The Shootist

The Shootist (1976)

  • 93% of critics liked it
    (14 reviews)

  • 84% of users liked it
    (9,149 ratings)

About ten minutes into The Shootist, Doctor Hostetler (James Stewart) tells aging Western gunfighter John Bernard Books (John Wayne), "You have a cancer." Knowing that his death will be painful and lingering, Books is determined to be shot in the line of "duty." In his remaining… More

Play Trailer

PG,
Directed By
Written By
Miles Hood Swarthout, Scott Hale
Genres
Documentary, Western, Drama, Action & Adventure
In Theaters
Aug 20, 1976 Limited
Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    John Wayne's very last film, an elegy for a dying cowboy, expresses the essence of his screen image, while borrowing elements from his own life.

  • Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

    That rare film where a star and an audience get to say goodbye to each other.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    John Wayne's swan song is a touching tribute to the legendary star and the Western.

  • Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

    Duke's last is valiant, underplayed western.

  • Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

    Effective swan-song for Wayne.

Read all 8 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jeff "


    The Shootist is a terrific Western starring the legendary John Wayne. The film was to be The Duke's final film role. The plot is about a hired that is dying of a terminal illness and looks in going out in fashion. Wayne is wonderful in his performance and this is a well executed… More

  • Universal D


    A touching film, heartfelt, as the Duke makes his final bow and he's fully aware that with him goes an era, the good and the bad. Here to say farewell are Stewart and Bacall, the old guard, and Ron Howard, the future. And the Duke makes his final bow.

  • Randy T


    There is something to be said about an old legend dying of cancer playing an old legend dying of cancer.

  • Michael G


    The idea of John Wayne's last movie being about a dying gunfighter is not only incredibly fitting but even when faced with the obvious ending that's been coming for over 90 minutes by the time it goes down, incredibly sad. Wayne does his later-era, typical cranky old codger… More

  • Chris G


    The Shootist represents John Wayne's swan song, the final film where the legend that is John Wayne appeared on the screen. The film follows the final days of J.B. Books (Wayne). Dying of cancer, he visits an old doctor friend (Jimmy Stewart) who informs the old gunslinger that he… More

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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Trailers & Clips