Vote up the movies that perfectly paid off the introduction of a firearm.
Although "Chekhov’s gun" was a dramatic principle developed to advise playwrights, there are many movies that deliver a perfect Chekhov’s gun payoff, too. There are several variations on the recommendation made by Russian writer Anton Chekhov, who most famously said, “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one, it should be fired. Otherwise, don’t put it there.” In other words, writers should only introduce elements into the story that will later serve a narrative purpose.
This is a principle referring to any number of introduced story elements, though the films on this list approach the concept literally and contain an actual gun of some type. After the weapon is introduced in some fashion early in the narrative, it returns in a significant way later in the story. Even more important than setting up the existence of the gun is the payoff achieved when it finally goes off.
Which films best paid off the introduction of a firearm? Vote up the best cinematic examples of Chekhov's gun.
How It’s Set Up: Private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) join forces to investigate the passing of an adult film star (Murielle Telio) and the disappearance of a teenage girl (Margaret Qualley). Along their journey, March falls asleep while driving and dreams of Healy showing off his ankle gun while a giant bee smokes in the backseat.
How It Pays Off: This turns out to be a subversion of Chekhov's gun when March attempts to retrieve Healy’s ankle gun later on in the film, only to discover that he dreamed of its existence. There isn't actually a gun on Healy's ankle.
Why It Works: The scene works because of Gosling’s commitment to the retrieval of the ankle gun. He sincerely seems to believe a gun will be there, and the audience does, as well.
How It’s Set Up: Deputy Dewey Riley (David Arquette) brandishes his firearm when responding to a 911 call at the home of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in the first act of Scream. He is also holding the mask of the Ghostface killer, foreshadowing how the gun will eventually be used.
How It Pays Off: Sidney uses Dewey’s gun to dispatch Ghostface after the officer is incapacitated in the final act of the film.
Why It Works: As tough as Dewey tries to act, he is little more than bumbling comedic relief. That he is repeatedly seen holding the weapon makes the fact that Dewey isn’t the one to use it even funnier.
How It’s Set Up: Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) is a US Marshal who often brags about the fact that he’s never discharged his sidearm, despite his many years on the job. Pfarrer tells this to Katie Cox (Tilda Swinton), the married woman he is sleeping with.
How It Pays Off: Pfarrer finally uses the weapon when he stumbles upon personal trainer Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), who has snuck into Cox’s home in a misguided attempt to find files belonging to her CIA analyst husband. Pfarrer panics and shoots the intruder, killing him.
Why It Works: Pfarrer mistakenly believes he has eliminated a Russian spy and becomes paranoid that there will be retribution for this act. In true Coen Brothers fashion, nobody in this film seems to have a handle on what is happening, least of all Pfarrer.
How It’s Set Up: The flintlock pistol carried by Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) was given to him by mutinous first mate Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) - with the single bullet intended for Sparrow to use on himself - after being abandoned on a desert island.
How It Pays Off: Sparrow uses the pistol and solitary bullet in a fight against Barbossa after waiting 10 years to get revenge for the betrayal.
Why It Works: Sparrow is an irresponsible and comical character, which is what makes his resolve to save the bullet for revenge so noteworthy. This seems to be the one thing the pirate takes seriously in the film.
How It’s Set Up: The unlikely heroes of Shaun of the Dead are frequent patrons of the Winchester Tavern in London, named after a Winchester 1886 rifle hanging above the bar. Early on in the film, friends Shaun (Simon Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) debate whether the weapon still works.
How It Pays Off: When the zombie apocalypse begins, Shaun gathers his friends at the Winchester Tavern and settles the debate by grabbing the rifle to use against the zombie horde.
Why It Works: The use of the rifle settles a longstanding barroom argument between friends. While the rifle does work, Shaun proves less than proficient with the weapon. The comedy is also set aside for a dramatic moment in which Shaun must use the antique rifle against a loved one in his group. The symbol of Shaun’s youthful frivolity becomes a tool utilized in a way that forces him to grow up.
How It’s Set Up: When NYPD officer James Darrell Edwards III (Will Smith) discovers the existence of aliens, he is recruited as an agent of a secret organization called the "Men in Black" and becomes Agent J. His partner Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) gives J the Noisy Cricket gun as his first weapon.
How It Pays Off: J fires the gun at the film’s main villain, an alien bug that has taken the skin of a farmer named Edgar (Vincent D'Onofrio). Despite the pistol’s miniature size, the Noisy Cricket packs a punch.
Why It Works: When J first receives the weapon, he is afraid of breaking it. When he fires it, the recoil from the energy blast nearly breaks J after throwing him against a nearby vehicle.
