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Top 20 Movies for Gun Enthusiasts
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Gunfights and shootouts have a rich history in cinema. Intense gun battles between heroes and their adversaries have been a key element of climactic action scenes in classic Westerns, crime films, and war stories. Their popularity has only increased over time.
Below is a list of the top 20 films for fans of firearms:
Black Hawk Down
In this adaptation of Mark Bowden’s book, Josh Hartnett, Orlando Bloom, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Hardy portray Task Force Rangers tasked with capturing the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Regarded as the quintessential action film, it benefited from production assistance, including Black Hawk helicopters and training for personnel, provided by the U.S. Department of Defense. What added to its uniqueness is that numerous pilots and soldiers who participated in the real Battle of Mogadishu were featured in the film.
The action-packed film includes numerous combat sequences and showcases various weapons, such as Colt Model 727 and 733 rifles, as well as Colt M4 Carbines. In one particularly dramatic fight scene, the first Black Hawk, Super Six-One, is shot down by an RPG-7 launcher. Throughout the movie, there are several moments featuring guns malfunctioning and the reloading of M1911s.
Act of Valor
Active-duty Navy SEALs, along with Alex Veadov, Christo, Roselyn Sanchez, Lisa Morales, Nestor Serrano, Walter Ross, and Rorke Denver, undertake a secret operation to thwart a Mexican cartel and rescue a kidnapped CIA operative.
This contemporary war movie showcases intense action sequences. The involvement of real Navy SEALS lends authenticity to the film’s setting. Act of Valor incorporates navy training locations and weaponry, with several combat scenes utilizing live ammunition. Lt. Commander Rorke, a member of the cast, describes the gunfights as “much more calm, composed, and disciplined.”
Below are some of the weapons featured in the film:
- SIG-Sauer P226
- Heckler & Koch MP5A2
- AKM Rifles
- M240 door guns
- GAU-17/A Minigun (This firearm operates using live rounds.)
Shoot ‘Em Up
The shooter Mr. Smith (Clive Owen), who has a fondness for eating carrots, teams up with a sex worker, DQ (Monica Bellucci), to protect and transport a baby from armed attackers. During their escape from hitman Hertz (Paul Giamatti), Smith and DQ uncover the scheme of a dying senator who intends to extract bone marrow from infants, including the one they are safeguarding.
The film showcases several thrilling shootouts, precise gunfire, and the remarkable arrangement of objects placed in the center of the room.
The film showcases several impressive firearms, including the Desert Eagle Mark XIX, Walther PPK, and Smith & Wesson Model 629. While Smith does use a carrot as a weapon against the villains, that’s not really what we’re focusing on, right?
The Outpost
Drawing inspiration from Jake Tapper’s book *The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor*, the film honors the Battle of Kamdesh, which was one of America’s most challenging confrontations with the Taliban during the Afghan war.
The start of the battle scene illustrates how quickly situations can escalate in warfare, going from calm to chaotic in just moments, with snipers, explosions, and ammunition resupplies triggering clashes without any auditory warning.
The M224 Mortars and the M120 are essential for safeguarding the outpost, and nearly every soldier carries an M4A1 Carbine. Several soldiers have grenade launchers attached. Both Taliban fighters and Afghan soldiers can be seen wielding AK-47s.
James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
In the ninth film of the James Bond series, the infamous killer Scaramanga, who charges a million dollars for each job, threatens the life of the iconic MI6 agent. The film features one of the most iconic shootouts in cinema when Scaramanga, equally skilled as Bond, attempts to surpass him.
While the adversary wields a 4.2-mm single-shot pistol, Bond’s Walther is equipped with a six-shot magazine. To cause the greatest destruction, Scaramanga employs unique golden bullets.
Sicario
“Sicario,” meaning “hitman” in both Spanish and Italian, ranks seventh on our list of the best films for gun enthusiasts. In this film, Emily Blunt portrays FBI agent Kate Macer, who is on a mission to dismantle a Mexican drug cartel. While the plot unfolds at a leisurely pace, it includes remarkable action sequences, with the border gunfight being a prime example.
The convoy faces a delay during the extraction due to traffic. The agents notice cartel members blending in with the crowd, leading to a standoff where both parties brandish their weapons. As gang members emerge from their vehicles, the agents follow suit. Ultimately, the agents overwhelm the cartel, bringing the confrontation to a swift conclusion.
This film features a narrow range of firearms, with the Glock 19 and the SIG-Sauer P226 DAK being the only guns utilized during the shootouts.
Unforgiven
Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, and Gene Hackman star in this western gunfight film. Eastwood portrays Will Munny, a former outlaw searching for two men who assaulted a prostitute for a $1000 reward in 1880 (roughly $27.5k in 2022). This blockbuster showcases numerous typical western shootouts. The saloon confrontation highlights both exceptional skill and brutality, subverting the classic western tropes of amiable cowboys and aiding only the innocent.
In this scene, Munny displays his most ruthless side. He mercilessly shoots the defenseless saloon owner and continues to fire at the men beside him, discharging multiple rounds. While Munny remains composed, the others are frantic in their shooting, causing their bullets to go astray. The film showcases a variety of historical firearms from the Western period, including:
- The Spencer 1860 Carbine Rifle
- The Winchester 1892 Rifle
- The Remington 1875 Pistol
- The Colt 1860 Army Pistol
Extraction
Chris Hemsworth swaps his Thor hammer for a SWAT vest and an army rifle. In this role, he portrays Tyler Rake, a covert mercenary assigned to save the abducted son of a jailed Indian drug lord.
Hemsworth takes on a dozen soldiers by himself, armed with shotguns, machine guns, grenade launchers, and pistols, resulting in intense action. The unforgettable bloodshed is enhanced by the camera angles, the choreography of the fights, and the music, which effectively blend gunfire and close combat into a savage and bloody showdown.
Along with his Glock 17 handgun, Rake is shown wielding a customized BCM CQB-11 rifle during the pivotal confrontation. Bangladeshi troops use the Type 69 RPG grenade launcher. The film prominently displays M79 grenade launchers and AK-47 assault rifles.
Desperado
In Desperado, El Mariachi, a solitary vigilante in Mexico, seeks revenge on a drug lord who killed his beloved. Unsurprisingly, he will annihilate anyone and anything that stands in his way to achieve this goal.
He derives intense pleasure from using his guitar case, which doubles as a formidable weapons cache. One case functions as a powerful rocket launcher, while the other two operate as rapid-fire machine guns. A considerable amount of violence is required to take down the drug lord, but the nearly unbeatable El Mariachi eliminates the entire gang in a storm of bloodshed.
Lone Survivor
Lone Survivor narrates the story of a SEAL operation that fails. The team is tasked with eliminating a Taliban leader, but things quickly spiral out of control, leading to a desperate fight for survival. The four Navy SEALs featured in the narrative confront overwhelming obstacles. Ultimately, US Navy SEAL Luttrell emerges as the only survivor.
This film features a variety of military weaponry, such as the Beretta 92FS, M4A1 Carbine, and Mk 12 Mod 1 Special Purpose Rifles. The Chinook helicopters are armed with FN M240D machine guns.
RoboCop
Because of its intense scenes featuring torn flesh, flowing blood, and chaotic gunfire, this iconic action/sci-fi film from the 1980s needed considerable editing. In a future world plagued by rampant crime, a dedicated police officer is brutally murdered by heartless criminals, only to be brought back to life as the crime-fighting cyborg, Robocop.
Several iconic weapons featured in the film include the “Cobra Assault Cannon,” a large advanced military device that fires a powerful explosive bullet that detonates on contact, and Robocop’s “Auto 9,” which he uses in a three-round burst firing mode.
The Way of the Gun
Ryan Phillippe and Benicio del Toro portray Parker and Longbaugh, two petty criminals who abduct the surrogate mother of a dangerous criminal. As they stand close to a doorway, the two characters have a brief conversation about death. This leads to an intense shootout as they confront each other.
In this film, the criminals showcase an unexpected range of weapons despite being constantly on the move. Parker and Longbaugh primarily rely on the Colt Series 70 Government Model pistol. The Walther PPK/S is also prominently featured as the weapon used to eliminate one of the key characters, Dr. Painter (Dylan Kussan). Other firearms utilized throughout the movie include shotguns, rifles, and revolvers.
Equilibrium
A captivating tale unfolds about a man who realizes he has lost touch with both himself and reality. Following the unintended destruction of his mind-altering medication, he becomes increasingly burdened by his choices, especially as he is a proficient assassin employed by a ruthless government. He has taken the life of a friend, lost his wife, forgotten his children, and comes to the painful realization that his situation will only improve if he takes action.
The gun-kata is visually striking, and the action sequences are outstanding. You’ll be astonished by both the short-range and long-range gun kata confrontations, reminiscent of the iconic lobby shootout scene from The Matrix.
Dredd
In the sprawling and violent city of Mega-City One, criminals dominate the streets. The law is enforced by police officers known as “judges,” who act as the judge, jury, and executioner. Dredd (Karl Urban), one of the most feared officers, is partnered with Cassandra (Olivia Thirlby), a rookie with impressive psychic abilities. The two are dispatched to a perilous area controlled by Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), a drug lord who will stop at nothing to protect her empire. What follows is an explosive showdown filled with action, culminating in a dramatic conclusion as the players and the situation unfold.
Lethal Weapon
Martin Riggs (played by Mel Gibson), a detective in the Los Angeles police force, grapples with suicidal ideations following the death of his wife. After being assigned to partner with Roger Murtaugh (played by Danny Glover), the two initially clash. However, they soon uncover a major drug trafficking operation together. As they face increasingly dangerous situations, Riggs and Murtaugh develop a stronger bond. Riggs’ volatile nature may be exactly what they need to apprehend the criminals. A former Special Forces sniper, Riggs is highly skilled with his Beretta 92F pistol, capable of shooting bullets to create a smiley face on a target from distances of up to twelve yards.
Young Guns
A distinguished British gentleman, John Tunstall (played by Terence Stamp), employs troubled young people to manage his cattle in the New Mexico frontier. A diverse group of cowhands, including Richard Brewer (Charlie Sheen), Doc Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland), and William “Billy the Kid” Bonney (Emilio Estevez), set out to seek revenge for the death of their cherished mentor after Tunstall is murdered by the corrupt Lawrence G. Murphy (Jack Palance).
The film showcases thrilling shootouts, including a scene where Billy bursts out of a window, firing his Colt Lightning while the Young Guns, under siege in a building by their foes, try to gun their way to freedom.
Machine Gun Preacher
The movie tells the true story of Sam Childers, a former heroin dealer and biker who found faith and traveled to Sudan. There, he allied with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army to protect orphans from the atrocities committed by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Childers not only founded an orphanage in LRA territory but also orchestrated armed missions to rescue children from the LRA. His skills in combat and violence quickly elevate him to a leadership role among local rebels, as he declares a war in the name of God, leading to intense gun battles.
Gun Crazy 3: Traitor’s Rhapsody
Aki Fukase, a standout graduate from the police academy, is a new officer eager to make a name for herself in law enforcement. Unfortunately, her inexperience contributes to her partner’s death when they fall victim to a trap set by the international terrorist group Galhowk.
Driven by her guilt, Aki resolves to track down Glohawk to make amends for her deeds and seek vengeance. This leads to a violent clash involving gunfire.
From Dusk till Dawn
In the film From Dusk till Dawn, two brothers who are bank robbers take a pastor and his two stepchildren captive while trying to escape to Mexico. They make a stop at a nearby strip club, where they encounter and battle a group of vampires.
The film features several impressive gun battles, including one that takes place during a robbery at a liquor store. Eventually, they ignite the building before heading back to their car.
John Wick
After marrying his true love, the famous assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) retired from his violent profession. Heartbroken by her sudden death, John taps into his relentless side and seeks revenge when the heartless mobster Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) and his accomplices steal his beloved car and kill the dog that was a final gift from his wife. In response, John’s former colleague, who is also Iosef’s father (Michael Nyqvist), puts a significant bounty on John’s head.
Although Wick has retired from his life as a hitman, he still maintains a concealed collection of weapons. In the film, he primarily uses a Heckler & Koch P30L equipped with a distinctive compensator. He is also depicted using a DTA Stealth Recon Scout sniper rifle, an FN SCAR-H sniper rifle, and a Glock 26 compact pistol.
Final Thoughts
From classic Westerns to modern action blockbusters, the films on this list showcase some of the most thrilling gunfights in cinematic history. Whether it’s historical war dramas like Black Hawk Down, high-energy shootouts in John Wick, or strategic sniper battles in Lone Survivor, these movies offer unforgettable moments for gun enthusiasts.
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What are your favorite gunfight scenes in movies? Let us know in the comments!
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