Tequila Sunrise

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Tequila Sunrise

R

1988

1h 54m

Crime

Drama

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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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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Mar 20, 2024

2.5/4

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

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jul 7, 2022

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

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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.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 25, 2026

Tequila Sunrise = a 2.5 star Movie!

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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.

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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

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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!

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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

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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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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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