Tombstone
R
1993
Action · Over two hours but moves at a perfect clip with great character moments.
Solid crowd-pleaser
7.8/10
IMDb
76%
Fresh
50
50/100
Metacritic
🎬
7.6/10
TMDB
The brief
This is the most quotable Western ever made, built on Val Kilmer's absolutely electric Doc Holliday performance that somehow balances dying tuberculosis patient with sharp-tongued gunslinger legend. Kurt Russell anchors it as Wyatt Earp with weathered gravitas, but Kilmer steals every single scene he's in with lines you'll be repeating for years. The pacing feels like a classic studio Western but with modern action choreography that makes the gunfights feel brutal and immediate. Perfect if you love The Wild Bunch or Unforgiven but want something that doesn't take itself quite so seriously.
quotable dialogue
dusty western swagger
tuberculosis melancholy
brotherhood bonds
gunslinger legend
mining town grit
The verdict
If you love quotable dialogue and charismatic performances in your Westerns, this is essential viewing thanks to Val Kilmer's scene-stealing Doc Holliday and solid gunfight choreography. If you need tight pacing and deep character development over witty one-liners, the 130-minute runtime might feel indulgent despite the entertainment value.
Watch with
- 👥 Perfect for Western movie nights with friends
- ⚠️ Skip if you want historically accurate events
Heads up
- Frequent gunfight violence and shootouts (frequent)
- Characters die from tuberculosis (moderate)
- Gambling and saloon drinking throughout (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- George P. Cosmatos
- Cast
- Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, Powers Boothe, Robert John Burke, Dana Delany, Sam Elliott
Official synopsis
Legendary marshal Wyatt Earp, now a weary gunfighter, joins his brothers Morgan and Virgil to pursue their
