Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- kinetic
- irreverent
- sun-bleached
- western movie night
- action movie marathon
What critics said
Critics found the film sumptuously photographed and well acted, but faulted its ambling direction and unfinished-feeling screenplay.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Brushy Bill Roberts claims to be Billy the Kid in 1950 and narrates events from 1881, while the film leaves his claim unresolved.
Billy's reputation, aliases, bounty, and disputed survival shape both the pursuit and the frame story.
Critics specifically praised the scorchingly beautiful landscapes, gunfire, and visual excitement of the New Mexico pursuit.
Pat Garrett, once Billy's partner, accepts Chisum's bounty to hunt Billy and his gang.
Films like Young Guns II, and why
Young Guns
revisionist western action, outlaw camaraderie, charismatic antiheroes, and stylized gunplay
The Wild Bunch
revisionist western tone, outlaw mythology, historical characters, and operatic violence
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
stylized western action, pursuit narrative, shifting loyalties, and larger-than-life gunmen
The Magnificent Seven
ensemble outlaw adventure, rugged landscapes, and heightened frontier action
Movie Details
- Director
- Geoff Murphy
- Release Date
- 1990-08-01
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (622)
Cast
- Emilio Estevez
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Lou Diamond Phillips
- Christian Slater
- William L. Petersen
- Alan Ruck
- R. D. Call
- Balthazar Getty
- Jack Kehoe
- Robert Knepper
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, YouTube TV, BBC America
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Young Guns II about?
- A charismatic outlaw and his scattered gang race toward Mexico while a former friend turns bounty hunter and history itself becomes uncertain.
- What is Young Guns II like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Young Guns II as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Young Guns II violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Young Guns II as brutal.
- What did critics think of Young Guns II?
- Critics found the film sumptuously photographed and well acted, but faulted its ambling direction and unfinished-feeling screenplay.
- Which films are like Young Guns II?
- Films with a similar feel include Young Guns, The Wild Bunch, Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, and The Magnificent Seven.
- How long is Young Guns II?
- Young Guns II runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Young Guns II?
- In United States, Young Guns II streams on Philo, YouTube TV, BBC America.
