Tequila Sunrise (1988)

50% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(26,852 ratings)

For his first directorial project in six years, Robert Towne selected a timeworn romantic-triangle yarn, injecting the material with subtlety and conviction. Tequila Sunrise stars Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell as two lifelong friends who, in true James Cagney-Pat O'Brien fashion, grow up on the… More For his first directorial project in six years, Robert Towne selected a timeworn romantic-triangle yarn, injecting the material with subtlety and conviction. Tequila Sunrise stars Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell as two lifelong friends who, in true James Cagney-Pat O'Brien fashion, grow up on the opposite sides of the law. One is a retired drug dealer (at least he says he is), the other a "celebrity" cop. Both fall in love with gorgeous restaurateur Michelle Pfeiffer. Veteran movie buffs will enjoy spotting director Budd Boetticher as a judge, and will welcome the presence in the production credits of cinematographer Conrad Hall, who earned an Oscar nomination for his richly textured color camerawork. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By: Robert Towne
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Dec 2, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Oct 30, 1997

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
A long, teasing trailer for a film not yet made.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
In a world where everyone is some kind of insider, the viewer may feel left out in the cold.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
An intriguing movie with interesting characters, but it might have worked better if it had found a cleaner narrative line from beginning to end.
Nick Schager, The Screengrab
A project with the ingredients for greatness that nonetheless came out half-baked.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
atmospheric and intriguing
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Really bad.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Two friends on different sides of the law head for a showdown - only they're not on different sides at all, so there's no showdown, and so this film ends feeling like coitus interuptus. You think you're going somewhere but yer not. Its a good looking film though.
AJ V

A boring and predictable thriller with an all star cast.
Ken S

A couple good scenes ruined by a really dull movie and hideously dated 80's sax music.
Conner R

A very fun movie and a decent story. Kurt Russell and Mel Gibson were a great opposing team in this and worked extremely well together. Michelle Pfieffer was also a great addition to the cast. It is an interesting story that is very well executed and has a nice harmless tint to it.… More
A very fun movie and a decent story. Kurt Russell and Mel Gibson were a great opposing team in this and worked extremely well together. Michelle Pfieffer was also a great addition to the cast. It is an interesting story that is very well executed and has a nice harmless tint to it. While it is not the best movie of all time, it is a great form of entertainment.
Candy R

Great cast. 80s movie about two friends on the opposite sides of the track who fall for the same woman.
xGary X

Cliched 80s rubbish that could easily be a feature-long episode of Miami Vice.
Dean M

This should be a curiously unthrilling thriller between a drug dealer and cop who are pals falling in love with a beautiful restaurant owner.
Michael G

Horribly dated and incredibly boring.
Jonny C

Not bad. The big cast have a good chemistry but are let down by a very weak final 20 minutes and the usual sleazy saxaphone music.
Sean S

Not the best crime/cop movie ever but Michelle Pfieffer is hot and Mel G and Kurt are always likable on screen. A decent time waster.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Mel Gibson as Dale McKussic

            Michelle Pfeiffer as Jo Ann Vallenari

            Kurt Russell as Lt. Nick Frescia

            Raul Julia as Escalante/Carlos

            J.T. Walsh as Maguire

            Arliss Howard as Gregg Lindroff

            Ann Magnuson as Shaleen

            Arye Gross as Andy Leonard

            Gabriel Damon as Cody McKussic

            Oscar Abadia as Himself

            Jim Bentley as Cop

            Budd Boetticher as Judge Nizetitch

            LaLa as Sin Sister No. 2

            Dawn Martel as Sin Sister

            Tom Nolan as Leland

            Garret Pearson as Arturo

            Ely Pouget
            
            David Rees Snell as Men At Party

            Geno Silva as Mexican Cop

            John D. Steele as Men At Party

            Eric Thiele as Vittorio

            Bob Swaim as Ralph Spudder

            Daniel Addes as Pepe

            Tomas Goros as Carlos' Man

            Scott Harms as Lifeguard

            Austin Hawk as Lifeguard

            Jim Ladd as Himself

            Kenneth C. Moore as Woody

            Jason Randal as Magician

            Tom Schnabel as Himself

            Eric Waterhouse as Steve

            Efrain Figueroa as Carlos' Man

            Daniel Zacapa
            
            Sarah Scott Davis as Girl in Restaurant

            Ayre Gross
            
See full cast

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