A favorite topic of anyone who is familiar with firearms is entertainment’s use of guns. Anyone who understands the use of firearms can find numerous examples of Hollywood gun myths, their misuse, or downright impossible functions in various programs and movies. Examples abound, including my personal favorite of a sound artist adding the sound of a racking slide when someone prepares to shoot a revolver. Whether it is endless magazines/capacity, poor tactics, poor safety, too powerful or too underpowered rounds, completely silent suppressors, no hearing loss issues, racking and re-racking an action, guns going “click-click-click” when empty, or just an overall lack of understanding, firearms mistakes are rampant in television and movies. 

The Truth About Hollywood Gun Myths

This begs for a few questions. First, why are such mistakes so common? Second, is this problem unique to firearms? Finally, what are some movies that get it right. The first question is a combination of dramatic license, politics, and lack of knowledge. The second represents any skill set (generally boring) presented dramatically in action movies and shows. The final question does have some positive answers, including the training and reloading shown in “John Wick,” the realistic representation of combat in “13 Hours,” and the tactics shown in “Sunray: Fallen Soldier.”

The Dramatic Reasons Hollywood Gets It Wrong

Let’s be honest; though reloading, using support (air strikes, artillery, explosives), or treating firearms accurately may make some of us happy, they make telling a dramatic action-packed story more difficult. Much like going to the bathroom, reloading becomes unneeded screen time for most action sequences. The actual noise generated by a handgun upon firing in a restricted space would likely interrupt any further action sequences. Likewise, realistic tactics are often relatively slow and boring, leaving most adversaries defeated with little chance of a dramatic fight scene. 

It remains possible to capture these actions well, if harder to do so. Most creative people in the media business earn their money making it “exciting,” not by getting it right. Thus, many of the mistakes made in Hollywood are a combination of not knowing (or caring) better, the need to quickly increase dramatic tension, and to heighten each conflict’s stakes.

The Knowledge and Politics of Hollywood Gun Myths & Inaccuracies

Though Hollywood seems to throw money around as if it grows on trees, paying for technical experts adds to the cost of any project. Whether it is firearms experts, tactical advisors, or specialists trained in the skills (firearms related or not), each additional person costs money. Additionally, these experts (when hired at all) often take a back seat to the drama or excitement of a scene.

There is also the fact that most people consuming shows are not gun owners. Current polls estimate about 58% of the country report living in a home without a firearm. This is across all ages and demographics. The number of U.S. citizens that have experience with firearms is even lower in the prime demographics (urban and younger) that watch most media. Additionally, most actors, actresses and creative people behind our media are not supporters of civilian ownership. The creative people making most of our media trends towards the liberal side of the political spectrum, and that includes attitudes towards firearms. Hollywood rarely knows better and, on average, remains decidedly politically against gun ownership. Creating quick, exciting an dramatic scenes drives movie makers – not technical accuracy.

Excitement Over Accuracy is Not Unique to Firearms

Regardless of the skill set, once you master a skill it is rare that you will see it accurately represented on the silver screen. Anyone familiar with computer hacking will have similar reactions as to how it is presented by Hollywood. Whether it is first aid, police procedures, technical skills, medical procedures, or firearms, Hollywood will rarely put accuracy above dramatic tension. 

For instance, if you’ve ever wanted to be disappointed in medical portrayal, watch a movie with someone who works in the medical field daily; they will usually gleefully point out exactly why the medical equipment isn’t correct, or the patient care is incorrect, and so on – and that’s with a topic that is more mainstream and more understood. The focus is on exciting storytelling and tension and those making our media will do what is needed to drive the story forward. As previously stated, whatever the expertise, only a small portion of the audience will know better, allowing drama and excitement to usually overrule accuracy.

So, what are some films that get it (mostly) right? I will briefly review three.

John Wick – 2014

The first “John Wick” film impressed many based on a few factors. One, the star had clearly trained with a competitive shooter and his skills were on display throughout the movie. Two, the accuracy of the firearms and their function were generally much closer than other films. Three, not only was capacity and reloading accurately presented, it was made part of the action. Finally, unlike later films, the main character seemed to be at least semi-human in what he did and endured. Though later films stretch the believability of the main character’s endurance and ignored firearms function for dramatic scenes, the first remains an example that firearm skills can be used to create an exciting and engaging movie.

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi – 2016

Based on real-life events and drawn from the eyewitness accounts of those that were there, “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” primarily presents accurate depictions of tactics and firearms. In addition to primarily attending to capacity and function, this movie also gets high marks for incorporating the devastating impact of support weapons (mortars) and the noise generated by most weapon systems. Though a few liberties were taken, for the most part this movie proves you can show accurate firearms and tactics and still create an action-packed movie.

Sunray: Fallen Soldier – 2024

This lesser-known film is interesting in featuring British special forces as the actors within the film. I personally came across this movie mostly blind through a recommendation. Afterwards, I was interested in what they had done to make sure their technical experts were listened to, as it was abundantly clear that they were using specific tactics quite well. That is when I found out all the primary actors were former special forces. Though still guilty of a few liberties, having the technical experts be the primary actors results in mostly accurate portrayals of firearms and especially the tactics of special forces. Though the movie itself is of average interest, the presentation of a highly skilled team working together using advanced tactics is worth the watch. If you have not yet seen this movie, try to avoid spoilers online ahead of time!

Final Frames: Hollywood Gun Myths

Movies and shows will continue to mainly treat firearms as a tool to add tension and excitement to a scene. As such, there is little drive in most shows to “get it right.” However, there will always be examples of movies and shows that go the extra mile to also appeal to those of us with firearms knowledge.