Skip to content
MovieCove
Young Guns II

Young Guns II

The west just got wilder.

1990104 minPG-13Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Director
Geoff Murphy
Starring
Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christian Slater

Three of the original five "young guns" — Billy the Kid, Jose Chavez y Chavez, and Doc Scurlock — return in Young Guns, Part 2, which is the story of Billy the Kid and his race to safety in Old Mexico while being trailed by a group of government agents led by Pat Garrett.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Young Guns II?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Young Guns II streaming on Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Young Guns II?

Young Guns II earns 6 badges, led by Guilty pleasure and Word-of-mouth hit.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Young Guns II worth watching?

Young Guns II's Midcredits score is the 63rd percentile of all films, from 61K ratings across 6 sources. 56% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

63rd percentile

Better received than 63% of films

77th percentile among Action65th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)63rd
Approval (how many liked it)61st

65 /100

63rd percentile of all films

79th percentile among Action67th percentile among 1990s

Critics 47 · Audience 67

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

56% liked it

61st percentile of all films

73rd percentile among Action63rd percentile among 1990s
56% rated it 7–1044% rated it 1–6

Critics 31% · Audience 66%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 4 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Music, Original Song
  • WonGolden Globes· Best Original Song - Motion Picture

92nd percentile

61K ratings across platforms

85th percentile among Action89th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$20M
Opening weekend$8M
Domestic gross$44M
Worldwide gross$44M

Returned 2.2× its budget — 77th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A star-driven, entertaining western sequel that leans on charisma and action over historical fidelity.

Fans praised

  • Star-studded cast including Estevez, Sutherland, Phillips, Slater, Petersen, Mortensen
  • Cinematography and desert visuals, with energetic action sequences
  • A more streamlined story with deeper character focus than the original

Detractors panned

  • Unnecessary sequel that feels like a cash grab with a convoluted plot
  • Lacks memorability and fails to bring anything new to the western genre
  • Historical inaccuracies and tonal inconsistencies

What stands out

ActingDivisive78

Estevez’s career-best Billy the Kid, strong support from Sutherland, Phillips, Slater, and early Petersen/Mortensen

Characters70

Reduced cast allows deeper focus on Billy and his relationships, but some find them thin

Sound and music68

Jon Bon Jovi's score and title track add to the vibe

Ending68

Legendary ending that fans love, though some find it a gimmick

PacingDivisive65

Energetic direction, though some feel the modern-day framing drags

Effects and spectacleDivisive60

Plenty of gunfights and chases, though not ground-breaking

Plot and story50

Entertaining but nonsense story with a framing device some find unnecessary

Originality40

Derivative western sequel with a gimmick historical twist

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Young Guns II like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It leaves you bittersweet.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingTenseMelancholic
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsMelodramatic · 9% of films: Heightened emotion, played large.Warm
Told as
Frame story · 5% of films: A story told inside another — someone is recounting it.Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its legendary outlaw material straight, with a mix of earnest adventure and melancholy over the cost of Billy's life.
The rideThe pursuit and escape create sustained tension and excitement, with a melancholic undercurrent from the gang's inevitable fate, likely peaking during the chase sequences.
StructureThe film opens in the 1950s with an old man telling his story to a historian, then proceeds in conventional three-act flashback.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you exhilarated by the chase but saddened by the inevitable fall of Billy the Kid.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Quest
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% (this title) · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Journey home: The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).

10% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeBilly and his gang flee toward Mexico, pursued by Pat Garrett; the frame story of an old man claiming to be Billy adds a false_identity element.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% (this title) · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Survival

SurvivalFreedom · 5% of filmsBetrayal · 5% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Billy the Kid's flight from the law, where staying alive and evading capture drives the action, while themes of loyalty and betrayal emerge among his former partners.
StanceThe film questions the cost of survival and freedom for the outlaw gang, presenting Billy's flight as both a thrilling escape and a doomed struggle against the law.

The world

19th centuryRuralWildernessIn transitRealistic
Orchestral classicalFolkSupportive music · original score · Alan Silvestri
SettingNew Mexico Territory in the 1880s, with a chase across the frontier toward Mexico
MusicAlan Silvestri's score blends orchestral Western motifs with folk elements, reinforcing the film's romantic and adventurous tone.

Content guide

Is Young Guns II okay for kids?

PG-13

Young Guns II is rated PG-13. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (54/100), sexual content at moderate (51/100), language at moderate (35/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (29/100) and frightening material at mild (27/100). Overall it is heavier than 47% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 8 other countries
  • UK12
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • Ireland12
  • Brazil12
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark15
  • Netherlands12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 30% of all filmsHeavier than 47% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 59%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 91%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 32%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 40%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 23%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 59% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Young Guns II have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Young Guns II?

Cast

Emilio Estevez
as William H. Bonney
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kiefer Sutherland
as Doc Scurlock
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Lou Diamond Phillips
as Chavez y Chavez
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Christian Slater
as Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
William Petersen
as Pat Garrett
Alan Ruck
as Hendry French
R.D. Call
as D.A. Rynerson
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Balthazar Getty
as Tom O'Folliard
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jack Kehoe
as Ashmun Upson
Robert Knepper
as Deputy Carlyle
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Young Guns II?

Movies like Young Guns II include Young Guns (1988), Cowboys & Aliens (2011) and Hidalgo (2004). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by John Fusco, and several are stories about cowboys.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its world: western. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Young Guns II?

774 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: police officer. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.