19 Ultimate Final Shoot-Outs Of Cinema History

19. Manhunter (1986)

Long-time director Michael Mann is no stranger to creating rip-roaring shoot-outs within his output. When it comes to finales though, there is only one choice; his 1980s adaptation of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon.

Silence Of The Lambs (1991) etched out a formula for all third acts for this type of movie. What’s so refreshing here, is Mann’s movie proceeds that formula and goes in an exhilarating bombastic direction instead; as the iconic notes of Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love begin strumming and an unorthodox jump-cut style highjacks the film’s former slow-burn neon atmosphere.

In the third act, William Peterson’s conflicted profiler narrows in on Tom Noonan’s terrifying (yet sympathetic) serial murderer to his homestead. The elusive murderer resorts to his ‘if-all-else-fails’ plan by pulling out a shotgun and taking on the cops in heart-pumping fashion. Peterson barely makes it out alive when the hulking figure utterly destroys him in a hand-to-hand fight before the two lethally trade bullets.

It’s not one of the most epic displays of gunplay (even within Mann’s filmography) - but is hands down one of the most unique and terrifying.