Decades after its 1993 release, Tombstone remains one of the greatest Westerns of all time. It features a star-studded cast, strong connections to real-world history, and an emotional story that touches on everything that makes the genre so great. The action is compelling, and the characters are more than capable of holding their own in the movie’s expansive ensemble. Though it did not enjoy an exceptional reach early on, it quickly found its niche. Since then, it remains a cult classic in the genre and remains generally respected today. Whenever attention returns to the classic Western movies, Tombstone always has a seat in the discussion.
One of its central characters, Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday, is often the reason why. Doc was based on a historical figure, who is best known for having participated in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The fight made him a living legend, especially as he continued his battle with tuberculosis even as he fought. Tombstone hoped to tell his story with the genuine respect that it deserved. All the same, it managed to inject some humor into Doc’s character. By doing so, the movie only managed to make Doc Holliday even more terrifying.
Tombstone Is Best Remembered as a Drama
The Western Was Based on Real-World Outlaws
There are some funny moments in Tombstone, but it is difficult to describe it as a comedy. After all, the movie opens with a brutal massacre and a gunfight that leaves several victims. Anyone attempting to insert humor into such a stark scenario would rightfully receive criticism. As such, much of Tombstone remains as dramatic as possible. It even had the acting talent necessary to ensure that audiences would easily connect with its characters. After all, it only takes one look at the main actors to see promise:
At the time of its release, it was fairly successful. It earned $73.2 million ($163 million today) at the box office against a $25 million budget ($56 million today). That was certainly an impressive total, especially for a Western in the ’90s, but it struggled compared to other releases. After all, it was released in the same year as Jurassic Park, which earned $1 billion even before inflation. There was never any hope of standing up to that juggernaut. Tombstone was simply overshadowed at the box office, even if it was generally respected. It was only in the years after that it truly managed to find its footing.
To this day, Tombstone remains acclaimed by audiences. It stands as one of the best R-rated Westerns ever, joining the likes of The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1967), Django Unchained (2012), and Brokeback Mountain (2005), which had a significantly different genre. While the movie struggled somewhat with critics, having earned a 74% Tomatometer score, it was a hit with the average viewer. It maintains a 93% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. The average score is an impressive 4.4 out of 5. It’s certainly an excellent showing, and it proves that the film still holds up today.
There Were Some Comedic Elements in Tombstone
Even Doc Holliday’s Final Line Hinted at Humor
The dramatic elements were generally what made Tombstone so beloved. It is hard to overlook the awe-inspiring gunfight at the O.K. Corral, let alone the initial massacre by the Cowboys. Tombstone’s best scenes saw characters going to war and killing each other. Still, it was never afraid to delve into comedy. Doc Holliday spent much of the movie terrifying his enemies. Knowing that he was dying, he rarely shied away from a fight. If he did, after all, it would be difficult to go out in a blaze of glory. He seemed to want nothing more than that.
Even on his deathbed, Doc was happy to lean into humor. He was covered in a blanket, preparing to pass on, and staring at his bare feet. His final words — “This is funny” — proved just how little he cared for it all. The only thing that amused him was that he would die in a bed, while Johnny Ringo died on his feet. It was a victory of sorts for Doc, and he managed to find the humor in it even as he died. It may not have been a laugh-out-loud comedic style, but it brought some levity to a deeply serious movie.
Tombstone’s Funniest Line Had a Dark Undertone
Doc Holliday Was Terrifying
The funniest line in Tombstone was another quote by Doc Holliday. It did not read as especially funny at the moment, but it was an exceptionally clever line. Doc drank heavily before a fight, which would typically be a death sentence for many heroes in Western movies. For Doc, it was nothing more than an opportunity to spit an incredible one-liner. After being told that he was “probably seeing double”, Doc remarked that “I have two guns, one for each of ya.” The threat came without any delay at all.
Even when he was drunk and altogether lost, there was nothing that could stop Doc Holliday from showing off.
What made the line even better was that Doc was showing off with his actions, instead of using words alone. Instead of just brandishing the pistols, he flipped them. He even managed to do it without spilling his drink. It was a scene that proved just how terrifying Doc was. Even when he was drunk and altogether lost, there was nothing that could stop Doc Holliday from showing off. He made it apparent that he could kill every Cowboy without spilling a beer, and he was more than willing to prove it. His lack of restraint is what makes him such a great character. He knew that he was dying, and he knew that any consequences would not last especially long. As such, even decades later, Kilmer’s Doc is terrifying. He could turn humor into a threat.
Doc Holliday’s Realism Is What Makes Him So Great
He Has Evolved Into a Real-World Legend
It is difficult to imagine anyone having such a flippant relationship with his own life. Yet Doc Holliday was a real man, who truly did struggle with tuberculosis while fighting in Tombstone. While his adventures were likely overstated, due to constant retelling through the years, he still managed to make himself into a legend while he lived. The shooting at the O.K. Corral was real, and he likely did kill people. He did not, however, kill Johnny Ringo, as he was supposedly nowhere near Arizona at the time. Still, the legend of Doc Holliday’s story lives on.
If Tombstone’s Doc Holliday was an entirely fictitious character, he might not have worked. His story is simply too unbelievable. A deputy, who managed to terrify an entire gang of outlaws while dying of an incurable disease, is simply too remarkable to believe. The truth behind the story, however, is what makes him so intimidating. Doc’s bravado was entirely real. It was never a bluff and never an exaggeration. He could kill people while drunk, and he could crack a joke even on his deathbed. He was a man driven to the edge and back, and he used humor, chaos, and open warfare to make his name. Doc Holliday helped to make Tombstone great. Without his sense of humor, it might not have worked anywhere near as well.