The Western genre has been resurrected in the last few years, and if you’re looking to get into it or familiarize yourself with its history, one movie acts as a perfect entry point to the genre: the 1993 classicTombstone.Tombstoneacts as a heavily fictionalized/dramatized retelling of the events around Tombstone, Arizona in the early 1880s. The movie specifically follows the events as they related to thefamous lawman Wyatt Earp, notorious gambler and gunfighter Doc Holliday, and the outlaw gang known as the Cowboys.
Tombstonehas an absolutely loaded cast of recognizable faces, anchored by Kurt Russell as Earp,Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, and Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton as Wyatt Earp’s brothers Morgan and Virgil. The sheer number of past and current stars makes the movie an enjoyable watch even if the audience has no interest in Westerns. However, those seeking more after current neo-Western hits likeYellowstoneorLongmirewill find it a satisfying entry point for the greater Western genre.
Only 1 Tombstone Actor Didn’t Grow A Real Mustache For The 1993 Western Movie
The glorious mustaches of the entire cast of the 1993 western classic are a calling card of the movie, and only one actor didn’t grow a real one.
Tombstone Is A Great Introduction To Westerns If You’re Not Familiar With The Genre
Several Factors Make It More Accessible For Non-Western Fans
For those who are not intimately familiar with the Western genre,Tombstoneacts as a great entry point given how many Western tropes it hits on. Westerns are stereotypically full of gunfights, saloon showdowns, and horseback chases, and Tombstone has all of those elements in abundance. However, the very best Westerns also explore real human drama; examinations of the bonds of friendship, the price of freedom, and sacrifice in the name of justice are just as pervasive in the genre as a sheriff trading potshots with an outlaw.
December 25th, 1993
$25 million
$73.2 million
74%
93%
Tombstonemarries those human elements with the Western action elements beautifully. The well-paced script never detours too far from the classic Western elements that are so important to understanding the genre, but it also has a number of accessible character arcs that don’t require someone to be a huge fan of gunfights to enjoy. With outstanding acting performances, a good script, and an engaging story, it’s just a good drama on top of being an exceptional Western action movie.
Tombstone Is A Fantastic Western (But It Also Works For Those Who Aren’t Fans Of The Genre)
It Still Represents The Best Execution Of Many Classic Western Tropes
It’s that dichotomy of Western tropes and cinematic character drama that makes Tombstone the perfect entry point for a Western newcomer. The story ofWyatt Earp riding down an outlaw gang seeking a reckoningfor the evil they’ve done is thrilling, while the friendship that he and Doc Holliday share is moving. Doc Holliday’s tense shootout with Johnny Ringo and the violent Gunfight at the O.K. Corral are some of the best traditional Western scenes in the genre, but just as important is Wyatt Earp’s rain-soaked revelation about what he needs to do to stop the Cowboys.
Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday is the standout, but Kurt Russell’s angry Wyatt Earp or Michael Biehn’s vicious Johnny Ringo are just as engaging for any audience to enjoy.
Tombstonealso has several elements that are characteristic of great, memorable movies regardless of genre. For example, there aren’t many movies in American cinema that are as eminently quotable asTombstone, and chances are the average moviegoer has heard someone say “You’re a daisy if you do,” or “I’m your huckleberry,” without even knowing they’re fromTombstone. It also has exceptional performances up and down the loaded cast; Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday is the standout, but Kurt Russell’s angry Wyatt Earp or Michael Biehn’s vicious Johnny Ringo are just as engaging for any audience to enjoy.
Tombstone Is Even Better If You Are Already Familiar With Western Movies
It’s The Perfect Bridge Between Classic Westerns And Modern Sensibilities
For those who are familiar with the classic Westerns of the 1950s and 1960s,Tombstoneacts as an entertaining benchmark between the new and the old. It’s fun to compare the well-crafted traditional Western sets ofTombstonewith those of John Wayne classics likeRio BravoorRed River, or the committed performances of Val Kilmer and Sam Elliott with the Western legends of the past like Kirk Douglas or Glenn Ford. You can see how similar the old high-pressure shootouts are to the most impactful moments of Tombstone, like Wyatt Earp’s bold charge to take on Curly Bill Brocius.
Tombstone Started A Kurt Russell Vs. Kevin Costner Battle With 1 Very Clear Winner
The 1993 Western, Tombstone, started a battle between Kurt Rusell and Kevin Costner, and it’s clear who emerged the victor between the two actors.
It’s also interesting to see how far Western film making came over the decades since Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster carried the genre.Tombstonehas a number of scenes that align directly with its predecessors, but are shot in a much more modern style; the best example is the Earp Vendetta Ride montage, when Wyatt Earp chases down the remaining members of the gang on horseback.Tombstonecarries the best elements of the past with it while simultaneously using a more accessible approach, making it the perfect introduction to the Western genre.
