Rotten Tomatoes Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Tequila Sunrise

Play trailer Poster for 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

Where to Watch

Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise

What to Know

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

Critics Reviews

View More
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

Audience Reviews

View More
Landon J @Minxsykitty Jul 28 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 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 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 Read all reviews
Tequila Sunrise

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

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

More Like This

View All
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 All

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
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings