Young Guns (film)

Young Guns
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChristopher Cain
Written byJohn Fusco
Produced byChristopher Cain
Joe Roth
Starring
CinematographyDean Semler
Edited byJack Hofstra
Music byAnthony Marinelli
Brian Banks
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox (United States and Canada)
Vestron International Group (International)
Release date
  • August 12, 1988 (1988-08-12)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$11 million
Box office$56 million

Young Guns is a 1988 American Western action film directed and produced by Christopher Cain and written by John Fusco. The film dramatizes the actions of Billy the Kid and the Regulators during the Lincoln County War, in New Mexico in 1877–78. It stars Emilio Estevez as Billy, and Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko as the other Lincoln County Regulators. The supporting cast features Terence Stamp, Terry O'Quinn, Brian Keith, and Jack Palance.

The first film to be produced by Morgan Creek Productions, Young Guns received mixed reviews and opened at number one at the US box office and eventually grossed $56 million against an $11-million budget. Because of the film’s cast, it is often associated with the "Brat Pack" set of 1980s actors.

A sequel, Young Guns II, was released in 1990, with the principal cast reprising their roles. A third film is currently in development.