Today, the 1993 mega-hit classicTombstoneis one of the most iconic and quotable Westerns in movie history. An action-packed thrill-ride starringKurt Russelland the lateVal Kilmer, it tells of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp as he, his brothers, and his tuberculosis-stricken, gunslinging best friend, Doc Holliday, seek their fortunes out west, only to run into trouble with a ruthless gang known as The Cowboys in the crime-ridden town of Tombstone.
An instantly recognizable masterpiece full of thrilling gunfights, epic music, and legendary characters,Tombstoneis simply a perfect Western, one of the greatest ever brought to the silver screen. It’s given pop culture some of its most recognizable and highly quotable lines, some that fans constantly say and cherish today. To honor this genre-redefining marvel,let’s look at the ten greatest quotes fromTombstone, ranking them on how iconic and undeniably badass they are.
10"Well… bye."
Curly Bill Brocius (Powers Boothe)
With Virgil (Sam Elliott) seriously maimed and poor Morgan (Bill Paxton) shot dead as revenge for the O.K. Corral incident, Wyatt and his family pack up in their wagons to leave Tombstone in defeat. As he stops by one of their hangouts, Wyatt, drained and in despair, tells the Cowboys' leader, Curly Bill Brocius (Powers Boothe), that their feud is over. Brocius then nonchalantly tells him, “Well… bye.”
Bill’s line isa harsh, chilling farewell that adds extra insult to Wyatt’s tragic situation, and states that he’s not only gloating that he has won, but is going to finish the job very soon. The darkly comedic way he just says “Well… bye” shows just how despicable and ruthless Curley Bill is as the film’s main antagonist. The late Powers Boothe brought so much charm and a brilliant sense of wickedness to this mean-spirited character, and the way he says this line helps audienceslove to hate him.
9"There’s no normal life, Wyatt, it’s just life. Get on with it."
Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer)
After the Cowboys disbanded, drawing the Earp vendetta to a close, Wyatt’s closest ally and trusted friend, Doc Holliday, entered the final stage of his deadly tuberculosis. On his deathbed in a hospital, the two friends share their tearful final moments, knowing Doc hasn’t got much longer. As they discuss what they wanted out of life, Wyatt only asks for a normal one, to which Doc tells him, “There’s no normal life, Wyatt, it’s just life. Get on with it.”
What Doc said to Wyatt here hada profound effect on the rest of Wyatt’s days, as it gave him that last push he needed to be with the woman he loved and continue living his best life. This tear-jerking piece of wisdom is a helpful reminder toappreciate the life we’re given and not to take it for granted. It’s more emotional to hear now in light ofthe recent passing of the great Val Kilmer. He truly made this spectacular performance his own, and this line is one of many to appear on this list that proves this film is part of his legacy.
8"You’re a daisy if you do!"
With tensions heating up between the Earps and the cowardly Ike Clanton (Stephen Lang) and his Cowboy associates, an inevitable altercation occurs, leading to a gunfight at the O.K. Corral. During the shoot-out, Ike runs off while his brother Billy (Thomas Haden Church) and friends Tom (John Philibin) and Frank McLaury (Robert John Burke) are killed. But before he goes down, a wounded Frank is about to get one last shot at Doc out in the open, proclaiming that he’s got him now, to which Doc confidently replies, “You’re a daisy if you do!” Then he shoots Frank before he fires, and Morgan finishes the job with a shot right to Frank’s head.
If there’s one line thatperfectly sums up Doc’s fearless attitude and calmness in the face of danger, it would be this one. Even when facing the barrel of a gun, Doc showed extreme bravery and unwavering charisma, knowing full well that even if Frank hadn’t shot him, his condition was going to catch up to him soon enough. “You’re a daisy if you do!” is undoubtedlyone of the coolest things that Doc has ever uttered. It’s a badass phrase that never loses its epic-sounding feel, especially sinceit’s a slightly altered quote the real-life Doc Holliday actually said.
7"You gonna do somethin' or just stand there and bleed?"
Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell)
After coming to Tombstone to strike it rich, Wyatt has no problems securing a position as the new Black Jack dealer at the Oriental saloon. All he had to do to get this job was to kick out the saloon’s hot-tempered and abusive current dealer, Johnny Tyler (Billy Bob Thornton). Before leading Tyler out the door by his ear, Wyatt slaps and challenges the cowardly dealer to draw his weapon, daring him by saying, “You gonna do somethin' or just stand there and bleed?”
Tyler probably thought he was the toughest guy around until a legend came along to rightly put him in his place with just a few, well-chosen words. Wyatt’s stern line as he tells Tyler to either do something or stand there perfectlysums up how capable and confident he truly is. Onlythe legendary Western icon, Kurt Russell, could have made this quoteso incredibly badass, and it’s one that can still give anyone goosebumps after hearing it.
6"I want your blood. And I want your souls. And I want them both right now!"
Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn)
Enraged by the death of three of his Cowboy friends after the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Curly Bill’s deadly second-in-command, Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn), drunkenly confronts the Earp brothers out on the street. As he challenges the three brothers to a fight, he chillingly tells them, “I want your blood. And I want your souls. And I want them both right now!”
Ringo established himself early on as a ruthless, cold-blooded killer ready to send anyone to an early grave. His icy delivery when issuing the Earps their threat shows that Ringo is gunning for them and that he wants nothing else but to see them all dead.This line is eerie and undeniably cool. The great Michael Biehn brought so much intensity to thislegendary Western villain performance. His delivery when saying this line establishes that Johnny Ringo isthe most intimidating foe in the film.
5"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
After Wyatt subdues Curly Bill, who had just accidentally murdered Marshall Fred White (Harry Carey Jr.) in an opium-fueled shooting spree, Ike Clanton and several Cowboys swarm Wyatt, demanding that he turn their leader loose. A very drunk Doc Holliday comes to Wyatt’s defense, specifically threatening Ike’s brother Billy with a gun. Billy, seeing that Doc could stumble over drunk at any moment, tells the man he’s probably seeing double vision and draws a knife. Doc quickly pulls out another pistol and says, “I have two guns, one for each of ya.”
Leave it to Doc to come up with a badass lineright on the spot. The way he does the neat flip trip with both guns isan epic added touch of coolness, and how he delivers this quote shows that even when violently inebriated, he’s capable enough to handle himself in a dangerous situation. It also helps that Kilmer had swagger to spare, turning an already impactful quote into a work of beauty.
4"Why, Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked over your grave."
Wanting to bring the bloody vendetta brought on by Morgan’s death to a swift conclusion, Johnny Ringo boldly challenges Wyatt to a one-on-one duel in the mountains. Knowing he’s got a quicker draw than his opponent, Ringo confidently waits for Wyatt to arrive. But, out of the forest comes his surprise challenger, Doc Holliday, who has come to finish the “game for blood” that the two first started. With a noticeable expression of worry on his face, Ringo stares as Doc tells him, “Why, Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked over your grave.”
The way Ringo’s cocky smile fades into a look of shock and confusion as Doc confronts him with this quote is one of the most badass parts of the movie. In only a few words,Doc wins this duel before it even starts. His calm delivery as he tells Ringo he’s going to die is sochilling and awesome to hear, especially since it leads to a very epic and intense duel.
3"You tell ‘em I’m coming! And Hell’s coming with me, you hear! Hell’s coming with me!"
With Morgan dead, the Earp family finally packed up to leave Tombstone by fleeing on a train. Still wanting to avenge the death of his brother, Ike and another Cowboy, Frank Stillwell (Tomas Arana), arrive at the train station to finish them all off. However, Wyatt and his posse are waiting in ambush for them, and then he kills Stillwell and holds Ike at gunpoint. He lets Ike go to spread the message that the Cowboys are finished, and that he’s coming with a fiery vengeance, then shouts, “You tell ‘em I’m coming! And Hell’s coming with me, you hear! Hell’s coming with me!”
This epic warning andWyatt’s vendettawas actually foreshadowed in the opening scene, when an angered priest, before he was shot by Ringo, proclaimed to the men in spanish that the Cowboy’s days would be numbered as a righteous man would be coming to end their reign of terror, and Hell would follow with him. It’sa legendary threatthat shows howWyatt’s rage has been unleashed, returning him to the legendary lawman he was always meant to be.
2"Say when."
Spoken several times by Doc throughout the film, his iconic line “Say when” ishis way of challenging his nemesis, Johnny Ringo, to draw his weapon. First, it’s uttered the first time the two rivals face each other in the street after Ringo drunkenly tried to challenge the Earps to a duel. Then, inthe climactic final stand-off, he says it one more time to Ringo, a moment before he quickly shoots Ringo in the head.
Though there’s one more line more instantly recognizable than this one, “Say when,” is oftenthe most quoted line ofTombstone. It’s so much fun to say, as it soundscool, powerful, and certainly intimidatingall at once. It once again shows that Doc is confident and completely in control of this duel. It almost sounds like he’s giving Ringo a little bit of a head start.
1"I’m your huckleberry."
Finally, in an iconic Western classic with so many memorable quotes, fans all know nothing else tops Doc’s legendary “I’m your huckleberry” line. Said twice throughout the film, but most notably in the final duel, this line is directed at Johnny Ringo, telling him that Doc is the man he wants to see.
Despite its apparent simplicity, the line is deceptively complex, and it’s no wonder that somefans might not know what this line means. “I’m your huckleberry” is constantly brought up in every mention of this film and is beloved. It’s an epic quote that hascemented Doc Holliday as a pop culture icon, one who will always be remembered for years to come. It’s the best line inTombstoneand arguablyone of the best movie quotes of all time.
NEXT:10 Movies To Watch if You Love ‘Tombstone’
