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Tequila Sunrise

Play trailer Poster for Tequila Sunrise R 1988 1h 54m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
53% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In a seaside California town, best friends Mac (Mel Gibson) and Nick (Kurt Russell) are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos (Raul Julia). Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann (Michelle Pfeiffer) -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.
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Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise

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Critics Consensus

Tequila Sunrise unites three of its decade's most in-demand stars for a slickly packaged crime drama that looks great without ever going anywhere particularly interesting.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Sep 13, 2023
Most of the dialogue is sprightly -- it’s easy, everyday talk that actors can breathe to. But Towne’s directing is, surprisingly, better than his construction -- maybe because when he plans to direct he leaves things loose. Go to Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times Aug 12, 2020
Towne has acres of plot here, lashings of it, plot so complicated and so intricate that if you're not clenched to follow every second of it, you're lost. The sheer details of what he has created finally engulf Towne's handsome trio. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune Aug 12, 2020
3/4
Towne has a tremendous gift for creating dialogue that is concise, expressive and distinctive without advertising its own cleverness, and ''Tequila Sunrise'' is worth seeing just to be heard. Go to Full Review Niall Browne Movies in Focus Sep 29, 2026
4/5
I don’t even know if they’ll ever try and make a film like this again, but it certainly won’t have the magic and charm that helps make Tequila Sunrise so special. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Mar 20, 2024
2.5/4
...Tequila Sunrise fares best in its deliberate yet involving first half... Go to Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Jul 7, 2022
The film is absolutely incomprehensible. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Diaulas F @RT13630323 Oct 3, 2026 Michelle Pfeiffer tem uma atuação poderosa ao lado de dois grandes astros , Mel Gibson e Kurt Russel, nesse filme que nos conecta. See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 25, 2026 Tequila Sunrise = a 2.5 star Movie! See more Landon J @Minxsykitty Jul 28, 2026 Quite good, quite dense too at times. I really like that they gave Pfeiffer's character so much agency for the early 90's. A very interesting and thorough action romance title. See more Michael G @RT11962740 Jul 25, 2026 Meh. Looked like they just wanted to make a movie with Michelle Pfeiffer suck face with Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell. Won't watch again See more Pinky T @RT54250126 Jul 19, 2026 It was an exceptionally good movie. Michelle Pfeifer was incredible. It was believable and romantic. Great casting and wonderful story! See more Allan C @RT15713161 Jul 6, 2026 Sun-drenched 80s, neo-noir Tequila Sunrise (1986) **** Tequila Sunrise is a stylish neo-noir that trades smoky back alleys for sun-soaked Malibu without losing the genre's romantic melancholy. Robert Towne's sharp dialogue, gorgeous visuals, and terrific performances from Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, and a scene-stealing Raul Julia easily outweigh a slightly miscast Kurt Russell and slow pacing. A handsome, underrated crime drama that deserves a second look. SEE LETTERBOXED FOR FULL REVIEW See more Read all reviews
Tequila Sunrise

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Towne

Director

Mel Gibson

Dale "Mac" McKussic

Michelle Pfeiffer

Jo Ann Vallenari

Kurt Russell

Det. Lt. Nicholas "Nick" Frescia

Raul Julia

Carlos

J.T. Walsh

DEA Agent Hal Maguire

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Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise (1988) Tequila Sunrise (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In a seaside California town, best friends Mac (Mel Gibson) and Nick (Kurt Russell) are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos (Raul Julia). Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann (Michelle Pfeiffer) -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.
Director
Robert Towne
Producer
Thom Mount
Screenwriter
Robert Towne
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros., Cinema City Film Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 2, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$39.7M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround
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