Flatiron Ranch, some ranch hands recognize the pack-horse that Heston is leading, and they call the horse by name: "Bright Eyes." A year later, Heston appeared in the first "Planet of the Apes" movie, where he himself is nicknamed "Bright Eyes" by Dr. Zira.
Trivia: Josh Brolin cut his hair with a knife in order to accentuate Tom Chaney's unkempt look.
Trivia: Like in most western films made by John Ford, real Native Americans were used and were paid union scale.
Trivia: The first of 37 cartoons produced for Warner Brothers by the newly formed DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (producer David H. DePatie and director Friz Freleng). The studio became best known for creating The Pink Panther.
Trivia: This film is based on a true story; but, of course, much dramatic license is taken with the facts. For example, while the movie depicts Lola shot in the chest (either by Willie Boy or by herself), the real-life "Lola" was shot in the back by the posse that was chasing them. Also, while the movie depicts Sheriff Cooper gunning down Willie Boy at the end, the real-life Willie Boy committed suicide by his own hand.