These ’90s movies tell the same story and were made at the same time, but which is superior between Tombstone and Wyatt Earp?
Since the two movies came out, Tombstone and Wyatt Earp have been constantly compared, and for a good reason. They have coincidentally entered production at the same time and have similar premises. Because of the timing of their releases, only being a few months apart, many people often get the two movies confused. However, despite these similarities on the surface, they are actually pretty different movies. So which one was the better ’90s Western? We will try to use as fair of metrics as possible to judge which of these two films was the better Western.
Story: Wyatt Earp
The story of Tombstone tells the Wyatt Earp tale set entirely in the 1880s in Tombstone, Arizona. It touches on the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Earp’s vendetta ride, among other famous events. The story in Tombstone is much more focused than the one in Wyatt Earp. When we meet Earp, he is already a retired peace officer with worldly experience and reputation. The film opens with Curly Bill’s massacre of a local policeman’s wedding, with Wyatt Earp having to put down the gang with the help of his posse.
In the other film, Wyatt Earp, we get much more of a character study of the famous lawman. We see him as a young farm boy and his struggles during the civil war. The movie also highlights Earp’s teenage years as a wagon driver and the events in his later years looking for gold in Alaska. Overall, we see a more human side of Wyatt Earp that works in the movie’s favor. Since we get to see so much more of Earp’s life in this version, the story feels more impactful and emotional. We also get to see Wyatt Earp meeting Doc Holiday and get a better sense of their long-standing friendship during later events.
Performances: Tombstone
Tombstone features fun performances from Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday. In particular, audiences fondly remember Val Kilmer’s hard-drinking antics, and he received several awards for his performance. The performances in Wyatt Earp are decidedly less memorable. The performances are not bad by any means, but Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid just don’t make as good of a duo as Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. Tombstone has a cult following all these years later, thanks partly to its cast, while the same cannot be said of Wyatt Earp.
Action: Tombstone
The action scenes in Tombstone are thoroughly entertaining. While the story and characters can often be less than artful, they are always entertaining during action sequences. The duels are punctuated, quick, and full of quotable lines. In contrast, the action scenes in Wyatt Earp
Production: Tie
The production of Tombstone was shot entirely on location in Arizona, and extra care was given to ensure the scenes had accurate historical details and authenticity. This meant that costumes, props, and background scenery were authentic to the time period. Also, all the mustaches in the movie are real, and many actors had to take time to practice their genteel accents. The budget for Tombstone was $25 million, and it shows in all the details that they could squeeze into the movie.
Kevin Costner was originally a part of the production of Tombstone before moving on to Wyatt Earp over disagreements with screenwriter Kevin Jarre. The film was also supposed to be a miniseries before being turned into a feature film, which led to a lot of trimming to make it work as a feature. This is why the story stretches over a more extended time period since it was meant to be told in multiple parts. Wyatt Earp had a bigger budget than Tombstone, and the film looks good. However, it feels like a small step up compared to its opponent. In the production category, there is not a clear winner.
Overall Winner
Overall, Tombstone wins by having won most of the categories. The film is overall more memorable and has a tighter focus than Wyatt Earp. The performances stick out as being particularly memorable, with there being many quotable lines that grab your attention. By contrast, Wyatt Earp lacks some of that fun in its story, choosing a more artful and reflective approach. These movies are two different ’90s western experiences and are worth watching in their own right. However, if you are in the mood for a classic western and can only choose one, Tombstone is the way to go.