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While audiences typically associate the Western genre with lone gunslingers like Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name, it also has a rich history of team-up stories. With countless stories focusing on the work of iconic lawmen, bounty hunters, and gangs of outlaws, these movies typically explore themes of revenge and friendship. These movies have proven every bit as influential and enduring as others, allowing for comedy and levity in a way lone gunfighter movies don't.

Team-up Westerns have brought the genre some of its best ensemble casts, with stars like Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, and Charlie Sheen stepping into the role of gunslinger. While these movies don't always receive the box office success they deserve, they have brought a unique dynamic and sense of adventure to the genre. From John Wayne classics to '80s buddy movies, these all deserve a look.

Silverado Is An '80s Classic 1985

Silverado...

Billy the Kid's captivating moral complexity makes him a legendary figure in the Old West, despite his outlaw reputation. From Geoffrey Deuel to Emilio Estevez, Billy the Kid has been portrayed by many actors throughout film and television history. Tom Blyth's recent portrayal of Billy the Kid in the MGM+ series showcases a fresh take on the notorious outlaw, capturing his lanky, disheveled look and lesser-known details.

There have been several Billy the Kid cast choices in both film and television. One of the earliest appearances of William H. Bonney on film was in a pair of silent films made in 1911, one of which was titled The Adventure of Billy the Kid, directed by filmmaking pioneer D. W. Griffith. Many generations of great directors and actors of the Western genre gravitated toward the Old American West outlaw spirit of Billy the Kid, which resulted in his portrayals in film,...

Billy the Kid, Dick Brewer, and Charlie Bowdre were key members of The Regulators in the Lincoln County War, fighting against the Jesse Evans Gang. Billy the Kid felt indebted to John Tunstall, his mentor, and was a loyal supporter of his beliefs and business ventures. Other notable members of the Regulators included George Coe, Tom O'Folliard, Fred Waite, and John Middleton.

Several real-life members of The Regulators are depicted in the MGM series Billy the Kid. The Regulators were one of the opposing sides in the historic Lincoln County War that took place in Old Western New Mexico in 1878. The legendary outlaw Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney and by his real name Henry McCarty, was one of the key members of the Lincoln County War as one of the most impactful members of The Regulators. As a hired enforcer of wealthy Englishman and land prospector John Tunstall,...

"The Agony" sees the start of the Lincoln County War, with tensions escalating between Murphy, Tunstall, and their enforcer cowboys. Tunstall's murder by the Jesse Evans Gang propels Billy to seek revenge, vowing to kill everyone responsible. Billy forms the Regulators, a group dedicated to avenging Tunstall's death, with Dick Brewer as their leader.

Billy the Kid season 2, episode 3 titled "The Agony" features the true starting point of the Lincoln County War that involved real-life Old West outlaw Billy the Kid. Prior to episode 3, season 2 largely laid the foundational tension for the inevitable war between Lawrence Murphy, John Tunstall, and each of their gunslinging cowboy enforcers. Murphy and Tunstall businesses had been competing in Lincoln County for too long, which forced the drunkard Murphy and the superior Sante Fe Ring led by powerful New Mexico landowner Thomas Catron to take matters, and the law itself, into their own hands.

Billy the Kid...

Billy the Kid season 2 takes creative liberties with his legend, introducing a number of both real-life and fictional father figures and mentors. Patrick McCarty likely died when Billy was 7 or 8 years old, leaving Catherine to raise the boys alone, which heavily influenced Billy's life. The MGM series introduces fictional mentors for Billy, including Moss and John Tunstall, who played important roles in shaping his character and actions.

The MGM series Billy the Kid briefly touches on the ambiguous backstory of his father Patrick McCarty. William H. Bonney was born Henry McCarty to Irish immigrants before becoming immortalized as one of the most dangerous outlaws of the American Old West. Billy was orphaned at age 15 but he did spend a good part of his childhood with his father Patrick, particularly when they lived in New York City before his family headed West for Kansas during the post-Civil War 1860s. Throughout the course of his brief life,...

Billy's new direction in life didn't last all that long.

His moving over to the side of right didn't prevent tragedy from striking on Billy the Kid Season 2 Episode 3.

And Billy's extreme sense of righteousness was sure to take him the rest of the way back to the wrong side of the law.

The problematic part about basing a TV series on historical events is that any viewer with Google can essentially predict the narrative.

Also, there was a reason that William Bonney never became Billy the Conflicted Middle-Aged Adult. This is a show with a historically built-in expiration date, unlike one built around a fictional character.

That's a shame because Tom Blyth's Billy is an enjoyably complex character who viewers got to watch grow up over the series' first season.

One thing Billy has been missing since his mother Kathleen's death from consumption on Billy the Kid Season...

The second episode of the second season of Billy the Kid ended with Tunstall coming to terms with the inevitable war between him and Murphy’s gang. His attempts to negotiate fail miserably, but he apologizes to Bill and his entire team for going off track. The war has been declared, and a lot needs to be uncovered about the politics of this conflict as the series progresses.

Spoilers Ahead

What Is Murphy And Riley’s Gang’s First Plan Of Action?

The Murphy and Riley gang again took assistance from the Sheriff to close Tunstall’s store. It was one of their ways to further destabilize John Tunstall and put a stop to his cash flow. The money coming from the store was financing Billy and his gang. Putting a stop to it was an intelligent decision. Deputy Sheriff Brewer was also fired from his job to avoid his...

If you’re ready to go back to 1883 again, The Gilded Age returns this week. As usual, it does not disappoint!

We’ve also got Christmas coming out of our eyeballs as we careen past Halloween. That still never ceases to amaze us.

Hulu’s Black Cake is also worth a look. Find out what else we recommend below!

Saturday, October 28

8/7c Mystic Christmas (Hallmark)

Who doesn’t love the aquarium? In case you’re thinking, “Me because they deserve to be free,” well, remember that aquariums serve as rescues these days. Much happier situation!

Anyway, in this delightful flick, a marine veterinarian travels to Mystic, Connecticut, during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium.

There, she helps Peppermint the seal to get released back to sea, and she reconnects with Sawyer, the owner of the pizza shop.

8/7c Bringing Christmas Home (Gaf)

It’s always worth...

Billy the Kid season 2 delves into the Lincoln County War, an influential event that forever shaped Billy's outlaw legacy. The conflict led to Billy being charged with the killing of three men, including the sheriff, turning him into a lifelong fugitive. The actions of Billy and his companions during the war solidified their status as outlaws, fueling the romanticization of their lives.

Billy the Kid season 2 continues to explore the life and times of one of America’s best-known outlaws. The MGM+ series debuted in 2022 and told the story of Billy the Kid from close to the beginning; the first episode saw a 12-year-old Billy McCarty setting out West with his family. Billy the Kid season 2 expands its cast of characters and focuses on the Lincoln County War, an 1878 conflict that ultimately helped to cement Billy’s legacy as a gunslinger.

In honor of the show's return, Screen Rant is...

Billy the Kid season 2 delves into the Lincoln County War, an influential event that forever shaped Billy's outlaw legacy. The conflict led to Billy being charged with the killing of three men, including the sheriff, turning him into a lifelong fugitive. The actions of Billy and his companions during the war solidified their status as outlaws, fueling the romanticization of their lives.

Billy the Kid season 2 continues to explore the life and times of one of America’s best-known outlaws. The MGM+ series debuted in 2022 and told the story of Billy the Kid from close to the beginning; the first episode saw a 12-year-old Billy McCarty setting out West with his family. Billy the Kid season 2 expands its cast of characters and focuses on the Lincoln County War, an 1878 conflict that ultimately helped to cement Billy’s legacy as a gunslinger.

Even though Billy the Kid season 2 focuses on the Lincoln County War,...

John Wayne's movie Chisum altered the true story of Billy the Kid, focusing on lesser-known figures and changing crucial events in the historic Lincoln County War. Wayne's portrayal of wealthy cattle rancher John Chisum inaccurately placed him in the line of fire during the war, when historically he would have hired others to fight on his behalf. The film also inaccurately portrayed Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett as allies in the war, when in reality Garrett only became sheriff after the war ended and pursued Billy as a fugitive.

A lesser-known John Wayne Western movie rewrote the legendary tale of William H. Bonney, best known as the infamous Old West outlaw Billy the Kid. Several films and television shows have often retold the mythical narrative of the real-life Bonney to fit new creative directions, including the current MGM+ series Billy the Kid. Wayne's cinematic adaptation of the Billy...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Billy the Kid.

The season 2 premiere of Billy the Kid surprises by killing off a major historical figure of the Lincoln County War, raising questions about the accuracy of the series. Jim Dolan, a significant figure in the real-life conflict, was actually an integral part of Murphy's House and considered the instigator of the war. The decision to prematurely kill off Dolan and other historical inaccuracies in the series suggests a lack of devotion to historical accuracy in Billy the Kid.

The season 2 premiere of Billy the Kid rewrites history by prematurely killing a major historical figure of the Lincoln County War. Beginning in February 1878 in the developing United States territory of Lincoln County, New Mexico, the Lincoln County War was an ongoing violent feud that lasted until 1881. One of the most important real-life figures in the was was William H. Bonney, better known by...

Kathleen's final words to Billy on her deathbed reveal her belief in the underlying goodness of his soul, despite his future crimes and reputation as an outlaw. Billy's decision to join John Tunstall and abandon his previous alliances with Lawrence Murphy and Jesse Evans was influenced by his mother's message, as he believed in the good that Tunstall stood for. While Billy the Kid is not inherently evil, his circumstances and fight for survival led him to a life of crime. However, his mother's belief in his goodness still resonates, as seen in his offer of friendship to Tom O'Folliard in the season 2 premiere.

Season 2, episode 1 of Billy the Kid features a brief callback to Kathleen McCarty's final message to her son before her season 1 death. Kathleen is based on the real-life mother of Henry McCarty, better known as Billy the Kid. As the MGM+ series depicts, the actual Catherine...

Billy the Kid season 2 premiere continues the legend with Billy abandoning his old friend Jesse Evans and joining Englishman John Tunstall in the fight for Lincoln County. Billy develops a romantic relationship with Dulcinea Del Tobosco, a wealthy Mexican woman, despite being an outlaw, showing his determination to change. The episode introduces Thomas Catron as the leader of the Santa Fe Ring, a powerful group that takes an interest in Billy and his potential usefulness or threat to their elite organization.

The Billy the Kid season 2 premiere features a number of key moments that set the stage for the continuation of the MGM+ series. Billy the Kid season 1 creatively chronicled the early days of William H. Bonney, who was born as Henry McCarty before becoming the infamous Old West outlaw. After the death of his mother Kathleen (Eileen O'Higgins) forces the "Kid Antrim" into an individual fight for his survival.

Billy can't catch a break, can he?

Throughout Billy the Kid Season 2 Episode 1, the hoping-to-be former outlaw told anyone who would listen that he was attempting to reform.

Billy has never been comfortable as an outlaw.

His sainted mother, Kathleen, raised Henry McCarty as a good Catholic boy.

But his quick temper and elevated sense of right and wrong soon landed him in infamy. It's hard to make a fresh start anywhere when your face is on a wanted poster.

That was why Billy was so grateful to John Tunstall for accepting him when he switched over to his side against his former employer, Major Murphy, to help the farmers and ranchers being victimized by The House, the local branch of the corrupt Santa Fe Ring.

Billy wisely turned down Tunstall's offer of becoming his second in command, deferring to a resident whom the others were more likely to follow.

MGM+‘s Billy the Kid returns for more Wild West shenanigans beginning October 15th, and much of the action can be attributed to the show’s head horse wrangler. Learn more about his role, below, and how Season 2’s scenes came together. Who John Scott What He Does As head wrangler on the Western outlaw drama, Scott — whose 50-plus-year career includes The Revenant — leads a team of about 15, many former rodeo riders. They’re responsible for the care and handling of the mostly quarter horses who do everything from carry actors to pull wagons. His Scott Ranch in Alberta, Canada, at the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, is home to several shooting locations. (Credit: Victoria McFadyen) In Season 2… “We’ve got more actors, more action with the gunfights,” Scott says, as when Billy and boss John Tunstall battle rivals for control of New Mexico Territory in the Lincoln County War.

Young Guns, the iconic Western film, is being released in a new Steelbook edition for its 35th anniversary, including a 4K Uhd version, Blu-ray, and digital copy. Special features of the Steelbook edition include an audio commentary with the actors who played the Regulators, interviews with the cast and crew, and bonus features like Billy the Kid: The True Story. Best Buy is offering its own special edition set with additional bonuses such as artwork, a bullet-riddled wanted poster, and playing cards of the Regulators. Young Guns 3 is still a possibility in the future.

Billy the Kid returns in glorious 4K! It’s been over three decades since the sharp-shooting William H. Bonney (Emilio Estevez) found himself in the employ of the kind-hearted John Tunstall (Terence Stamp) as one of the Regulators in Young Guns (1988). But when John is ruthlessly gunned down in cold blood by Murphy’s (Jack Palance) men,...

Holy Moses! Has it really been 35 years since Young Guns rode with guns ablazing into theaters? You better believe it, pardner, and Lionsgate plan to celebrate the occasion with a timed 35th-anniversary release of the modern Western on a SteelBook in National 4K Ultra HD (+ Blu-ray + Digital), plus a Best Buy exclusive release on December 5th. This is the first time the film will be available in 4K with a brand-new transfer featuring Dolby Vision Hdr. A new Dolby Atmos audio mix and the original 2.0 stereo theatrical mix will be included. This is also the first time the film will be on digital and Blu-ray.

Here’s the official synopsis for Youg Guns via Lionsgate:

The year is 1878, Lincoln County. John Tunstall, a British ranch owner, hires six rebellious boys as “regulators” to protect his ranch against the ruthless Santa Fe Ring. When Tunstall is killed in an ambush, the Regulators,...

Young Guns 3 is still in active development, according to franchise star Lou Diamond Phillips.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly promoting his surprise appearance on Fox's The Masked Singer, Phillips gave a grounded but hopeful update on the progress of the Western action picture's third installment. "It's in limbo right now," Phillips said. "It was chugging along there for a minute, but then I think they got into a rights situation… It's not dead, but it's not happening right now."

Related: The Outlaw Johnny Black Trailer Borrows From Another Western Spoof Movie

Phillips played Mexican-American outlaw Jose Chavez y Chavez who rode with the "Regulators" alongside the likes of Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez) and "Doc" Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland). Appearing in 1988's Young Guns and 1990's Young Guns II, Phillips and his co-stars were in the prime of their careers. Now with Estevez having written a screenplay for Young Guns 3,...

The metamorphosis of Billy the Kid continued in this season finale.

On Billy the Kid Season 1 Episode 8, the former Billy McCarty made the fateful choice that moved him from outlaw to legend.

Whether he is becoming a hero depends on the viewer's perspective.

So what separated Billy from the others he had been riding with in the 7 RIvers Gang? His life experience.

Thanks to his sainted mother, Kathleen, Billy grew up a good religious boy who values the importance of hard work.

He also grew up a member of the hardscrabble poor, worrying about where his next meal would come from.

Hardscrabble poor, just like those immigrant farmers trying to scratch a living out of the New Mexican soil. Billy could relate to their struggle and was sympathetic toward them, unlike the other, more mercenary gang members.

Recently, Billy had reluctantly accepted the outlaw label society had applied to him...

The redemption of Billy the Kid appears to have begun.

Billy remained naive, but as he looked around, he started to wonder if maybe he was on the wrong side of things on Billy the Kid Season 1 Episode 7.

He had just left his Mexican brother, Segura, behind after rescuing him from jail on Billy the Kid Season 1 Episode 6. That was the right thing to do, after all, since Segura had been convicted of a murder that Billy committed.

Billy still has a conscience, even if his temper sometimes overcomes it.

Really, other than the crooked card dealer Ortiz, most of Billy's killings would fall under self-defense. But when you're an outlaw on a wanted poster, no one is giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Now Billy had decided that if someone wanted to profit off of his notoriety, they would pay him to lease it.

After riding into misadventure after misadventure,...