Young Guns (1988)
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40% of critics liked it
(25 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(60,976 ratings)
In this Western based loosely on actual events and people, Emilio Estevez stars as William H. Bonney (aka Billy the Kid). Sought for a petty crime in Lincoln County, Billy is taken in by John Tunstall (Terence Stamp), a British ranch owner seeking to make it in the cattle business. Tunstall employs… More In this Western based loosely on actual events and people, Emilio Estevez stars as William H. Bonney (aka Billy the Kid). Sought for a petty crime in Lincoln County, Billy is taken in by John Tunstall (Terence Stamp), a British ranch owner seeking to make it in the cattle business. Tunstall employs a group of "regulators," comprised of wayward youths he's gathered over the years, to watch over his ranch; in turn, he teaches them how to read and reforms them into better men. Tunstall's business interests come into conflict with those of corrupt and murderous businessman Lawrence Murphy (Jack Palance), whose widespread connections make him a power to be reckoned with. When Tunstall won't budge from his right to pursue a living, Murphy's henchmen stage an ambush and kill him. This triggers a vow of vengeance from the quick-tempered Billy and his five fellow regulators, who are deputized to serve arrest warrants in the murder. However, when Billy decides to gun down the suspects instead of detaining them, his loyal pals become accessories in a vigilante spree to wipe the territory clean of Murphy and his web of conspirators. Soon, the supposed lawmen are on the run from bounty hunters, henchmen, and government soldiers, from all directions of the compass. This box-office hit also stars Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi
- Directed By
- Christopher Cain
- Genres
- Western, Action & Adventure
- In Theaters
- Aug 12, 1988 Wide
- Studio
- Artisan Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Christopher Cain directed this western from a script by John Fusco, and on the whole seems much more comfortable with the scroungy and scatological dialogue than he does with the action sequences.
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, Time Out
Little more than a flawed romp, but energetic and enjoyable, with sterling performances from Sutherland and Estevez.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Young Guns is best watched in the playful, none-too-serious spirit in which it was made.
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Hal Hinson, Washington Post
They behave as if our adoration were their birthright.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
OK rehash of Old West villains, this time teaming them up in their early days.
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)
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Cast
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Emilio Estevez
as William H. Bonney/"Billy the Kid"
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Kiefer Sutherland
as Josiah "Doc" Scurlock
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Lou Diamond Phillips
as Jose Chavez Y Chavez
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Charlie Sheen
as Dick Brewer
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Jack Palance
as Lawrence G. Murphy
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Dermot Mulroney
as "Dirty Steve" Stephens
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Terence Stamp
as John Henry Tunstall
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Casey Siemaszko
as Charley Bowdre
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Terry O'Quinn
as Alex McSween
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Sharon Thomas
as Susan McSween
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Geoffrey Blake
as J. McCloskey
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Alice Carter
as Yen Sun
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Brian Keith
as Buckshot Roberts
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Tom Callaway
as Texas Joe Grant
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Patrick Wayne
as Pat Garrett
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Lisa Banes
as Mallory
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Victor Izay
as Justice Wilson
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Allen Keller
as John Kinney
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Cody Palance
as Baker
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Randy Travis
as Ring Member
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Jeff Prettyman
as Judge Bristol
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Forrest Broadley
as Rynerson
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Loyd Lee Brown
as Soldier
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Craig M. Erikson
as Peppin
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Gadeek
as Henry Hill
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Sam Gauny
as Morton
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Joey Hanks
as Hindman
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Gary Kanin
as Col. Duoley
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Daniel Karmin
as Sheriff Brady
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Pat Lee
as Janey
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Jeremy H. Lepard
as Jimmy Dolan
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Elena Parres
as Manuela's Mother
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Richela Renkun
as Bar Girl
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Alan Tobin
as Bartender

