The best movies about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday dramatize the lives of the famous real-life gunslingers in different ways. Most of these Westerns are focused on the events surrounding the notorious O.K. Corral gunfight. Some point the camera towards other, lesser-known aspects of either or both of Earp and Holliday's tumultuous lives.

Throughout film history, Tombstone, Wyatt Earp, and My Darling Clementine have practically created their own Western subgenre based on Earp and Holliday's adventures. From the most traditional dramatizations of the events at the O.K. Corral and the town of Tombstone to revisionist and anti-Westerns that put strange new spins on the familiar tales, the best movies about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday have definitely made their mark on cinema. While they may not be the most lauded or popular Western films, these movies have captured the imagination of audiences for close to a hundred years.

15 Sunset (1988)

James Garner's Wyatt Earp Teams With Bruce Willis In A Buddy Comedy

Wyatt Earp is one of the most iconic figures of the Old West, so it is a thrill to see the historical figure removed from that world and placed into an entirely new one. Sunset is a movie from famed comedy director Blake Edwards that stars James Garner as Earp, who after retiring from his career as a lawman, comes to Hollywood to serve as a consultant on some Western movies. There, he forms a friendship with movie star Tom Mix (Bruce Willis) and they are pulled into a murder mystery together.

The buddy-cop dynamic with Willis is a lot of fun as well, with the movie never taking itself too seriously.

The movie is loosely based on a true story, but as the movie tagline suggests, "give or take a lie or two." Garner is one of the most charming and likable movie stars in history and it is a lot of fun seeing him play this version of Earp, which is a more light-hearted take than many of the most famous cases. The buddy-cop dynamic with Willis is a lot of fun as well, with the movie never taking itself too seriously.

14 Gunman Of The Rio Grande (1964)

Wyatt Earp Returns In A Spaghetti Western

The Spaghetti Western movement of the 1960s changed the genre forever and revitalized it during a period when it was starting to grow stale. Wyatt Earp was one of those figures who seemed to exemplify the old-fashioned style of Western with a stoic hero who was always on the side of justice and decency, so it is interesting to see him transplanted into the more grim and cynical world of the Spaghetti Western in Gunman of the Rio Grande.

Guy Madison appears in his first of several Spaghetti Westerns as Wyatt Earp in a story that very much resembles the well-known story of him in Tombstone. This time around, however, Earp heads to the Mexican border to clean up a lawless mining town. Though not the greatest of the Spaghetti Westerns, it is still a fun ride with some vivid filmmaking from Tulio Demicheli and a fresh take on Earp.

13 Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

James Stewart Plays Earp In A ing Role

It is fitting that John Ford's final Western movie featured one of the most iconic Western figures in history. Cheyenne Autumn is a rare Western movie from the 1950s that focuses on Native Americans as the central heroes of the story. It follows a group of the Cheyenne people who push back against the broken promises of the government and seek out their ancestral land while a sympathetic cavalry officer attempts to bring them back to their reservation.

There is an amusing segment in the epic Western taking place in Dodge City with James Stewart starring as Wyatt Earp and Arthur Kennedy as Doc Holliday. Given how iconic these figures are, it is fun to see them appear in ing roles while still stealing the show. The movie has many issues with its depiction of the Native Americans, but it is one of the most sympathetic movies of this kind. As a testament to this, Wyatt and Doc are presented as caring more about the safety of the Cheyenne than the worried townsfolk of Dodge City.

12 Dodge City (1939)

Errol Flynn Stars As A Fiction Take On Wyatt Earp

While there is no character named Wyatt Earp appearing in Dodge City, the fictional Western adventure is loosely based on the legendary lawman. English acting legend Erroll Flynn steps into his first Western role as Wade Hatton, a Texas cattle agent who comes to the town of Dodge City in order to start a quiet life and make a living. However, when Wade is confronted with the brutality of the lawless town, he takes it upon himself to become sheriff and set things right.

Even without Earp's name being mentioned in the movie, it is very easy to see the connections to his real-life story. As very few Western movies felt the need to rigidly stick to the factual events, this is as accurate a Wyatt Earp movie as many others. While there are some who will have trouble buying Flynn as a rugged American hero, his screen presence is undeniable.

11 Tombstone: The Town Too Tough To Die (1942)

A Version Of Earp's Taming Of The Lawless Town

The town of Tombstone is perhaps as iconic as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday themselves are, as seen by the fact that a number of these movies place their names directly in the title. Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die is based on the 1927 historical Tombstone: An Iliad of the Southwest by Walter Noble Burns and stars Richard Dix as Wyatt Earp and Kent Taylor as Doc Holliday.

The movie details Earp and his brothers moving to the town of Tombstone and finding the lawless nature of the town off-putting. While they begin to straighten out some of the outlaws, they find the town sheriff is involved with the gangs, leading Earp and his brothers to take a stand with the climatic showdown. The movie tells a story that is widely known but throws in a few interesting new details to make it stand out in the Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday subgenre.

10 Tombstone-Rashomon (2017)

Unique Sci-fi Western Featuring Wyatt Earp And Doc Holliday

Tombstone-Rashomon revisits the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral with a sci-fi twist, setting it apart from other movies in the genre. The title of the movie might give away the movie's style for viewers. "Rashomon" refers to the storytelling technique of telling the same story from multiple perspectives. In that way, the entire story doesn't unfold until the viewer gets to see the last character's perspective.

The movie is focused on a film crew who travels back in time to document the gunfight, but instead, they arrive after the event. Tombstone-Rashomon unfolds as the crew gets the diverging s of those who were involved in the historic skirmish, offering varied viewpoints on the characters and their motivations. Delving into the complexities of truth and perception, the nonlinear storytelling forces audiences to piece together the puzzle of what truly transpired in Tombstone.

9 Wyatt Earp's Revenge (2012)

The Combined Perspectives Of Young And Old Versions Of Wyatt Earp

The story of Wyatt Earp's Revenge unfolds through flashbacks, recounting Earp's life and the events leading up to the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral that so many fictional tales place their focus on. Val Kilmer plays the older version of Earp, who speaks to a reporter about his past, while the younger Earp is played by Shawn Roberts.

The film presents a mix of historical facts and fictionalized elements, creating a narrative that explores Earp's motivations and personal conflicts, but still presenting a unique story for the audience who might already know the main points of the gunfight. As Earp confronts his adversaries, the movie delves into themes of morality and vengeance, offering an entertaining perspective on the iconic lawman's journey. The film has been praised particularly for the performance of Val Kilmer as Wyatt Earp.

8 Frontier Marshal (1939)

First Successful Western About Wyatt Earp

The second movie based on the fictional biography Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal, Frontier Marshal was the definitive screen version of the lawman's story back in the Golden Age of Hollywood. It follows the life of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, portrayed by the legendary Randolph Scott, as he attempts to bring order to the lawless town of Tombstone. Frontier Marshal is known for its portrayal of Earp as a principled and determined figure in the Old West.

Although Frontier Marshal isn't as famous or influential as other Westerns from the same decade

During that time, flashier movies were more popular as Hollywood was scrambling to create the most complex and popular musicals. The Wizard of Oz debuted on screen the same year. Even when it comes to classic Westerns, Frontier Marshal is sometimes overlooked. Although Frontier Marshal isn't as famous or influential as other Westerns from the same decade, the film remains a notable classic entry in the genre.

7 Doc (1971)

Western Focused On Doc Holliday Instead Of Wyatt Earp

Doc stars Stacy Keach as the legendary dentist-turned-gunslinger Doc Holliday. Most Wyatt Earp-Doc Holliday movies focus on the former rather than the latter, making this a unique one in the subgenre. The movie explores the complex character of Holliday, delving into his relationships and internal conflicts. Set in the tumultuous town of Tombstone, it portrays Holliday's interactions with notable figures like Wyatt Earp, played by Harris Yulin, and his romantic involvement with Kate Elder, played by Faye Dunaway.

The film offers a character-driven narrative, showcasing Holliday's struggles with his health, personal demons, and the challenges of the Old West. Doc provides a nuanced portrayal of a historical figure known for his sharp wit and skills with a gun, adding depth to the legend of Doc Holliday. The Western Writers of America Society awarded the movie Best Script of the Year.

6 Wyatt Earp (1994)

The Western That Boldly Came Out Six Months After Tombstone

One of Kevin Costner's Western movies, Wyatt Earp spans Earp's life, from his early days as a lawman to his involvement in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Emphasizing historical accuracy, it provides a detailed exploration of Earp's relationships with his family and friends, particularly Doc Holliday, portrayed by Dennis Quaid. The attempt to remain as close to historically accurate as possible is what sets the movie apart from so many other adaptations of Wyatt Earp's story.

Apart from Quaid as Holliday and Costner as the titular lawman, the movie features a stellar cast that includes Gene Hackman, Michael Madsen, and Tom Sizemore. Though Wyatt Earp infamously flopped at the box office due to its release so closely following the well-received Tombstone, it nonetheless remains a vital, star-studded, and somewhat faithful retelling of the legendary lawman's experiences.