G&A Ranks the Best Movie Shootouts

February 03, 2012 By G&A Online Editors

The history of Hollywood's shoot 'em up movies stretches as far back as cinema itself. The shootout has always been the plot device of choice for action films, westerns and gangster flicks. Some of the most legendary actors have made their names with one-liners famously delivered before firing the first shot. A gun fight can define a film, a career and even an entire genre.

Let's face it, the movie shootout is and always has been an art. The guns, the actors and the authenticity of the action all play a part in creating a crowd-pleasing battle.

We considered breaking these down into categories like "best barroom shootouts" or "best western shootouts," but it just seems more fun to consider the entire history of gun fights on the Silver Screen.

We ranked the following shootouts based on a few criterion:

Guns: Were the guns used as much a part of popular culture as the movies themselves?

Notoriety: How firmly is the shootout engrained in shooting lore?

Cool Factor: How eye-poppingly awesome was the shootout?

Authenticity: Was the use of firearms authentic and believable throughout?

How does Tony Montana's final overture compare to Wyatt Earp's legendary stand-off? We had a pretty lively in-house debate, and we have a feeling that it's not over just yet.

Hall of Fame: Every Quentin Tarantino Movie

If movie shootouts and bloody mayhem had a Hall of Fame, Quentin Tarantino would have his own wing. From Pulp Fiction to Reservoir Dogs to Inglorious Basterds, Tarantino has created gun fights with a feel, look and carnage level all his own. For that, we honor the critically acclaimed director/writer/actor with his own spot on our list.

20. L.A. Confidential

L.A. Confidential (1997), a crime drama set in seedy, crime-ridden Los Angeles in the 1950s, centers around a shooting at an all-night diner being investigated by three L.A. detectives. But it's not the movie's initial shootout that grabbed our attention. The star studded "Victory Motel shootout" that ends this film is one for the ages. Officer Bud White (Russell Crowe) and Lt. Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) are ambushed by a team of crooked cops led by corrupt boss Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) and the two courageously shoot their way out. The hero, Exley, carries his Colt DS and 1911 akimbo into the shootout, takes down the dirty cops and crawls out of the virtually destroyed Victory Motel in one piece.

The Guns: Colt Detective Special, Smith & Wesson Combat Masterpiece, M1911A1, Ithaca 37

Why We Love it: Crooked cops, a white hot Kim Basinger and one of the most explosive good-against-evil finales on our list makes this gun fight a standout. The two against 20 gun fight makes for a thrilling end to this acclaimed crime drama.

::Watch the Trailer::

19. True Romance

True Romance (1993) follows a comic store clerk who gets himself in huge trouble after 1) falling in love with a hooker, 2) stealing drugs from her pimp, and 3) selling said drugs to Hollywood execs. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everyone could die.

The Guns: Smith & Wesson Model 66, Beretta 92FS Inox, Remington 870 sawed off, Smith & Wesson Model 625, Desert Eagle, Heckler & Koch MP5K, Uzi, Beretta 92FS, Smith & Wesson Model 629 Bodyguard, Mossberg 500 sawed off

Why We Love It: Bullets flying everywhere -- along with destroyed furniture -- and plenty of shouting over thunderous gunfire. What's not to love?

::Watch the shootout.::

18. The Shootist

We would be remiss not to include The Duke on this list, and the final shootout at the end of what would prove to be John Wayne's final film role doesn't disappoint.

The Guns: Great Western Revolver, Colt Single Action Army, Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless, Hammerless Coach shotgun

Why We Love It: Vintage John Wayne -- and even a young Ron Howard -- going to town on an entire barroom: It's a classic Western scene, and one that never, ever gets old.

::Watch the shootout.::

17. Road to Perdition

Tom Hanks' character, Michael Sullivan Sr., mows down an entire entourage with his Thompson M1921 in .45 ACP before dispatching Irish mob boss John Rooney — the man who raised Sullivan. The pouring rain and soft piano add even more emotion to the unforgettable scene.

The Guns: M1911A1, Smith & Wesson Model 10, M1921 Thompson

Why We Love It: Not all shootouts have to be all explosive gunfire and intense music, as director Sam Mendes proved with his artistically masterful gunfight toward the end of 2002's Road to Perdition.

::Watch the Shootout::

16. Shane

There's no use mincing words: Shane (1953) is classic, simple as that. Try as he may, an old gunfighter just can't seem to escape from trouble, and introduces a young shooter to the great sport.

The Guns: Single Action Army, Winchester Model 1873, Flintlock rifles (Not fired, but hung on wall in background)

Why We Love It: Shane shows some quick thinking here, taking down two assailants in a matter of seconds, and a third with the help of a precocious little scamp hiding outside.

::Watch the shootout.::

15. The Terminator

Let it be known: The Terminator will stop at nothing when it comes to tracking down Sarah Connor, and if that means taking out an entire police station, so be it.

The Guns: Smith & Wesson Model 15, Smith & Wesson Model 36, SPAS-12, Ithaca 37, AR-18, M16A1

Why We Love It: Dual-wielding a Franchi SPAS-12 and an AR-18, the killer cyborg takes out the boys in blue like it's nobody's business. Arnie gets his just desserts in the end, however, when his cranium is crushed like a grape under a hydraulic press. Justice.

::Watch the shootout.::

14. Open Range

In what might stand toe-to-toe with Dances with Wolves in Kevin Costner's movie resume, Open Range delivers some of the most authentic shootout moments of any western in our list. The film's climax turns in an iconic gunfight between two free graze cattlemen, Boss Spearman (Robert Duval) and Charlie Waitte, and Denton Baxter's hired gunmen. Costner's most authentic scene comes when he puts a bullet right between the eyes of a hired hand with his Single Action Army, starting the furious shootout on the streets of the Old West.

The Guns: Single Action Army, Remington 1895, J. Stevens & Company 1878 Coach Gun, Winchester 1873

Why We Love it: Almost every shot fired in this film feels as real as if you were sitting sideline. Costner's fast firing with the SAA and Duval's blasts with the Coach Gun all rang true.

::Watch the Shootout::

13. Full Metal Jacket

Set in the Vietnam War, this scene from Full Metal Jacket shows a group of Marines trying to locate a sniper during the Battle of Hue, and putting their lives in each other's hands in the process.

The Guns: USAF M16, M60, M1911A1, SA Vz.58, M72 LAW, M79, Browning M2HB heavy machine gun

Why We Love It: There's no denying it: War is hell. Full Metal Jacket's depiction of the Battle of Hue during the Vietnam War is painful to watch, just for the sake of the soldiers watching as their friends are killed one by one, but the courage of each soldier to bravely risk their own lives for one another is truly admirable. There's no greater bravery than that. Semper fi, Marines.

::Watch the shootout.::

12. Die Hard

Thank you, Bruce Willis, for giving us one of the greatest action flicks of all time with your 1988 masterpiece, Die Hard. Any red-blooded American man can't help but get excited about John McClane -- armed with his trusty Beretta 92F/92FS, though he would swap for a SIG-Sauer P220R and a Beretta Px4 Storm in the latest installment, plus an arsenal of submachine guns -- winning a one-sided gunfight against a group of terrorists while spouting catchphrases left and right. Of course, it's impossible to pick one shootout from this piece of cinematic gold, given the entire movie is one long shootout€¦

::Watch one of many Die Hard shootouts.::

11. Rambo series

The same goes for Sylvester Stallone's masterpiece (Come on, Rocky never used any guns.). Just like Die Hard, it's impossible to pinpoint one great shootout in First Blood, or any of the Rambo movies, for that matter, no matter how much more gory each shootout became. And while Rambo may be well known for his trusty hunting knife, we all know the real action began once he got his hands on an M60 -- though he does an unholy amount of damage in 2008's Rambo.

10. The Boondock Saints

Ah, now we're getting to the real good stuff. The Boondock Saints has become a cult classic, and for good reasons: great storytelling, and of course, plenty of guns.

The Guns: Taurus PT92, Glock 26, Para-Ordnance P-14, Smith & Wesson Model 629 Snub, Smith & Wesson Model 686 Snub, Para-Ordnance P-10, Smith & Wesson 5906

Why We Love It: As police reconstruct a violent suburban shootout, the viewers are treated not only to gratuitous violence, but a veritable arsenal of handguns, most of them wielded by one character (above). Just as entertaining is Willem Dafoe's brilliant retelling of the firefight.

::Watch the Shootout.::

9. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Clint Eastwood stars as the good (AKA Blondie) in the third film in the Dollars Trilogy following A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and For a Few Dollars More (1965). Gunslinging was defined in this flick and the gunfights hangings and prison camp violence make it a shootout-lover's dream.

The Guns: Colt 1851 Navy (cartridge conversion), Colt 1851, Navy Percussion, Remington 1858 New Army, Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" (mocked up as a Henry 1860), Sharps 1874, Colt 1860 Army, Remington 1858 "Cattleman's Carbine", Springfield Model 1863, Galand Revolver

Why We Love It: Clint Eastwood has carved himself a place in almost every single list involving movies, guns and badassery. This movie is no different. The final gun fight is the epitome of western showdown. Quick, give us more intense music and close ups of those killer glares.

::Watch the Shootout::

8. Desperado

Let's be honest, guys. Antonio Banderas is just so awesome. Sure, the guy makes ladies melt like any given Hollywood prettyboy, but man, can he handle a gun. Such was evident in the El Mariachi trilogy — more specifically, the second film, Desperado.

The Guns: Ruger KP90, Beretta 92FS Inox, Taurus PT99, Desert Eagle Mark XIX, Smith & Wesson Model 19, MAC-10

Why We Love It: El Mariachi's gunfight at the bar is everything you could ask for in a shootout: slick moves, plenty of bullets flying, and of course, some beautiful guns, including the beautiful Ruger KP90s flying out of Banderas' sleeves (above).

::Watch the shootout.::

7. Unforgiven

Making his second appearance on our list, Clint Eastwood delivers more gunslinging action in Unforgiven (1992), playing an aging outlaw opposite Gene Hackman.

The Guns: Single Action Army, Smith & Wesson Schofield Model 3, Starr 1858 Army, Spencer 1860 Saddle Ring Carbine, J. Stevens & Company 1878, W. Richards 10 gauge double-barreled shotgun

Why We Love It: In addition to a good old fashioned Western standoff, we're treated to typical Clint Eastwood banter when he explains himself for shooting an unarmed man. Classic.

::Watch the shootout.::

6. The Wild Bunch

The Wild Bunch (1969) stars William Holden as the head of a increasingly geriatric gang of outlaws who are looking to make one last score in Mexico. The film was considered highly controversial at the time because of the gun play and copious amount of violence, but that's one of the reasons we cherish it today.

The Guns: Colt M1911/Star Model, Single Action Army, Colt New Service, Smith & Wesson Model 10, Luger P08, Winchester Model 1897, Winchester Model 1912, Single Barrel Shotgun, Double-Barreled Shotgun

Why We Love It: Some of our elder statesmen here at G&A spontaniously yelled out this movie's name when we first brought up the subject. The film's final scene belongs up there with the greats, as this bunch of criminals does one last good deed. G&A Executive Editor Payton Miller has been yelling, "Give 'em hell Pike!" in his office ever since we mentioned this movie.

::Watch the Shootout::

5. The Matrix

Traditional gun nuts love to hate on this sci-fi action flick, but the cyberpunk manifesto boasts an extensive arsenal and some of the coolest gunfights you'll ever see.

The Guns: Beretta 84FS Cheetah, M16 (SP1), Micro Uzi, Heckler & Koch MP5K, Franchi SPAS-12, Yugoslav Model 61 Skorpion, Smith & Wesson Model 10 Heavy Barrel

Why We Love It: Granted, Keanu Reeves' showmanship is aided with the help of computers, but come on, how many of you can say with a straight face that you didn't much care for that bullet dodging? In addition, the lobby scene (above) has all the collateral damage we come to expect from our action films — and some gravity-defying acrobatics to garnish it.

::Watch the shootout.::

4. Taxi Driver

Robert DeNiro's final shootout in this 1976 classic certainly isn't pretty, nor is it the grand production like others on this list, but it is most definitely iconic.

The Guns: Smith & Wesson Model 36 Snub, Smith & Wesson Model 10, Smith & Wesson Escort

Why We Love It: The image of a bloodied Travis Bickle pointing his fingers to his head and calmly saying, 'Bang, ' after rescuing a child prostitute in a violent gunfight is one of the most enduring cinematic images of the 20th century — well-deserving of mention on this list.

::Watch the shootout.::

3. Heat

In what is considered one of the greatest action sequences in movie history, 1995's Heat depicts a daring bank robbery and the ensuing chase. Of course, guns are blazing the entire time.

The Guns: SIG Sauer P220, Beretta 92FS, Taurus PT92, Mossberg 590, Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Colt Model 733, IMI Galil ARM in 5.56mm, M16A1

Why We Love It: Who doesn't love a good heist followed by a car chase? Firing off a few hundred rounds just adds to the excitement.

::Watch the shootout.::

2. Tombstone

The Gunfight at the OK Corral needs no introduction for movie buffs and gun guys alike. Wyatt Earp, played in Tombstone (1993) by Kurt Russell, leads Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) and his brothers against the Clanton and McLaury gang in a shootout that defines them all. Russell draws his Colt Buntline Special (a Uberti replica) and blasts away while Kilmer pulls his Single Action Army and backs it up with the Meteor 10 Gauge side-by-side shotgun.

The Guns: 12 Gauge Double-barreled Side-by-Side Shotgun, Winchester Model 1873, Winchester Model 1873, Single Action Army, Colt Lightning, Meteor 10 Gauge side-by-side shotgun, Colt Buntline Special (EMF/Uberti replica),Stevens 10-gauge side-by-side shotgun

Why We Love It: This is the pinnacle of shootouts. It's as much a part of pop culture as anything on this list. In fact, we're taking the rest of the day off to watch this classic.

::Watch the shootout.::

1. Scarface

In what is perhaps Al Pacino's most famous role — and for that matter, his most famous line — drug lord Tony Montana is confronted at his mansion by the cocaine kingpin of South Beach, Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar), and all hell breaks loose, culminating in one of the most famous and oft-repeated phrases in movie and shooting history: 'Say hello to my little friend! '

The Guns: Colt Python, Uzi, M1911A1, Remington 870, FN FAL, Heckler & Koch HK33, Valmet M82A, Colt AR-15 with fake M203 grenade launcher, aka 'My Little Friend, ' M16A1, Spanish Zabala sawed-off double-barreled shotgun

Why We Love It: A huge amount of firearms? Check. Bullets flying everywhere with thunderous gunfire? Check. Catchphrase? Check. For immortalizing Tony Montana in shooting lore, we give Scarface the top spot on our list.

::Watch the shootout.::