Western movies are a remarkable genre in the film industry, and their popularity has changed significantly over time. They were exceptionally popular from around the 1940s and carried that momentum into the 70s. The genre was arguably less popular in the 90s, but that didn’t stop several beloved Westerns from being released, including Tombstone.

Tombstone premiered in 1993, but not to the critical fanfare you may expect. However, audience reception was far more positive. Fans adored the characters, particularly Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday. The gunfights were intense, and the script was incredibly quotable, full of sharp one-liners and catchphrases. Several of those quotes remain an important part of pop culture even today.

The story of Tombstone is based on documented characters and events. Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) was a real person and lawman, and several events, such as the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, occurred in real life. Some critics note Tombstone’s lack of historical accuracy, though the movie does not claim to be a documentary, and some liberties were taken to tell a good story.

The result is a Western that many fans would call a masterpiece. Tombstone is an accomplished movie with a charismatic cast of heroes and villains. It also has a straightforward story and is easy to follow, even if you do not know its origins or the genre. Westerns are not as popular as they once were, but here are 10 reasons why Tombstone is so good that it may just change your mind about the genre as a whole.

10

Tombstone Is Endlessly Quotable

It’s not unusual for 90s movies to have a few one-liners everyone remembers, but the writing in Tombstone is so slick and stylish that it’s a treasure trove for quotes.

Even audiences unfamiliar with Tombstone have likely heard Doc Holliday’s legendary line, “I’m your huckleberry,” but there are so many more than that. Kilmer delivers countless lines with such style that you could realistically quote almost any of his script, and a Tombstone fan be elated.

Doc Holliday isn’t the only character to spout savage one-liners. Wyatt’s “You gonna do something or just stand there and bleed?” is still a brilliantly cold line, even during a rewatch, and those are just scratching the surface.

9

Wyatt Earp Is A Protagonist You Can’t Help But Root For

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Wyatt Earp is easily among Kurt Russell’s greatest roles. We’ve already mentioned one of his particularly slick one-liners, but he’s a lovable protagonist for so much more.

Earp is undoubtedly a tough guy, but he seems keen to leave that way of life behind, even if it always seems to follow him. He’s relatable, and it often seems like situations force his hand rather than him instigating them. We also catch a glimpse at his fractured relationship with his wife, Josephine (Dana Delaney), and how much it troubles him beneath the surface.

Despite not agreeing with everything his brothers do, Wyatt remains loyal, no matter how bleak the situation becomes. He can certainly take care of himself, but he’s still flawed and human.

8

Tombstone Still Delivers Some Of The Best Gunslinging In The Genre

Many of the most beloved action movies treat gunfighting like an art form. Anyone can pull a trigger in the real world, but in films like John Wick, for example, our hero is feared because he is adept with every weapon.

Tombstone puts gunslinging skills on a pedestal. There are plenty of stylish pistol tricks in the movie, but they also show that the wielder is someone who won’t easily be beaten in a fight.

The title quickly establishes several skilled shooters. While the weapons are quite different from what you may find in a modern movie, it’s still a treat to see what gun skills look like in a Western setting, and Tombstone remains one of the best movies to showcase them.

7

The Story Is Approachable For Non-Western Fans

Westerns were once incredibly popular, though they have arguably fallen out of vogue in recent years. It can be hard to break a newcomer’s preconceptions about the genre, though if any movie can, it’ll be Tombstone.

Even if you’re not a fan of the 1880s aesthetic, the story in Tombstone quickly establishes one important rule. The Cowboys are the antagonists, and you know a Cowboy by their red sashes. Curly Bill (Powers Boothe), one of the main villains, is instantly recognizable by his red shirt.

The story of Tombstone has many moving parts, but the main plot is quite straightforward. It’s also easy to tell who’s who in intense gunfights, even if you cannot memorize every character’s name.

6

The Bad Guys Are Satisfyingly Evil

Audiences quickly learn that Wyatt was a lawman, though he’s eager to leave that life behind. When he arrives in Tombstone, we’re introduced to the Cowboys, and we know that a clash is imminent.

The Clanton Gang is genuinely threatening, especially in such a grounded setting. We see them intimidating townsfolk, and several scenes make viewers crave their comeuppance.

There are some overly dramatic moments in the movie, but the Cowboys never seem like comic book villains in Tombstone. The title doesn’t linger on their actions, and we know just enough about the gang to make them feel dangerous.

5

Gunfights In Tombstone Still Hold Up Alongside Modern Movies

There are many gunfights in Tombstone, and while they are very different from what we typically see in modern movies, they are impactful for other reasons.

Shootouts in Tombstone are extraordinarily tense because they feel grounded. Our heroes can miss shots, just like the villains, and that’s an issue when your gun doesn’t hold many bullets. There’s a unique rawness to shootouts in the movie, and while they are certainly stylized, they are also believable.

We mentioned earlier that it’s easy to tell who the Cowboys are thanks to their red sashes, which also makes the gunfights so much better. Brawls with multiple combatants are refreshingly easy to follow, and audiences immediately know who to root for.

4

The Emotional Moments In Tombstone Still Hit Hard

We’ve praised Tombstone for its intense yet grounded gunfights and slick gunplay, but the movie knows when to slow the pace. Tombstone is a long movie, at just over two hours, and uses some of that time to explore its characters away from the action.

While most fans would point to particular battles as highlights, some emotional scenes hit exceptionally hard, even during a rewatch. It’s hard not to shed a tear during a couple of poignant scenes, and those moments wouldn’t be nearly as impactful if Tombstone were just a relentless action movie.

Many of the issues residents of Tombstone face are hard to identify with nowadays, but feuds between friends and family are always relatable.

3

Tombstone Captures The Deadly Reality Of Life In The 1800s

As Tombstone is ultimately a period drama, it paints a fascinating picture of life at the time. The movie does a great job of demonstrating how primitive medicine was, and how debilitating and life-threatening tuberculosis could be.

Tombstone also reveals the harsh realities of getting shot in the 1880s. Many modern movies would have you believe that the main characters can survive a bullet or that recovery is a simple process. The 1993 movie shows how grim and brutal the latter can be. It also shows that a bullet was a death sentence if a doctor couldn’t remove it.

Life in the fabled Arizona town is dangerous with organized crime gangs running rampant, and it’s clear that anyone could get caught in the crossfire.

2

The Movie Boasts An Unbeatable Cast

We’ve praised so many aspects of Tombstone on this list, but one thing that elevates it above so many other Westerns is its phenomenal cast. It’s a treat to see so many incredible actors shoulder to shoulder in a single movie, and their star power is undeniable.

Kurt Russell’s portrayal of Wyatt Earp is arguably one of the actor’s greatest characters. Sam Elliot and Bill Paxton are superb as the two other Earp brothers, and Michael Biehn is unforgettable as Johnny Ringo, a villain who clearly knows just how dangerous he is.

Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday isn’t one of the main characters, per se, as he is not one of the brothers, but he’s exceptional. Powers Boothe also plays a great antagonist in Curly Bill Brocius to round up arguably one of the most star-studded casts in a Western.

1

Val Kilmer’s Portrayal Of Doc Holliday Is Phenomenal

Many fans of Tombstone likely saw this coming, but one performance in particular elevates the movie from a great Western to one that general moviegoers won’t want to miss.

Doc Holliday is one of Val Kilmer’s career-defining characters. He exudes charisma, and while the story is primarily focused on the Earp brothers, Kilmer steals the spotlight every scene he is in. Holliday is a great gunslinger, but he’s so much more than that. He’s witty, intelligent, and responsible for dozens of quotable one-liners.

Kilmer’s character is also suffering from TB in the movie, and looks genuinely sick in many scenes, though it doesn’t make him any less deadly. Holliday is such a great character that you’ll likely find something you adore about Kilmer’s performance, even if you dislike Westerns in general.

Release Date

December 25, 1993

Runtime

130 minutes

Director

George P. Cosmatos

Writers

Kevin Jarre

Producers

Bob Misiorowski, James Jacks, Sean Daniel