Tequila Sunrise

Play trailer

Tequila Sunrise

R

1988

1h 54m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

33 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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/13/2023

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

08/12/2020

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

08/12/2020

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

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

03/20/2024

2.5/4

...Tequila Sunrise fares best in its deliberate yet involving first half...

Go to Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

07/07/2022

The film is absolutely incomprehensible. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Pinky T

@RT54250126 22h

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

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

Mireille M

@RT54922496 Jan 3

Well contrary to most opinions Tequila Sunrise is still one of my favorites movies. Atmosphere, style,action and romance,is what this movie offers. Beautifull settings,beautiful actors that certainly do their role to perfection,including Michele Pheiffer. Everytime i watch it .i want to move there and live this life,go to that restaurant,live next to that beach. Stunning sun sets,which happen to be the same color as tequila sunrise. I still have nt quite figured everything out yet,but everytime i watch i figure a little more. This movie oozes with slick...beautifull slick.

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone 05/26/2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

See more

Ari V

@RT59419633 04/22/2025

Saxy soft pornish aspects aside, it's actually somehow a very cozy and enjoyable character study. Pfeifer especially, had a real knack for this sort of thing.

See more

Marcus T

@MarcusT12 03/14/2025

The plot is totally preposterous, but the characters are having so much fun acting it out that you don't really care. Michelle Pfeiffer never looked more gorgeous and that's saying something. My only criticism is I don't think she and Mel Gibson had much chemistry. Still a very entertaining watch.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

Tango & Cash

31%

52%

Tango & Cash

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Tango & Cash

The Yakuza

51%

72%

The Yakuza

Watchlist

Superfly

93%

70%

Superfly

Watchlist

No Man's Land

50%

61%

No Man's Land

Watchlist

Cop

84%

50%

Cop

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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