Young Guns

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Young Guns

R

1988

1h 47m

Western

Action

Drama

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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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)

Aug 5, 2022

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

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Mar 25, 2019

A grownup could die in this wasteland.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

Mar 25, 2019

2/4

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

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Aaron Neuwirth

Why So Blu

Dec 13, 2023

7/10

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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 4, 2023

2/4

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

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David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

Mar 25, 2019

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

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Shelby Q

@ShelbyLynn Jul 22, 2026

I absolutely love the young guns movies. Emilio Estevez, Lou diamond Phillips, and the rest of the gang are fantastic... However, Charlie Sheen, in my honest opinion, is the only one that sticks out because his acting is subpar and awkward. I love Charlie Sheen and other things. But westerns is definitely not his area, but other than that absolutely great movies... I don't know why critics are so hard on a lot of these movies. I think they're hard just because they can be and for no other reason. GREAT FLICKS!!!

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Russell H

@RT85733992 Jul 3, 2026

I likes the 80s western vibe but other than that, nothing special. Some questionable acting by most of the gang.

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mad Z

@madzar Apr 11, 2026

Okay okay okay, right off the bat this movie looks beautiful! A super realistic western city look (not like those desolate desert towns you always see in westerns. "HOG BOYY *OINKOINKOINKOINK*" that's a funny one. "Yea Billy, whatchu kill him for? He was hacking on me." that is the coldest comeback I've ever heard! The fighting in this movie is some of the best I've ever seen! This movie is is also kinda sad + Billy is so mean but he's funny I've gotta give him that. This is entertainment at its finest.

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JPB S

@TruthHurtsAlways Mar 12, 2026

An absolute excellent movie - good action sequences with a nice blend of humor scattered throughout. I'm not sure what the so-called professional movie critics are talking about with such negative reviews, this is a great movie, always enjoyable to rewatch, and the same goes for Young Guns 2.

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Damon G

@Dmoney420 Feb 22, 2026

Classic 80s westerns were the best the action in this super good 10 out of 10

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Drew M.

@Stonehands211 Feb 18, 2026

A good dudes rock movie. Charlie Sheen sticks out like a sore thumb but everyone else crushes it.

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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

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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, Drama, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
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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