Who does not love a good, chaotic and bombastic film shoot out? The roots of these beloved set pieces go all the way back to Hollywood’s westerns where stuntmen lacking the blood and the blood squibs, will fall victims of the hero’s magic bullets. As time passed, so does an amount of sophistication was incorporated to represent as authentically (in theory) as possible gun shots and wounds.

While there was some reluctancy to employ stylized takes in 70s Hollywood flicks citing their utmost (and almost graphic) realism in the depiction of head shots, the 80s become more…colorful if you will, where macho protagonists will not even bother to reload any magazines holding any type of gun in bizarre poses exposing themselves to their enemies who seemed to be devoid from any eyesight. Such now parodical takes in ammo exchanges were taken the piss by in “Hot Shots: Part Deux” (1993) ridiculing these hyper masculine (American) movie heroes (e.g., “Commando” (1985), “Rambo: First Blood Part Two“ (1987)).

Nevertheless, despite this emphasis on almost nonsensical action moments, our beloved action mecca here in FilmMining101, Hong Kong had other plans. John Woo made bullet storm something to be proud off not only to stage but to display in glorious slow motion through an unfolding destructive chaos in its environmental complexity. From “A Better Tomorrow” (1986), “The Killer” (1989) followed becoming a trademark of Woo’s where bullets not only find their targets but convert them into Swiss cheese amidst a symphony of destruction.

Then the 90s happened and since then shoot outs can look very cheap due to a CGI insistence for blood and bullet holes or adhered even more to stricter standards of directional conduct paying vast tributes to those greats that came before (e.g., “Leon: The Professional” (1994)). The “Matrix” trilogy (1999-2003) (the fourth one never happened) and the “John Wick” (2014-2023) franchise are strong examples of this trend where artistic merit and innovative takes can still exist within a computer dominated movie framework. So is it possible to report on the best movie shoot outs of all time, and if so, which ones will make the cut?

10. Django Unchained (2012)

The most cartoonesque shoot out in this list, Tarantino’s tendencies for OTT violence are in full display here. Despite a reliance on a realistic depiction of slavery in the south of US, Tarantino obeys (roughly) the genre rules. All these go out of the window when Django finally gets unleashed and extracts his revenge. Delivering a mix of much needed divine retribution and cathartic vengeance to his white (and despicable) supremacist captors, Django increases the body count in a very short amount of time making Candyland a blood soaked arena in the process. Quentin does not hold back with pitch perfect editing and massive explosive squibs causing laughter and squirminess simultaneously. You almost feel that Candy did not have enough henchmen to make this sequence even lengthier!

Standout moment: Django’s six shooter skills cause a bullet to go through two opponents and a wall.

9. The Matrix (1999)

The Wachowskis did many things right in their first “Matrix”; one was to pay tribute to the inventor of the heroic bloodshed, John Woo. His work has been mostly ignored by Western audiences unless you include his relatively tame efforts with “Hard Target” (1993) and “Face/Off” (1997). A highly influential moment in cinema, the lobby shoot out opened the viewers’ eyes towards gun fu paving the way for cheap imitators to replicate a spectacular bullet mayhem under glorious slow motion (e.g., “Battlefield Earth” (2000), “Max Payne” (2007)) and sensational sound design. Who can forget the shots of mosaics exploding into pieces under the Propellerheads’ “Spybreak!” while Keanu Reeves is exercising his right in athletic pirouettes with guns. Lots of guns.

Standout moment: Keanu’s graceful kick in the last goon standing.

8. Leon: The Professional (1994)

Besson’s action flicks find always a way to sneak a climatic shoot out (e.g., “La Femme Nikita” (1991), “The Fifth Element” (1997), “Lucy” (2014)). Although all of them are competently made neither seems to be carrying the emotional weight of “Leon”. Featuring a Frenchman playing a stoic Italian (!) assassin, Leon takes the blame for Matilda’s thirst for vengeance. Trapped inside his NYC flat he faces waves of (one could argue) innocent cops that follow the orders of corrupt DEA Norman Stansfield. The proceedings become outrageous as the city’s finest are no match for Leon’s lethal tactics gearing towards a climax with snipers, rocket launchers and grenades. Yet it is Eric Serra’s emotional score, Reno’s performance and his chemistry with a young Natalie Portman that sell every single second of it keeping you at the edge of your seat.

Standout moment: Well… “Everyone!”

7. Desperado (1995)

Robert Rodriguez’s neo Mexican western exploded in 1995, a period where filmmakers were finding unique voices to tell all sorts of stories. El travels from town to town to find a man named Bucho. After Steve Buscemi has (hilariously) laid out the groundwork for his enquiring appearance into a bar captained by Cheech Marin and attended by Tarantino himself, a misunderstanding ends in one of the most bizarre but highly entertaining shoot outs converting what was a front for drug smuggling into a cemetery. But not before Rodriguez uses frenetic editing and copious amounts of dark humour to capture the charisma of Bandera’s operatic gun style.

Standout moment: Banderas and unfortunate goon run out of bullets and keep using empty guns to kill each other.

6. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

The second “Matrix” sequel usually gets a lot of flack due to a rather unexpected finale and almost a caricature characterization for its cast. Yet it is undeniable the level of ambition it packs. A homage to the first film’s shoot out, Trinity, Morpheus and Seraph descent into Hel, a BDSM club of the Merovingian and Persephone. But the club reception poses a (minor) resistance with a twist. In a fantastic shot filled with flying debris flying rom every possible direction, Merovingian’s punks go literally upside down bending more law of physics than our heroic trio can. The ensuring upside down mayhem is fantastic, bombastic and loud making John Woo proud under flawless wire work and a kick ass track from Don Davis and Juno Reactor. You can’t fault the siblings from bringing at least an excess of novel action ideas.

Standout moment: The moment the elevator doors open.

5. Heat (1995)

No introduction is required for Michael Mann’s crime epic. Featuring a cat and mouse game between two of the best actors of all time, the successful bank heist turns into a nail biting escape in the crowded streets of downtown L.A. But not before De Niro, Kilmer and Sizemore gun down several police officers in the process without batting an eye. Mann’s superb characterization is what shines through as we have spend time with this gang who behave like everyday man only to switch into cold stone killers towards those who block their path to success and freedom. “Heat” might lack effects and loud explosions but it is the most refined entry in this list. It is simply flawless.

Stand out moment: The shot of Val Kilmer reloading his weapon was so good that has been used to train army people.

4. A Bittersweet Life (2005)

Kim Jee-woon’s bleak revenge tale enters at its end remarkably and unexpectedly into the territory of John Woo. Our lead is ready to deliver justice and vengeance on his former boss although there are quite a few henchmen along the way to mark his mission a failure. Shot beautifully inside a high class lounge, this seems the perfect setting for a meticulously crafted action scene that sees walls and pillars riddled with bullets, bodies and blood. The production design for some strange reason echoes the all time high emotions of the main character bearing simultaneously a strange sense of melancholia when you see it being demolished in the process of achieving one’s final? goal in life.

Standout moment: Sun-woo rests.

3. John Wick Chapter 2 (2017)

In every entry in the “John Wick” series (2014-2023), there are several action sequences with all types of guns. While the catacombs escape is pretty spectacular cinematography wise, the determination which John Wick has in the last 20 minutes to kill Santino inside a museum must be seen to be believed. Starting off in the event’s reception, John has only 7 bullets, lots of improvisation skills and an army to plow through. Like a bulldog through, he cannot be put down, killing wave after wave of enemies with a variety of novel martial arts moves and laser focus. Vivaldi’s “Winter” is being given a slick make over by Joel P. Richard that ultimately makes let’s be honest, chase scene all the more exciting.

Stand out moment: John Wick’s one hand reload. It is so fucking cool!

2. John Wick Chapter 4 (2023)

If it was not for John Woo, the top down apartment shoot out would probably be placed as number 1 on this list. Being able to demonstrate a unique scene, mostly CGI free in the year 2023 is something to be commended for. Being able to maintain a tonal quality and create movie magic though, it is something to be applauded. Chad Stahelski’s one take sequence inside a Parisian flat sees Wick killing opponents with dragon fire rounds bringing cinematic and ecstatic euphoria across the world. A flawless execution supported by technical proficiency in sound, production design and stuntwork, this bullet pandemonium is something absolutely mesmerizing to experience.

Standout moment: Le Castle Vania’s “Shots Fired” starts playing.

1. Hard Boiled (1992)

For the uninitiated, John Woo’s action masterpiece remains the best example of gun fu. A magnum opus of shoot outs that occur in tea houses, chop shops and marinas culminates to an explosive 40 minute finale inside … a hospital. And this is where John Woo truly lets his film shine packing iconic scene after iconic scene: the gun fight between Mad Dog and Alan is absolutely stunning featuring breathtaking stunts and real fireworks, a dazzling ballet of bullets, guns and gorgeous poses all in the sake of ammo glorification. Yet, it is the one take shot throughout the hospital where Tequila’s shotgun and Alan’s berettas dispatch henchmen from all sides resulting in pretty much needing a new hospital afterwards. An action masterpiece.

Standout moment: The roughly 3 minute tracking shot. Nough said!