Cowboys and Indians. Sheriff and Outlaw. A Daring Rescue. Men of Valor.
Every since I was a boy I loved stories of heroes. Batman is my favorite for the simple reason that he’s human. With no superpowers he’s left having to rely on his inner will and fortitude…it does help to have an unlimited bank account.
I always played the Cowboy and loved my six shooter. In my teens I saw my first true Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” I was hooked and have probably watched every Western that’s come out in the last decade. I also enjoy action movies where men – brothers in arms – are at war fighting side by side.
What in a gun fight scene makes it worthy of being one of the best?
- Triumph of Good over Evil
- There’s a story of overcoming challenges
- A Hero is confident, not arrogant
Spoiler Alert: Many of these scenes will give away movie endings or plots.
30 Best Gun Fight Scenes of All Time – The First 10 are my favorites.
Share some of your favorites in the comments below.
Make sure to check out Todd’s article – 20 Best Fight Scenes of All Time
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
It all comes down to the final duel between 3 men all chasing a chest of gold.
“I’m Your Huckleberry” Doc Holliday vs Johnny Ringo
Ringo, the gunman for the Cowboy Gang challenges Wyatt Earp to a duel. But Doc and Ringo had been having a war of words for some time so Doc beats Earp to it.
V for Vendetta “My Turn”
“You got nothing but your bloody knives and your fancy karate gimmicks. We have guns.”
“No, what you have are bullets and the hope that when your guns are empty I”m no longer standing…”
Equilibrium
Earlier in the movie he lets a fellow soldier, his partner, get taken away and executed for defying what they’ve sworn to protect – A Dictatorship. A Dictator that has ordered a ban on feelings even though he himself still feels. Watch the final fight…
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood plays William Money, a former outlaw and immoral man in his youth. The movie starts with him being older, wiser and a better man. In the end he takes on the crooked Sheriff to avenge his friend.
Last Man Standing
Christopher Walken, one of the best at playing bad men. Cocky and arrogant; unfortunately for him Bruce Willis stands opposing him.
Appaloosa
A good ol’ gun fight of good vs evil.
Wyatt Earp
Tombstone
Road to Perdition “I’m glad it was you”
Mike Sullivan does what is necessary to avenge his wife and child’s death. But to do this he has to kill the only father figure he ever had.
“Get three coffins ready” from A Fistful of Dollars
This ones just plain hilarious. It isn’t much of a skilled gunfight but it’s always funny to see the bullies go down.
The Boondock Saints
Warning: Foul Language and Four Letter Words
The Bourne Identity “We Always Work Alone”
Shane
Act of Valor
Heat
For A Few Dollars More
The Matrix
Django Unchained
LA Confidential – Victory Motel Shootout
My Name is Still Trinity – Gun Fight scene that became a commercial
This is the scene in which the famous gun fight scene was aired on Sprint/Nextel commercials years ago.
EPIC GUNFIGHT SERIES
These next 10 are also some of my favorites but the videos were put together by someone else on youtube. So to give proper credit I’ve kept them in the same order and listed them at the end.
Equilibrium
Blackhawk Down
Zulu
Soldier
Where Eagles Dare
Total Recall
Judge Dredd
Quigley Down Under
The Quick and the Dead – Final Scene
3:10 to Yuma
If you have any you’d like to add to the Best Gun Fight Scenes be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Featured image by http://dribbble.com/cjzilligen
Oh man I am so happy you included Doc Holliday/Val Kilmer from Tombstone! He was like Jack Sparrow before Jack Sparrow! Oh so good!!
Man, I can’t watch all these right now–3:10 To Yuma, Quigley, Django, Boondock Saints, great compiling this John!!
Thanks dude! Your 20 Best Fight Scenes of All Time inspired me. Tombstone is one of my favorite stories and that gun fight scene is an all time top 3.
Great collection.
II’m really glad you included Where Eagles Dare.
I saw an interview with Clint Eastwood and he was talking about filiming the movie. At a meeting with the director, and with the co-star Richard Burton, Clint said he crossed out most of the dialogue for his character in the script. He told Richard Burton, “You do the talking and I’ll do the shooting.”
Thanks Terry! I’ve never seen that movie and only found as part of that guys Epic Series collection. I’m going to see if I can find a copy to watch. And as you can probably tel, Clint Eastwood is my favorite cowboy.
John Wayne in the shootest had a cool gun fight. Don’t you agree? Major dundee had a good fight scene
I really appreciate you taking the time to put this together.
You need to change this to include HBO’s True Detective, Season 2, Episode 4 (FIrst appearance on TV; July 12, 2015). Absolutely the best gun fight scenes I’ve ever witnessed in my 56 years. You will truly “FEEL” this gun fight as the realism and pure adrenaline will rush through your own veins. Make sure to watch this as soon as you can; it happens in the last 5 minutes of the hour long episode. Hats off to HBO for doing such a great job; truly epic!!!! You won’t be disappointed for spending the 5 minutes it takes to queue it up and watch. Enjoy.