Some films are timeless, like 1993’s Tombstone. The Kurt Russell-led Western is unexpectedly making a streaming comeback. It’s climbing MGM+’s Top 10 movies chart, per FlixPatrol, where it now sits at No. 9, beating out Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s 1988 action classic, Bloodsport. Last year, a similar pattern occurred with the iconic Western on MGM+ when it experienced a surge in popularity.
About ‘Tombstone’
For the uninitiated (although you should become initiated posthaste), Tombstone follows Russell as the famous lawman Wyatt Earp, who hopes “to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona,” but his plans “are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating.”
In addition to Russell, the movie boasts a bona fide stacked cast, including Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, Powers Boothe, Robert Burke, Dana Delany, Sam Elliott, Stephen Lang, Joanna Pacula, Bill Paxton, Jason Priestley, Michael Rooker, Jon Tenney, Billy Zane, and Charlton Heston.
George P. Cosmatos directed from a screenplay by Kevin Jarre. Originally, Jarre was supposed to direct Tombstone, but producer Andrew Vajna fired him and replaced him with Cosmatos. However, Russell later revealed he helmed the Western, not Cosmatos, noting that the latter was merely a “ghost director.” Russell also collaborated with producer James Jacks to polish Jarre’s script, which included removing narrative beats. They also placed greater emphasis on Wyatt Earp’s bond with Doc Holliday (Kilmer).
Tombstone premiered in theaters on Dec. 25, 1993. It debuted six months before the Kevin Costner vehicle, Wyatt Earp. Tombstone was a commercial success, grossing $73.2 million at the box office on a $25 million budget. On the critical front, reviews were mixed (with the occasional scathing assessment thrown in for good measure).
Your Huckleberry
The Western boasts a 76% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and 93% on the Popcornmeter. Retrospectives have painted it in a better light (for the most part), with the review aggregator’s critics’ consensus reading thusly: “If you’re seeking a stylish modern western with a solid story and a well-chosen ensemble cast, Tombstone is your huckleberry.”
Tombstone is now streaming on MGM+.
