Few Westerns have stuck with me the way Tombstone has. It’s got everything you could want: deputies versus cowboys, intense shootouts, men brooding about law and order, and, of course, it wouldn’t be Tombstone without those amazing mustaches. The cast of Tombstone is stacked, with Kurt Russell’s Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday leading the way as one of the coolest and most quotable duos to come out of the Western. It’s a movie that delivers on every level. Decades later, Tombstone is still considered one of the great Western movies.
That said, as much as I love Tombstone, there’s one thing about it that’s always bugged me: the ending. After all the betrayal, loss, and bloodshed of Wyatt’s vendetta ride, the movie wraps things up with Wyatt and Josephine dancing in the snow. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to see Wyatt find happiness, but the tone feels so jarringly upbeat and off compared to everything that came before. It’s a moment that’s always felt out of place in what I think is an otherwise great movie.
Wyatt Earp’s Tombstone Ending Feels Too Upbeat After The Massacre That Came Before It
Tombstone Delivers Grit, Bloodshed, And An Ending That Doesn’t Fit
In the midst of a series of shootouts and ambushes, the film takes detours to show Wyatt falling in love with a local named Josephine. As far as a romantic subplot is concerned, that’s par for the course in a lot of Hollywood movies and Westerns. However, after all the blood is spilled, Tombstone ends on an almost saccharine note, with Wyatt and Josephine dancing in the snow, their future seemingly untarnished by the chaos they just endured. While it’s satisfying to see Wyatt find happiness, and that is technically what happened (minus the dancing in the snow), it feels disconnected from the grim reality that precedes it.
The vendetta ride transforms Wyatt Earp from a reluctant lawman into a merciless force of nature. His transition is powerful but leaves lingering questions about the cost of his revenge – questions the ending bypasses. Instead of grappling with the moral weight of Wyatt’s journey, the film opts for a picturesque finale.
By the time the credits roll, the narrative has smoothed over all the men Wyatt Earp has killed in Tombstone and the raw emotions those bodies stirred up. The upbeat resolution diminishes the complexity of Wyatt’s transformation and the harrowing journey that led him there. It’s not that Wyatt doesn’t deserve happiness, he absolutely does, but the abrupt tonal shift robs the story of a more resonant conclusion.
How A More Ambiguous Ending Would Have Made Tombstone Even Better
A More Nuanced Ending Could Have Really Elevated Tombstone
Instead of wrapping things up neatly with Wyatt and Josephine’s snow-dusted romance, the film could have hinted at his future happiness while acknowledging the scars left by his vendetta. Imagine Wyatt and Josephine sharing a quiet moment – no dancing, just a conversation about what happened and what’s to come. Or maybe it could have been more ambiguous. Wyatt could see Josephine waiting for him in the snow. He wants to be with her, but the deadly cycle of revenge, justice, and blood will continue and could endanger her.
This approach wouldn’t just fit the tone of the film. It would also respect the complexity of Wyatt’s character. Throughout the movie, Wyatt is portrayed as a man burdened by his sense of duty and the moral compromises it requires. He doesn’t relish violence, but sees it as necessary. An ending that leaned into that inner conflict, one where Wyatt is visibly haunted by his actions, would have resonated far more deeply. To be honest, I felt like much of the love story between Wyatt and Josephine felt out of place and always took me out of the movie. It tonally felt like two different films.
Tombstone Is Still A Classic Western Movie, Despite Wyatt Earp’s Ending
Despite Its Overly Tidy Ending, Tombstone Remains A Gen Of The Western Genre
Tombstone has fantastic characters, quotable dialogue, and action sequences that have cemented the film as a modern classic. We can never forget Val Kilmer’s now iconic performance as Doc Holliday. It’s a performance that elevates the entire film, providing a counterbalance to Wyatt’s stoic determination.
The movie’s strengths lie in its ability to blend traditional Western tropes with rich character dynamics. From the tense showdown at the O.K. Corral to the emotional fallout of the vendetta ride, Tombstone delivers one unforgettable moment after another. Even the minor characters, like Sam Elliott’s steadfast Virgil and Bill Paxton’s idealistic Morgan, leave a lasting impression. The film’s attention to detail and its unapologetic embrace of its genre make it endlessly rewatchable.
While it might not stick the landing perfectly, it doesn’t detract from the film’s overall impact. Wyatt’s story, with all its triumphs and tragedies, is still a compelling tale of loyalty, justice, and redemption. And maybe, for some viewers, the optimism of the ending is exactly what they need after the relentless darkness of the rest of the film. Ultimately, Tombstone doesn’t need to be perfect to be beloved. If the ending feels a bit too polished, it’s a small price to pay for the unforgettable journey that preceded it.