Robocop, 1987
The Robocop trilogy was one of the breakout hits of the '80s, and the walking tin can more than made up for his slow movement with his over-the-top firepower. The Cobra Assault Cannon was used by both the criminals and the cops, and for good reason. Basically, a sniper rifle that shoots grenades, this bad boy destroys cars, the giant robot ED 209, and nearly takes out Robocop himself. “State of the art, Bang Bang!” Indeed.
No.9 - Railgun
Eraser, 1996
Schwarzenegger has shot more than a couple guns in his films, and it was tough to nail down the action star's best-known firearm. In terms of sheer inventiveness though, the title belongs to the Railgun featured in the '96 film Eraser. Capable of looking (and shooting!) through solid walls, the gun brought a dangerous, no-place-to-hide energy to the film, and the concept of a gun that fires through walls has become a fixture in films and video games ever since.
No.8 - Noisy Cricket
Men In Black, 1997
The Men In Black films featured all sorts of wild gadgets, including guns of every shape and size. While the cannons used through the movie are great, one of the films greatest laughs comes when Will Smith gets handed this tiny powerhouse. The even greater surprise is the huge firepower this little gun really packs.
No.7 - M203 Prosthetic Gun
Planet Terror, 2007
What could beat a machine gun in the event of a zombie breakout? How about if that machine gun was attached to Rose McGowan? The ultimate prosthetic for the discerning zombie killer, this machine gun all but stole the show during Grindhouse. This wildly inventive weapon rewrote the book on zombie apocalypse (how is she firing that thing?) We'd say that's good enough for our No. 7.
No.6 - The Guitar-Case Gun
Desperado, 1995
All three movies in the Mexico trilogy are packed with high-powered shootouts and good old-fashioned gunslinging. The image of guitar cases packed with firepower has become something of a joke among musicians. The defining moment of the trilogy, where El Mariachi is joined by his two friends, is a massive firefight featuring guitar cases packed with machine guns, and one packing a rocket launcher. The ol' gun-in-the-guitar-case trick weighs in at No. 6.
No.5 - Predator Shoulder Cannon
Predator, 1987
The Predator series is full of insane weaponry, from the humans toting a giant mini-gun nicknamed “Ol' Painless” to the Predator's disc blades. Nothing, however, can top the awesomeness of a gun that you don't have to hold. This little turret of death is all the backup a Predator needs.
No.4 - The Boomstick
Army of Darkness, 1992
Shotguns have been a fixture of action movies since the days of Wild West films. They've more than earned the action-hero seal of approval, but you can't ask for a better shotgun than Ash's Boomstick. You know a gun is worth its weight when a guy with a chainsaw for a hand still bothers carrying it around.
No.3 - The Phaser
Star Trek: The Motion Picture, 1979
Whether you're a Trekkie or not, there's no denying Star Trek's popularity. Thirty years after the first feature film, this summer's Star Trek film is still one of the biggest blockbusters. Fanboys will debate the “greatest” gun in the Star Trek universe, but there's none more recognizable than the phaser. Set to stun or to kill, the phaser takes third place for us .
No.2 - My Little Friend (M16 with M203 Grenade Launcher)
Scarface, 1983
Scarface is full of memorable moments and quotes, but nothing beats the moment the world said "hello" to this little guy. It’s almost mandatory to quote that iconic line when handling a firearm. As far as quotes about guns, there’s only one gun that can outgun Tony Montana’s Little Friend, and that gun is…
No.1 - .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 29
Dirty Harry, 1971
It’s a fact of science that nobody has ever handled a firearm without uttering either the “Do I feel lucky?” speech or the famous line: “Go ahead, make my day.” We know, the second line is from Sudden Impact, which features another gun (the .44 automag), but the image of “Dirty” Harry Callahan brandishing this monster revolver remains the most famous firearm in cinema. Both quotes were in AFI’s top 100 movie quotes of all time, with “Make my day” taking sixth spot, and “Do I feel lucky?” at No. 51. In fact, in a poll of movie weapons by FOX, the .44 came in second to only the lightsaber. Among guns, however, this handcannon to end all handcannons reigns supreme, nearly 40 years later.
