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.
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. 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. In contrast, the action scenes in Wyatt Earp are decidedly less fun and memorable.
Production: Tie
The budget for Tombstone was $25 million, and it shows in all the details that they could squeeze into the movie.