If you like westerns, these are the most important duels

Western films have been among the most interesting film genres for the past 75 years. This period in American history of outlaws and crime fighters captured people’s imaginations. Since the meteoric rise of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, this type of film has exploded in popularity, with gun duels being among the most memorable parts of individual films.

When you look at the rich catalog of Western films, choosing the most memorable duels is downright difficult. This is one of those movie moments where you have too many good options, which makes the decision all the more difficult. To help narrow down your options, we’ll look at Reddit, Rant gameand MovieWeb to help identify the most memorable duels you should watch in no particular order.

Why is this important?

Many Western movie duels have taken place on set locations just like this one.

The world of movies is huge, with global box office revenues of $33.2 billion in 2023. Over $9 billion was made in the US alone through genres like westerns, animation, action, horror, and more. With global movie revenues among the biggest pieces of the $100 billion entertainment world, there’s no doubt that the big names we cover on this website, including Universal, Disney, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros, contribute to this dollar amount.

12. Once upon a time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West was the last film of Western film director Sergio Leone.

• Release date: 1968
• Actors: Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards

Directed and written by Sergio Leone, the man responsible for several films on this list, he shot and released Once Upon a Time in the West. The final shootout, which takes place in the last 15 minutes of the film, is something of a drag as there is a slow build before any action finally takes place. This final shootout is one of the best because it surprises you just when you think you know how the movie ends.

11. The good, the bad and the ugly

Clint Eastwood portrays the character “The Man With No Name” to perfection.

• Release date: 1966
• Actors: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach, Antonio Casas

A film focused on the search for hidden gold during the Civil War, the film’s finale features one of the best duels in cinema history. Taking place in a graveyard, the scene features the characters of Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef standing against each other in a three-way duel. The film makes you nervously anticipate action that won’t happen for a few minutes, but the results and the winner will leave you in awe once it arrives.

10. Silverado

Silverado was a blockbuster for several actors, including Kevin Kline and Kevin Costner.

• Release date: 1985
• Actors: Kevin Kline, Brian Dennehy, Rosanna Arquette, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Costner

In 1985, the Silverado came out when the big hair movies of the 1980s were all the rage and westerns felt out of date. Still, Silverado defied the odds and gave you its fair share of fights, but none as notable as the one between Kevin Kline and Brian Dennehy’s characters. Facing off in a traditional Western duel, the depiction of both men saying goodbye to their friends beforehand is a poignant moment you don’t see in other Western films.

9. Young guns

Young Guns is one of the best Western movies of the 1980s.

• Release date: 1988
• Actors: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Philips, Charlie Sheen

Young Guns is one of the most memorable westerns released between the 1980s and 1990s, featuring a dozen incredible actors. There’s no doubt that Emilio Estevez’s portrayal of Billy the Kid offers plenty of memorable duels to choose from. The best, however, is between the “Regulators” and the US military at the end of the film, where the main characters end up in a no-win situation, or so the directors initially want you to think.

8. The wild bunch

The four main stars of The Wild Bunch create some incredible duels in the film.

• Release date: 1969
• Actors: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan

A Quentin Tarantino-esque movie made decades before Quentin Tarantino entered the movie business is awesome. The film focuses on a group of outlaws trying to survive near the southern border of the United States. The film’s most memorable duel, featuring a Maxim machine gun, Federals, grenades and lots of revolvers, was one of the bloodiest ever put on screen at its release.

7. Shane

Alan Ladd does a fantastic job as the main character in Shane.

• Release date: 1953
• Actors: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin

The last film in the career of the wonderful Jean Arthur is yet another masterpiece in cinema. As the title character, Alan Ladd plays Shane to perfection, and his dueling in the gym is something movies would emulate for decades. The main character’s quick drawing skills wowed audiences when the film was released and still do for first-time viewers to this day.

6. True Grit

True Grit is a shining example of why John Wayne was a fantastic Western movie star.

• Release date: 1969
• Actors: John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall

Perhaps the film that cemented John Wayne as one of the world’s biggest Western movie stars, True Grit’s most memorable duel is a masterpiece. Wayne’s fight against the Pepper gang, who he says will “catch or kill” them, is a masterpiece in a way that only John Wayne presents as a true tough guy. Dueling four gang members at once, you have to watch the duel to see what happens.

5. Quick and dead

Sharon Stone has several memorable shootouts in The Quick and the Dead.

• Release date: 1995
• Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Gene Hackman, Keith David, Sharon Stone

In a film full of memorable duels, the best is between Russell Crowe’s character and Gene Hackman’s. While the film didn’t get the rave reviews it should have, Hackman’s villainous character is true to his acting style and everything about the film works so well. Sharon Stone also gave one of her best performances, and although she plays a supporting character, she might as well be the best part of the film.

4. A handful of dollars

Fistful of Dollars is the first of three films starring Clint Eastwood.

• Release date: 1964
• Actors: Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volonte, Marianne Koch

The first in the Man With No Name trilogy starring Clint Eastwood, the duel in A Fistful of Dollars is a classic spaghetti Western. When Eastwood’s unnamed character faces off against his rival Ramon Rojo, famous for shooting in the heart, Eastwood wears an armored plate over his heart during the duel, leaving Rojo dazed and vulnerable. This film cemented Eastwood as a Western movie star forever.

3. For a few extra bucks

The duel in For a Few Dollars More is one of Eastwood’s best.

• Release date: 1965
• Actors: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef

One of Clint Eastwood’s best roles and a follow-up to A Fistful of Dollars, the film shows that The Man With No Name is not the centerpiece of this famous movie duel. Instead, Clint Eastwood’s character intervenes in the fight against the infamous outlaw El Indio. The two title characters/actors start out as enemies, but the emotional connection with the El Indio / Lee Van Cleef duel works so well.

2. Tombstone

Shotout Tombstone is one of the best of any western movie.

• Release date: 1993
• Actors: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn

While Tombstone was released in 1993, it still feels like one of the most modern Western movies and can often be found reruns on cable TV. The film tells the story of the Earp brothers, including the famous lawman Wyatt Earp, as they move to Tombstone, Arizona in search of a new beginning. The film’s OK Corral gunfight undoubtedly takes some traditional Hollywood liberties, but it remains one of the most famous gunfights in history.

1. High noon

High Noon delivers what is arguably the best Western movie duel ever.

• Release date: 1952
• Actors: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly

One of the most beloved Westerns of all time, High Noon was released in 1952 at a high point in cinema for the time. The film had a great script and top-notch actors and set the stage for future generations of Western films. In the film, the main character, played by Gary Cooper, confronts a group of criminals he imprisoned years ago at lunch in a four-on-one duel that remains extremely memorable.

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