Young Guns

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Young Guns

R

Released Aug 12, 1988

1h 47m

Western

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The year is 1878, Lincoln County. John Tunstall, a British ranch owner, hires six rebellious boys as "regulators" to protect his ranch against the ruthless Santa Fe Ring. When Tunstall is killed in an ambush, the Regulators, led by the wild-tempered Bill the Kid (Emilio Estevez), declare war on the Ring. As their vendetta turns into a bloody rampage, they are branded outlaws, becoming the objects of the largest manhunt in Western history.

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Critics Consensus

Young Guns rounds up a posse of attractive young leads, but this cheerfully shallow Brat Pack Western ultimately has too much hat and not enough cattle.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

... If you don’t take it too seriously it’s an entertaining romp.

Aug 5, 2022

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

A grownup could die in this wasteland.

Mar 25, 2019

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

''Young Guns'' is a very Dean-ish, sensitive delinquent melodrama disguised, for no good reason, as a western.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 25, 2019

Full Review

Aaron Neuwirth

Why So Blu

To my surprise, there’s a movie here that features a fair amount of grit.

Rated: 7/10

Dec 13, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Too much pretty-boy posturing by several of its Brat Pack stars.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 4, 2023

Full Review

David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

The polite word for his kind of filmmaking is "classical.'' Another word is "trite."

Mar 25, 2019

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Stephen C

1 hour and 47 minutes of Western fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

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Chief B

One of my favorite movies. The cast is superb and for me Emilio Estevez steals the show.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

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Audience Member

Very entertaining western. Emilio Estevez shines in this one (He also the hockey coach in Mighty Ducks). The ending was good the fight scenes were good. I don't really have much to complain about so if you're looking for a pretty good western, I think this will satisfy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

Frans B

Mostly watched it on account of the soundtrack, which was awesome. Really well done, not too serious and surely not shallow. Lots of memorable one liners. Great photography and scenery. Very entertaining and exciting enough

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

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Mel G

Great Wild West Popcorn Movie Fun! The paid critic prove once again they make too much.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

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Jaxson J

Underrated movie. I wish that more people would see this movie based on a real story, but most people think of it as some poorly made western movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

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Christopher Cain

Director

Emilio Estevez

William H. Bonney

Kiefer Sutherland

Josiah Gordon 'Doc' Scurlock

Lou Diamond Phillips

Jose' Chavez y Chavez

Charlie Sheen

Richard Brewer

Dermot Mulroney

Dirty Steve Stephens

Young Guns: Official Clip - Chavez's Vision

2:52

Young Guns: Official Clip - Let's Dance

2:34

Young Guns: Official Clip - You and I

1:36

Young Guns: Official Clip - He's a Spy!

2:24

Young Guns: Official Clip - The Peyote Trip

2:10

Young Guns: Official Clip - Get Ready for Hell

2:46

Young Guns: Official Clip - The Peyote Ritual

1:25

Young Guns: Official Clip - Reap It!

3:06

Young Guns: Official Clip - I'm Gonna Kill Billy the Kid

2:41

Young Guns: Official Clip - Bathroom Arrest

1:49

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Synopsis

The year is 1878, Lincoln County. John Tunstall, a British ranch owner, hires six rebellious boys as "regulators" to protect his ranch against the ruthless Santa Fe Ring. When Tunstall is killed in an ambush, the Regulators, led by the wild-tempered Bill the Kid (Emilio Estevez), declare war on the Ring. As their vendetta turns into a bloody rampage, they are branded outlaws, becoming the objects of the largest manhunt in Western history.

Director: Christopher Cain
Producer: Christopher Cain, James G. Robinson
Screenwriter: John Fusco
Distributor: Vestron Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Artisan Entertainment
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Morgan Creek Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Western, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $43.4M
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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