Just like the characters who wielded them, firearms have always had a big role to play in Hollywood movies.
Some cinematic characters have come to be at least be partially defined by the weapons that their actors wielded. The ‘.44 Magnum’ revolver, for instance, will always be associated with the character of Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) from the eponymous film series.
Furthermore, a lot of people who know very little about guns can actually recognize specific makes and models based on their notable appearances in popular films and shows.
Here are the top 22 guns that became iconic because of Hollywood:
1 – AK-47/74
The AK-47 (and the very similar AK-74) is the quintessential ‘bad guy assault rifle’ seen in Hollywood movies and shows. Also known as the ‘Kalashnikov,’ the AK has appeared in countless movies and shows in the hands of henchmen of enemy soldiers, but also in the hands of movie heroes who pick up and use them to turn the tables on the bad guys.
In the above photo, the character of Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) wields an AK-47 he picked up from a dead enemy in one of the climactic gun battles in the 2006 action film Blood Diamond.
2 – AMT AutoMag
The Smith & Wesson Model 29 that we’ll talk about below is not the only .44 pistol made famous by Inspector ‘Dirty Harry’ Callahan (Clint Eastwood). In 1983’s Sudden Impact, Callahan wields the impressive AMT .44 AutoMag as well.
He’s seen target shooting with it in one scene, and after losing his Model 29 later in the film, he replaces it with the AutoMag to dispatch the bad guys in the final shootout.
The AutoMag’s rare look and loud bark helped set it apart from other handguns of the era, giving the film an extra edge. Its short time on screen was enough to turn it into a cult favorite among movie fans and gun collectors alike.
“Well, this is the .44 Magnum Auto Mag, and it holds a 300 grain cartridge. And if properly used, it can remove the fingerprints.” – Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) in Sudden Impact.
3 – Beretta 92FS
Colloquially known as the ‘9mm Beretta,’ the Beretta 92FS has been featured in more movies and TV shows than just about any other semi-automatic pistol ever made.
Some of its most notable appearances include by John McClane (Bruce Willis) in the Die Hard franchise and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) in the Lethal Weapon series. In fact, Willis and Gibson even used the same prop for the first movies in both series respectively.
Its wide use in action films during the 1980s and 1990s helped lock in its image as the go-to service pistol on screen. Over time, repeated appearances made it instantly familiar to viewers, even those who know nothing about firearms.
“Nine millimeter Beretta, takes fifteen in the mag, one up the pipe, wide ejection port, no feed jams.” – Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) in Lethal Weapon.
4 – Colt M1911/M1911A1
The Colt M1911/M1911A1 pistol (also known by many as the ‘Colt .45’) has also been featured in countless movies as well, specifically in war films where it’s accurately used as the sidearm for U.S. soldiers as well as in Prohibition-era gangster films.
One of the most notable uses of the M1911A1 is in the 1998 war epic Saving Private Ryan where a mortally wounded Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) makes his last stand to futilely fire at an advancing German Tiger tank. To his surprise, the tank explodes when he fires his last shot…but you’ll have to watch the movie to find out why if you haven’t already.
5 – Colt M16 with M203 Grenade Launcher
The Colt M16 assault rifle with an M203 grenade launcher attached is iconic for its use at the end of the 1983 gangster film Scarface where Tony Montana (Al Pacino) wields it with two magazines taped together jungle-style to take on a horde of enemy henchmen who descend upon his mansion.
A very similar rifle is also used by Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in the 1987 action film Predator.
That final scene helped fix the rifle in pop culture as a symbol of over-the-top firepower. Its later use in Predator only strengthened that image, tying it to two of the most quoted action films of the 1980s.
“Say hello to my little friend!” – Tony Montana (Al Pacino) in Scarface.
6 – Colt Peacemaker
If you’ve seen any Western films, you’ve seen the Colt Single Action Army revolver (also known as the Colt Peacemaker) in the hands and holsters of lawmen and outlaws alike.
In reality, the Peacemaker was only one of many revolvers used in the Old West period, but watching enough Westerns would sometimes make you think it was the only revolver used.
Perhaps the most iconic Colt Peacemaker in movie history is the one carried by Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” character in the Dollars trilogy.
This Peacemaker had a 5.5 inch barrel with distinctive silver rattlesnake grips, and Eastwood repeatedly proved his skill with rapidly drawing and fanning the revolver multiple times throughout the series (except for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, in which case he used the Civil War-era Colt 1851 Navy, also with rattlesnake grips).
7 – Colt Python
The Colt Python is widely regarded as one of the most well-made revolvers ever produced. It has also been utilized in many films and shows, but easily its most iconic use is by the character of Rick Grimes in the post-apocalyptic series The Walking Dead where he uses it to take out a multitude of bad guys and zombies alike throughout the show.
In fact, The Walking Dead created such a huge demand for the Python that it was one of the factors that influenced Colt to re-introduce it in 2020 (the Python had previously been discontinued in 2005).
8 – Desert Eagle
The imposing Desert Eagle was made famous almost exclusively because of Hollywood. This was intentional by Magnum Research, the company that produces the pistol, as they openly solicited movie prop houses to get the gun featured in movies and shows.
The Desert Eagle is most famously used by Arnold Schwarzenegger as his sidearm in many of his films, including Predator, Last Action Hero, and Eraser. It’s also heavily featured as the sidearm of the ‘Agents’ in the Matrix film series.
Its huge size and sharp angles made it stand out on screen, even in fast action scenes. As a result, many people now link the gun more with movies than with real-world use.
9 – Franchi SPAS-12
The Franchi SPAS-12 is an Italian-made shotgun that is well-known for the fact that it can alternate between pump-action and semi-automatic mode.
This shotgun gained attention by the general public when it was famously wielded by the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in the eponymous film when he assaults a police station in the middle of the movie.
Another notable use of the SPAS-12 is in the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park where it is used by multiple characters to hunt or defend themselves against Velociraptors…albeit to negligible effect.
Those scenes helped cement the SPAS-12 as a go-to shotgun for intense, high-risk moments on screen. Its bulky shape and folding stock made it easy to spot and hard to forget for movie fans.
10 – Heckler & Koch USP
The Heckler & Koch USP in .45 ACP is a prominent weapon featured in the 2004 film Collateral where it’s wielded by the hitman Vincent (Tom Cruise) as he makes stops to go after his targets throughout one night.
Cruise trained extensively with the USP using live ammunition in preparation for his role as Vincent, and he demonstrates accurate professional techniques for drawing, reloading, and firing a handgun throughout the film.
A pair of heavily customized HK USPs are also carried by Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) in the film of the same name, and the gun is also used by heroes and villains alike in many other movies and shows as well.
11 – Kentucky Long Rifle
The Kentucky Long Rifle, also known as the Pennsylvania Long Rifle, is a muzzle-loading flintlock rifle that is regularly featured in movies set in colonial America. Known by the general public simply as a ‘musket,’ the Kentucky rifle was just one of many such rifles used in that era. It was known for its accuracy and high-level of craftsmanship.
One of the most noteworthy uses of the Kentucky Long Rifle in cinema is by Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) in the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans, where he demonstrates his sharpshooting skills throughout the film and even dual wields two muskets accurately in the final battle.
12 – Luger P08
The Luger is the quintessential sidearm for Nazi bad guys in movies and TV shows. It’s instantly recognizable by its elegant and distinctive profile, like you’ll see in the above screenshot from the 1968 World War II thriller Where Eagles Dare.
The Luger is often mistaken for the Walther P38 pistol, which has a similar profile but is still an entirely different design.
The P38 replaced the Luger as the standard sidearm for the German military in the 1930s and features prominently in Hollywood World War II films as a result; this is why the two weapons are often confused by movie watchers who have little firearms knowledge.
13 – Mauser C96
The Mauser C96 is one of the most unique looking pistols ever made. Also known as the ‘Broomhandle’ due to its grip, it loads via a 10-round stripper clip through the top of the frame rather than a magazine in the bottom of the grip like a traditional pistol.
A heavily modified C96 was used as the prop for the ‘Blastech DL-44’ blaster that was carried by Han Solo (Harrison Ford) throughout the original Star Wars trilogy. And yes, he shot first…
14 – M60 Machine Gun
The M60 is a 7.62x51mm machine gun that served with the U.S. armed forces for decades and still sees limited service today. Subsequently, it has been featured prominently in many war films, such as Black Hawk Down (2001), Full Metal Jacket (1987), and Platoon (1986).
Arguably the most iconic cinematic use of the M60, however, was by John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) in the 1982 action film First Blood.
In the end of the movie, Rambo equips himself with an M60 and several belts of ammunition, and goes on a rampage through the town of Hope, Washington, before taking on the town’s sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy) in the final showdown.
15 – Smith & Wesson Model 29
The Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum became known as the ‘Dirty Harry’ gun after its starring role alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1971 film of the same name, where Harry described it as the “most powerful handgun in the world.”
Smith & Wesson was unable to keep up with demand for the Model 29 after the release of the film, and for a time the gun was selling for two or three times its normal price.
The movie turned the Model 29 into a must-have revolver almost overnight. Even people who never planned to own a handgun knew exactly what it was and where it came from.
“Go ahead, make my day,” – Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) in Sudden Impact.
16 – Smith & Wesson Schofield
The Colt Peacemaker is the revolver that’s by far featured the most amount of times in Western movies and shows, but another cowboy ‘six shooter’ that Hollywood has dedicated a decent amount of attention to is the Smith & Wesson Model 3 Schofield revolver.
The Schofield was faster to reload than the Peacemaker because the barrel and cylinder could swing downward to eject all six shell casings at once, whereas the Peacemaker could only unload and load rounds one at a time.
The Schofield is shown off repeatedly by the ‘Schofield Kid’ (Jaimz Woolvett) in the 1992 Western Unforgiven before he gives it to William Munny (Clint Eastwood) to use in the final gunfight.
In the 2007 western 3:10 to Yuma, the psychotic outlaw Charlie Prince (Ben Foster) wields two Schofields throughout the movie.
17 – Sharps Rifle
The Sharps Rifle was a single shot rifle that was used for long distance shooting and big game hunting throughout the Civil War and Old West period. It’s been used in many Western movies as a result, but none more iconic than in the 1990 Australian Western Quigley Down Under where Matthew Quigley (Tom Selleck) demonstrates his precision long range shooting skills throughout the movie.
“It’s a lever-action breach loader. It’s converted to use a special .45 caliber, 110 metal cartridge with a 540 grain paper-patch bullet. Usual barrel length is 30 inches. This one has an extra 4. It’s fitted with double set triggers…and a Vernier sight. It’s marked up to twelve-hundred yards. This one shoots a mite further.” – Matthew Quigley (Tom Selleck) in Quigley Down Under.
18 – Thompson Submachine Gun
The Thompson Submachine Gun, or Tommy Gun, was used by both law enforcement and gangsters in the American Prohibition era and was issued to American troops in World War II.
It has made multiple appearances in countless famous gangster and war films as a result, includingPublic Enemies, Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, and The Untouchables, among many others.
In the above photo, hitman Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) fires an M1921 Thompson loaded with a 50-round drum in 2002’s Road to Perdition. Sullivan carries his disassembled Thompson in a case before assembling it to take care of business in the end of the film.
19 – Uzi Submachine Gun
The Uzi is a classic submachine gun that was made famous by its use throughout many movies and shows. Like the AK, it’s often carried by bad guys or henchmen before being picked up by the hero to fight his way out of whatever situation he’s in. A cigar-chomping Lieutenant Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) wields an Uzi in the above photo from 1978’s The Wild Geese.
The Uzi is also sometimes confused with the MAC-10, which looks very similar and is also prominently featured in films but is a different weapon. In fact, ‘Uzi’ has almost become an umbrella term to refer to any similar-looking submachine gun where the magazine is incorporated into the grip.
20 – Walther PPK
The Walther PPK has become universally associated with secret agents and tuxedoes ever since it became the sidearm of Agent 007 when Sean Connery was issued it in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962), to replace his Beretta.
Every Bond actor has wielded the PPK since; in the above photo, Bond (Daniel Craig) is armed with his PPK as he frantically searches for an enemy agent on the run in a chase sequence from Quantum of Solace (2008).
“Walther PPK. 7.65 mil with a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window. Takes a Brausch silencer with very little reduction in muzzle velocity. The American CIA swear by them.” – Major Boothroyd (Peter Burton) in Dr. No.
21 – Winchester 1887 Shotgun
The Winchester 1887 is a lever-action shotgun, chambered for either 12-gauge or 10-gauge, that loads the rounds individually through the breech.
The 1887 was relatively obscure until it was featured prominently in Terminator 2: Judgment Day where the T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) uses it to protect John Conner (Edward Furlong) from the more advanced T-1000 Terminator (Robert Patrick).
In a particularly memorable action sequence, Schwarzenegger drives a motorcycle with one hand while shooting and flip-cocking the 1887 with the other. Today, several companies produce reproductions of this shotgun to meet consumer demand, as public interest in the 1887 increased significantly following its ‘co-starring’ role in this film.
22 – Winchester Lever Action Rifle
Just like the Colt Peacemaker, anyone who’s seen enough Western movies has also seen plenty of Winchester lever action rifles to go around. The term ‘Winchester rifle’ has come to refer to virtually any of the several Winchester lever action rifle models that were released in the late 1800s and then used throughout Hollywood’s Western film and TV productions.
Even though the Model 1873 (known as the ‘Gun That Won The West’) is the most famous lever action rifle that Winchester produced in the Old West period, up until the 1980s the Winchester 1892 was actually far more widely used in Western films and shows as a stand-in for the 1873.
Perhaps the most iconic use of the Winchester ’92 was by actor John Wayne, who often carried one with a shorter barrel and a large loop lever that he would flip cock with one hand. You can see him use this rifle in films like Stagecoach, Rio Lobo, and True Grit.
