Young Guns

The film follows a group of inexperienced gunslingers who band together under Billy the Kid after a respected rancher who once funded them is killed. Estevez's Billy leads a cocksure cadre that includes Doc Scurlock, Chavez y Chavez, Dick Brewer and Dirty Steve Stephens, and they ride out as deputies promising to honor their benefactor. At first, their mission seems clear cut, but Billy's impulses push the limits of authority and the line between protector and aggressor begins to blur. As loyalties shift, the young riders find themselves hunted by those who feel betrayed or threatened. The story pairs brisk action with humor and a rough camaraderie that anchors the group through chaotic encounters. Tensions rise as the chase tightens.

Released in 1988, Christopher Cain directed this Western based on a script by John Fusco. The film sketches a frontier milieu drawn from Billy the Kid lore rather than adapting a single novel, with a young ensemble in leading roles.

The production earned approximately 44.7 million dollars worldwide against a 13 million dollar budget, delivering a respectable return and helping cement the project as a mid-range success for its era, with international audiences embracing the young leads in steady fashion.

The ensemble of Estevez, Sutherland, Phillips, Sheen and Mulroney helped define a late 80s Western revival. Their on screen camaraderie and distinct personalities created a durable chemistry that fed the film's pace. It also helped pave the way for ensemble Westerns and successors across later decades in future projects worldwide.

Critics praised pacing and the chemistry among the cast, while some reviews noted familiar genre tropes. The film explores loyalty and ambition against a harsh frontier setting, showing how quickly idealistic plans collide with real danger, and how friendship sustains people under pressure and leaves lasting impression on the west.