Realistic Gunfights In Movies

M3Stuart · Dec 3, 2012

I've got one for you: Saturday I flipped through a movie on sci-fi channel where this desert area was overrun by giant 'camel spiders'. When the army shows up (with requisite b-grade 'hot chick') their super-duper M-4's have unlimited ammo of some new variety of which I was unaware. Turns out that, this new ammo does NOT eject spent casings when fired! Wow! I am headed over to that 'series of tubes' known as 'the internet' to attempt a purchase of a large quantity of this 'caseless' ammo!

Cooter Brown · Dec 3, 2012

I like the one where Ralphie uses his Red Rider to fight off the robbers in "A Christmas Story".

It's more entertaining than most for sure. I seem to be alone in this but I thought that scene in "Heat" was so over choreographed I laughed most of the way thru it. So I guess it was entertaining too!

squidsix · Dec 3, 2012

Thief with James Caan. The end scene was pretty good.
The gunfight in History Of Violence in the diner was close also.

kamloops67 · Dec 3, 2012

tom horn starring steve mcqueen .he shows raw nerve as badguys are hastily firing a hail of bullets in his direction ,he calmly grabs his 45-60 rifle aims and fires. also the shotgun fight was pretty good, bad guy's head was "displaced" much like a milk jug does when shot with 3" ssg ...or a coyote at twenty feet with same (takes more than one trip to clean up debris)

nipster · Dec 3, 2012

squidsix said:
Thief with James Caan. The end scene was pretty good.

Excellent movie. Probably James Caan's best movie outside of his role in the first Godfather movie and the Killer Elite. Excellent Soundtrack by tangerine dream, and one of Director Michael Mann's (Miami Vice) first movies. Also one of the first on-screen roles from a very underrated actor Dennis Farina. Also Tuesday Weld

That gunfight scene at the end seemed to me to be one of the more believable ones in film. Having had zero exposure to a real gunfight.

Old TexMex · Dec 3, 2012

Raiders of the Lost Ark had a most realistic gun fight. When Indy drew and used his S&W hand ejector to defend himself against an Arabian sword guy.

DCWilson · Dec 3, 2012

I kind of like the basement shootout in Inglourious Basterds. The talky and self-conscious lead-in was all Hollywood, but with the first two shots the slow scene turned into a fast and uncontrolled explosion of barely comprehensible action. I would imagine that any gunfight involving a bunch of trained and well-armed people in a confined space would be something like that, particularly when half of those involved didn't know a fight was coming and had to figure out in about a second which side they should be on.

Yeah, Thief. Haven't seen that in years. I need to watch it again.

Sailfish 40 · Dec 3, 2012

i like this one from Boogie Nights. warning, contains strong language.

Boogie Nights Jessie's Girl - YouTube

ohiojerry · Dec 3, 2012

Haven't seen it for awhile but I recall James Caan's character in Way of the Gun being pretty realistic.

ACP230 · Dec 3, 2012

I always thought the opening scene in
"The Shootist" was realistic. A highwayman tries to rob J.B. Books. Books responds by gut shooting him with a hideout gun that was inside a wallet holster.

"You need to find another line of work..." or something like that in
dialogue.

Foodfuzz · Dec 3, 2012

I like Clint Eastwood in the "Unforgiven" No out in the midle of the street you draw first at high noon stuff, just down and dirty and deadly with a shotgun in the saloon, and handgun earlier in an outhouse. For pure Hollyweird B.S. I like Bruce Willis in "The Last Man Standing" I mean who can't take two .45's and just plow through the bad guys like knock em' down pins?

keith44spl · Dec 3, 2012

ACP230 said:
I always thought the opening scene in
"The Shootist" was realistic. A highwayman tries to rob J.B. Books. Books responds by gut shooting him with a hideout gun that was inside a wallet holster.

"Mister you'd better find yourself another line of work...This one sure don't fit yur pistol!"

One of the great movie lines...........

Su Amigo,
Dave

Old cop · Dec 3, 2012

Like someone else said I too have seen the elephant, gunfight w/three armed robbers early in my LEO career. I was armed w/a Colt Det. Spl. and emptied it twice to save my hide. While I do recall seeing muzzle flash, the fight was in a parking lot after dark, but I never heard a thing.

All of the movies mentioned are good ones but none come close to the real deal, no way they could or maybe should.

Chris L. · Dec 3, 2012

cmort666 said:
The last 10-15 minutes of "Thief" with James Caan.

The last time I heard, he was an anti-gunner, but somebody obviously taught him how to handle an M1911 in a very professional way.

I've never seen this movie. Thanks for the heads up!

Chris L. · Dec 3, 2012

sceva said:
In Witness Ford used a 2" Mod 10 with the round half moon front sight.

Glover had a 4" Mod 28

Very good! You must be a real S&W guy!

I knew they were Smiths but wasn't sure which models.

Chris L. · Dec 3, 2012

steamloco76 said:
I like Open Range, however they perpetuate the Hollywood myth that a shotgun can blow somebody through the side of a building.

I remember a scene in the awful movie 'Stick' with Burt Reynolds where the albino bad guy pulls out has big revolver and blows this guy clear 20' into a swimming pool. And this was just a revolver mind you.

It was on of the most ridiculous examples of the Hollywood "blow away" I've ever seen!

BearBio · Dec 3, 2012

My DI said, you get into a knife fight, figure you gonna get cut! The climax of Taxi Driver=everybody got shot.

I saw a pretty good one in Boardwalk Empire last night. If you don't follow the series, it takes too long to explain!

RobertJ. · Dec 3, 2012

kraigwy said:
My all time favorite movie gun fight:

Water Hole #3:

Bad guy calls good guy out. Bad guy standing in the street, typical gun fighter. Good guy comes out of the bar, walks around his horse, pulls out a rifle, lies it over the saddle and shoots bad guy before bad guy even starts to go for his gun.

Classic.

If you hadn't named it, I would have!

That's my favorite movie gunfight scene. I'd be willing to bet that it happened a lot!

sigp220.45 · Dec 3, 2012

I have to second the nod to last night's Boardwalk Empire finale. That was the best cathouse cleanout since Tommy Lee Jones and William Devane teamed up in Rolling Thunder.

Richard Harrow, a WWI vet who wears a tin mask to cover his gruesome facial wound, used his entire gun collection working his way through a crowd of over-their-heads gangsters to rescue a little boy.

Not a clip, but this gives you an idea:

'Boardwalk Empire' Season Finale Recap: 'Margate Sands'

cmort666 · Dec 3, 2012

Foodfuzz said:
For pure Hollyweird B.S. I like Bruce Willis in "The Last Man Standing" I mean who can't take two .45's and just plow through the bad guys like knock em' down pins?

No, not at all realistic, but it's got some great lines. Here's the best:

"Looks like you'll have to kill me. -It'll hurt if I do."

Realistic Gunfights In Movies

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Attachments

Member

Similar threads