Commentary Track

The Ten Best Cinematic Showdowns of All-Time

Posted by Fat Guys at the Movies (fatguys@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 24, 2007

As Jason Statham and Jet Li go to war this weekend on American movie screens, the Fat Guys at the Movies have got to thinking about other great showdowns in movie history. Who were the best at kicking the crap out of each other? Here’s our thoughts, covering the movies during our lives (which starts in the early 1970s, folks).

This list was a featured discussion on Fat Guys at the Movies Episode 27. Check it out here.

Flame on!

10. Batman vs. Catwoman in Batman Returns

She had us at “Meow.” From the moment Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) stepped in front of Batman (Michael Keaton), we were hooked. Pfeiffer was sexy as hell in her black vinyl, and she did a better job at kicking Batman’s ass than the Joker.

9. Dumbledore vs. Valdemort in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

While this wasn’t the favorite Harry Potter film for either of the Fat Guys, we both loved the chance to finally see two wizards go ape-shit on each other.

8. Neo vs. Morpheus in The Matrix

Sure, this isn’t the climactic battle in the film, but it’s one of the coolest fight sequences in the movie. It was so cool that when us Fat Guys started talking about it, Neil Miller yelled “Stop trying to hit me and hit me!” And Kevin Carr tried to run up the wall and do a flip.

7. Lee vs. Han in Enter the Dragon

In fact, the whole film Enter the Dragon is replete with awesome showdowns. But nothing beats the hall of mirrors. Bruce Lee kicks ass.

6. Dirty Harry vs. The Scorpio Killer in Dirty Harry

Of course, most of this showdown consists of Dirty Harry chasing the Scorpio Killer, but it ends with the awesome “Make my day, punk!” line. Who didn’t want to see this guy get whacked?

5. Martin Riggs vs. Mr. Joshua in Lethal Weapon

Before Gary Busey went completely insane, he played the calm and collected albino assassin Mr. Joshua. He and Riggs (Mel Gibson) had almost the same skills, but it was Riggs’ craziness that led him to beat the holy shale out of Mr. Joshua in the rain before Murtaugh to say the classic action film cliche line, “It’s not worth it!”

4. Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode V

The Empire Strikes Back, There was a minor debate at the Fat Guys’ camp as to which Luke vs. Darth scene should make the list. We chose the downer one, not just because it was fun to watch Mark Hamill get pummeled by Force-driven space junk, but it gave us the perfect set-up for a great wrap-up.

3. Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed in Rocky II

Like Luke vs. Darth, Rocky vs. Creed had two scenes to choose from. But while the first Rocky was more of a drama, the revenge of Rocky was more exciting. And he pulled it out by the skin of his teeth, which is always inspirational.

2. Ellen Ripley vs. Alien Queen in Aliens

It began when Ripley fried the egg field with a flame-thrower, and it ended with her beating the crap out of the queen bee with an industrial loader. We couldn’t forget the scene that gave us the great line, “Get away from her, you bitch!”

1. Yoda vs. Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones

It was the fanboy orgasm heard ’round the world. We knew with a CGI Yoda that the little green guy would get his shot with a lightsaber, but it was still one of the greatest moments in the new trilogy. Yoda’s da man!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Luke vs. Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode VI, Return of the Jedi, Although the Empire smackdown made our main list, we have to give props to Luke’s successful bid at bringing daddy-o back from the dark side.

Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed in Rocky, We loved it when Rocky won in the sequel, but it was still awesome to see him go the distance in the original film.

Optimus Prime vs. Megatron in The Transformers (1986), No, it’s not their battle from this summer’s blockbuster (because half of that took place off-screen while Megan Fox was trying to save Bumblebee). We’re talking about the ultra-cool animated showdown in which Optimus Prime goes to that great Chevy dealership in the sky.

Daniel Cleaver vs. Marc Darcy in Bridget Jones’s Diary, It’s not remembered with the fondness as Yoda and Dooku, but it’s probably the most realistic fight you’ll ever see in the movie. Hugh Grant and Colin Firth don’t land many punches, but there’s plenty of slapping, shirt pulling and falling on their asses.


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53 Comments

Maggie Van Ostrand says:

It’s hard to believe The Magnificent Seven didn’t even get honorable mention.
Tsk tsk tsk


Brian Gibson says:

Or the Seven Samurai for that matter Maggie


Kevin Carr says:

Or…. A Bug’s Life?


FearScene says:

These are all great (although I’m not so sure about Riggs vs. Mr. Joshua) but how could you leave out Freddy vs. Jason? Two all powerful monsters going at it for the whole movie — it doesn’t get any better!!


martin says:

riggs vs mr joshua is way above some others. i thoroughly enjoyed this mano escapade. probably because mr joshua was a sociopathic mercenary and riggs was a troubled special forces soldier. the issues they each had lead to competitiveness and same issue a self mutilator has to fight, engage in pain, to realize they are alive.


Adam says:

O come on. Batman vs. Catwoman? Pshh. Yoda vs. Dooku? Whatever. What happened to the Mexican standoff at the end of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly?


LD says:

I’m just glad that there were no John Woo films mentioned, god, his films suck!, He makes even good actors get all hammy and stupid….


Brian says:

Deckard vs Roy Batty in Bladerunner.


Bill says:

Karl (Alexander Godunov) vs. John McClane in Die Hard
Brody vs. Shark in Jaws
Tony Montana vs. everybody in Scarface

These three are only off the top of my head and are better then most on this list


Fedaykin says:

What about the showdown between the Governator and Predator in Predator!?


headzero says:

Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale in Reign of Fire. The fight is about 28 seconds long and is a closer analog of how a fight really is, not the drawn out bullshit 10 minute beat down fest that no normal human would be able to take.


in fits of print says:

Wong Fei Hung vs. ??? (final fight scene) - Jackie Chan’s The Legend of Drunken Master

Achilles vs. Hector - Troy

King Kong vs. Pterodactyl - King Kong (1933)
King Kong vs. Tyrannosaurus - King Kong (2005)


fryke says:

What Brian said.


jim says:

John Cusak had a great fight in Gross Pointe Blank at the High School Reunion (in the hallway).


Mike from canmore says:

Ummm…hey fat guys - maybe check out a Movie called the The Good, The Bad and The Ugly for something that may be number 1 actually.

As for Rocky, Rocky is an American classic - it should be on the list and any money grubbing sequel should not.


Jimothy says:

The Count of Monte Cristo: Edmond Dantes vs Fernand Mondego!


Derrick says:

You need to add Neo versus Agent Smiths. Can’t get any cooler than Neo fighting against so many Agent Smiths.


Schmucko says:

Define “showdown”. Do you mean like a real western style showdown - like the fantastic three-way showdown at the end of “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”. That’s the best “showdown” of all time in the truest sense of the phrase.


Frank Minutillo says:

The fight between Spencer Tracy and Ernest Borgnine in the cafe scene from Bad Day at Black Rock. The tracy character has one arm and the Borgnine character is a big loudmouth bully and the fight is worth the price of the DVD…for those of you who are too young to have seen the sleeper film back in the day.


Erich Scholz says:

Meh…without a Sergio Leone scene, this list is worthless.


John says:

Steve McQueen’s Mustang vs the bad guys’ Charger in the 1968 film Bullitt. There is no better car showdown in modern cinema.


Tasty Tenders! says:

Wow. Really poor selection. Whatever, I’ll just add filmschoolrejects to the websites never to waste time on ever again. Peace out!


DSMRGVAZ says:

“Neil Miller yelled “Stop trying to hit me and hit me!” And Kevin Carr tried to run up the wall and do a flip. ”

I think you mean Laurence Fishbourne and Keenu Reeves. -_-;


PureChinoy says:

only about half of these should be on the list.

some other ones to think about

Tony Jaa vs 100 bad guys in Ong Bak (or Muay Thai Warrior)
Jet Li in (Fist of Legend, Thai Chi Master or Once upon a time in china series)
Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday in Tombstone (the end fight…not that long but you were anticipating for it through the whole movie)

(i know i have others but i’m drawing a blank right now)


mrogi says:

Rocky Balboa vs Clubber Lang…Rocky 3

Dutch vs The Predator…the predator

James Bond vs Red Grant…from russia with love

John Rambo vs Hope, WA police dept…first blood

John McClane vs Hans Gruber…die hard


von rees says:

Cinematic Showdowns means Hollywood mirrors and all (realism be d*****, rhymes with and means same as banned)….

I think these choices are one person’s opinion…and not at all inclusive of all cinema.

I guess we’re limited to mano a mano (not unfairly so)….
No James Bonds?
Mel Gibson “Patriot”? It was one on one, albeit twenty in a row.
Popeye?; Gigantor?; Bugs?; Godzilla?


Jason says:

You spelt Voldermort wrong.


von rees says:

Lets get the real swords in there
French Foriegn Legion: the swashbuckling Errol Flynn
The Prisoner of Zenda
Ronald Coleman
Claude Rains….

These were the fights before all the hollywood mirrors and special effects…
Truly battle royals mano a mano
Epic within the microcasm of the moment, fought for principles of eternity:turth justice and moral integrity of self respect.


magunga says:

@Jason

so did you


Joe says:

Yojimbo!!!
Sergio Leone trilogy.


Bourne says:

Bourne and his showdowns with pens, magazines, directories ,…


Fin says:

#6 Dirty Harry vs Scorpio ended with “Do ya feel lucky, punk?”, not make my day. Maybe you should actually watch the movies before you make lists.


KronDizzle says:

WTF!>?? What about Chuck Norris vs Bruce Lee? That is by far the greatest karate match up of all time!


TheBrizzle says:

C’mon now. You left out the fight from The Protector. Tony Jaa (muay thai) vs Lateef Crowder (capoeira).


scotty says:

What about Roddy Piper vs. Keith David in THEY LIVE? Now that was a fight!


Psychotic Ape says:

Bruce Lee vs Dan in Enter the Dragon should be #1 Everything about that scene, the mirrors and the claw would become copied in the years to come.


Kestrel says:

Now I understand why you were rejected from film school… Yoda v Dooku is not only on the list but #1?! Terrible.


Great White Snark says:

Any scene in Kill Bill? Anyone? Anyone?


Shannon says:

What scotty said.


LoneWolf says:

I strongly second Bruce Lee vs Chuck Norris. The entire earth held its breath while watching that matchup.

Honorable mention second for The Count of Monte Cristo…


guy says:

wow congrats on such a mainstream and boring list, i know nothing of your site. if its about movies, with you i am done, and your “expert” opinions on the 30 or so movies you have watched in your life.


Paul says:

Ok love the Star Wars nods but Yoda versus Dooku definitely not #1. If your list were to include spaceships how about Kirk and crew vs. Gen. Chang in his Bird of Prey in Star Trek VI or the Enterprise vs. the Reliant in TWOK?


mrogi says:

Roddy Piper vs Ninja Warrior…Immortal Combat


Benji Glosser says:

What about the desert finale in Se7en? Even though there wasn’t a fight per s©, it may be the most memorable part in the movie.

Or, for that matter, the showdown between Asuka and the Mass Production Evas in “End of Evangelion.” It should just get an honorable mention, because the movie is not well-known compared to the other movies listed.

The finale of Fatal Attraction? Scarface? The final fight in Fight Club (which made me laugh)? Anything in The Terminator or T2? Damn, there should be more movies listed.


bauer says:

this has got to be one of the worst movie lists ever!!!


senne says:

Indiana Jones vs the swordsman in Raiders Of The Lost Ark!
BAM!


Best Cinematic Showdowns of All-Time | Poppedy Popped Culture says:

[...] by Film School Rejects, here are my choices for the best onscreen butt-kicking fights or showdowns loosely defined here to [...]


josh says:

that yoda battle was so lame.


Sindy says:

There have been so many great movies made in the last few decades that it would be unfair to say that there are ten best cinema movies of all time.


Josh says:

Ok, everyone should calm down. When you’ve only seen these 14 films, it’s easy to assume that the fight in each one of them is the best ever. Maybe when the author watches a few more films, we’ll have a more accurate list.


The Ten Best Cinematic Showdowns of All-Time « Movies says:

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The Ten Best Cinematic Showdowns of All-Time « Hcherat’s Weblog says:

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Mad Holman says:

This is hard to say which fights are ten best of them all!!!!!!!!!!But i would put Yoda vs Dooku and Martin Riggs vs Mr Joshua on list too!!!!


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