1. Blondie vs. Angel Eyes vs. Tuco - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Could any other scene really take the #1 spot? At the end of Sergio Leone's masterful western, Blondie challenges Tuco and Angel Eyes to a three-way duel, the most dangerous and unpredictable of stand-offs, and not one audiences were particularly used to seeing at the time. This white-knuckle scene is a testament to both Leone's superb direction - fleeing between increasingly frantic shots of the three glaring at each other and their holsters - and Ennio Morricone's simply unforgettable score. The scene reaches its intense apex after several minutes, with Blondie killing Angel Eyes, while it turns out that Tuco's gun was never loaded (Blondie emptied it the previous night). This is proof above all else that a climactic fight doesn't need to be busy and rushed to be satisfying; it can be methodical and then abrupt, as is the case here. Which epic movie showdown is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.