Tin Cup (1996)

69% of critics liked it
(48 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(47,881 ratings)

Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner) is a talented golf pro, who owns his own driving range. That sounds impressive, but the reality is quite different. While it's true that Roy is indeed a talented golfer and does own a driving range, it is in a tiny, unheard of Texas backwater. With almost no customers, he… More Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner) is a talented golf pro, who owns his own driving range. That sounds impressive, but the reality is quite different. While it's true that Roy is indeed a talented golfer and does own a driving range, it is in a tiny, unheard of Texas backwater. With almost no customers, he is likely to go broke. His golfing talents remain untapped and his life is rapidly going nowhere. To pass the time, he drinks a lot of beer with his buddies, or swings at a bucket of balls. Sometimes, he even plays real golf, and his friend and assistant Romeo (Cheech Marin) caddies for him. That's all there is for Roy, until he is wakened from his deathlike reverie by a visit from a newcomer in town, psychologist Molly Griswold (Renee Russo). Teaching her how to swing a club reminds him of feelings he had nearly forgotten. Discovering that she is the girlfriend of his old golfing rival, David Simms (Don Johnson), goads him yet further, and he returns to the PGA golf tour to compete in the U.S. Open. Maybe he'll get Molly for himself, maybe not, but in the meantime he has some things to prove to himself. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: Ron Shelton
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 16, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Aug 27, 1997
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
As he always does in comedy, Costner grants an irresistible gleam of gallantry to male mulishness.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Tin Cup works for viewers of any handicap.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The climactic game, in which Roy, in a way that defies prediction, attempts to sink the shot of his life, is the most rousing sequence of the year, a celebration of what it really means to win.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Amiable and constantly amusing rather than uproarious, this mangy tale of a ne'er-do-well's fitful assault on personal and professional respectability benefits greatly from Kevin Costner's ingratiatingly comic star turn.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Tin Cup, starring Kevin Costner as a likable loser, accomplishes the impossible, maybe the unimaginable -- it makes golf entertaining.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Dispiritingly conventional and obvious.
, Film4
The dialogue and characters are convincing and intelligently developed. Russo wears vulnerability and neediness like a second skin, while Costner plays the tragic hero with considerable charm.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
You can almost feel writer-director Ron Shelton praying for lightning to strike twice, but to no avail.
, Time Out
Costner hasn't been this charming and spontaneous for years.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
What makes Tin Cup such an unabashed pleasure is Shelton's care in writing and developing interesting characters.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Shelton resurrects the likable Costner of "Bull Durham" in this genial golf comedy.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Lose about 30 minutes and there may be a stronger film in there.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
All the golf action and happy "feel-good" emotions that audiences expect (and want) but... without following the traditional sports movie conventions.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Like other Shelton movies, it's dappled with interesting characters.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Predictable and lame.

Read all 15 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

With a backdrop of light country music tunes and open dusty reaches Costner plays a cheery good ol'boy taking a shot at the big time. Can he make it? And what about the woman of his long time nemesis: will she see through to appreciate his latent awshucks charm? Predictable,… More
With a backdrop of light country music tunes and open dusty reaches Costner plays a cheery good ol'boy taking a shot at the big time. Can he make it? And what about the woman of his long time nemesis: will she see through to appreciate his latent awshucks charm? Predictable, yes, but not boringly, the antics of this Rocky of the fairways.
Jason O

One of the better golf films ever, and Costner's third best sports film.
Sanjaya &

Just a usual sports movie about sports, in this movie told about golf, nothing special in it. Kevin Costner and Rene Russo just gave a light performance because it just a movie for entertaining, they don't need too good performances here, they just need the money... The story… More
Just a usual sports movie about sports, in this movie told about golf, nothing special in it. Kevin Costner and Rene Russo just gave a light performance because it just a movie for entertaining, they don't need too good performances here, they just need the money... The story really standard using the formula from zero to hero, yet I watched the cut version of this movie so I didn't impress a lot, besides the fact that I'm not love golf sports... Just a movie for killing time...
Candy R

Good cast. Rom com with a bit of golf thrown in.
Tim S

I like the fact that he loses in the end.
Dean M

I love sport in comedy films as well as this gives you clever battle-of-the-sexes banter and a handy way with a 7-iron.
Leigh R

Funny and sweet.
Joey T

Some may not like it simply because it is not as outrageous as Happy Gilmore, or simply because they might not think the story works. I, however, got enough laughs out of it to give it a recommendation. The story is basic, but fun, the performance of Kevin Costner is a standout, and… More
Some may not like it simply because it is not as outrageous as Happy Gilmore, or simply because they might not think the story works. I, however, got enough laughs out of it to give it a recommendation. The story is basic, but fun, the performance of Kevin Costner is a standout, and if you are a golfer, there are enough subtle laughs to make the film at least worth a cheap purchase or rental. Check it out
Jeffrey M

Tin Cup is smartly written, feel-good, and charming romantic comedy/sports movie, without all the usual cliches and conventions, especially with its daring and true ending. Costner brings a lot of likability to the film, as does Russo, though the chemistry isn't quite where it… More
Tin Cup is smartly written, feel-good, and charming romantic comedy/sports movie, without all the usual cliches and conventions, especially with its daring and true ending. Costner brings a lot of likability to the film, as does Russo, though the chemistry isn't quite where it needs to be. The comedy is hit or miss, but certainly qualifies as amusing. As a straight-up sports movie, it actually works well, with a strong script and a sense of realism as opposed to predictable resolution that so many sports movies resort too. 3.5/5 Stars
Cameron J

What's more boring than 130 minutes of Kevin Costner playing golf? 130 minutes of anyone else playing golf. Well, to be fair, golf even makes football remotely exciting. So yeah, I bet you can tell I'm no big sports fan. I mean, even their movies are slow, including this… More
What's more boring than 130 minutes of Kevin Costner playing golf? 130 minutes of anyone else playing golf. Well, to be fair, golf even makes football remotely exciting. So yeah, I bet you can tell I'm no big sports fan. I mean, even their movies are slow, including this one, which also suffers from a lack of development, some improvable dialogue and some melodrama. Nevertheless, the strong characters, solid humor, fine performances and excellent ending make "Tin Cup" yet another home run for Costner's filmography. That's golf lingo, right?
Alec B

Russo and Costner have great chemistry together but the movie is just too damn long
Jonny C

Great movie. Tin Cup is well written and acted, with a lot of heart.
Leo L

Great!
Mr. C

If I EVER lose my mind & decide to take up golf....I would be Kevin costners character on the 18th hole for sure.
Haley A

Good acting, but I'm not crazy about the movie itself.

Read all 15 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Kevin Costner as Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy

            Rene Russo as Dr. Molly Griswold

            Cheech Marin as Romeo Posar

            Don Johnson as David Simms

            Dennis Burkley as Earl

            Linda Hart as Doreen

            Bill Caplan as US Open Starter

            Fred Couples
            
            Harold G. Herthum as Bartender

            Mickey Jones as Turk

            Richard Lineback as Curt

            Rex Linn as Dewey

            Allan Malamud as US Open Reporter

            Gary McCord as Himself

            Jim McLean
            
            Michael Milhoan as Boone

            Jim Nantz as CBS Announcer

            George Perez as Jose

            Craig Stadler as Himself

            Ken Venturi as CBS Announcer

            Kevin J. Wilson as Mickelson's Caddie

            Susan Cabral as Patient in Exit Room

            Lou Myers as Clint

            Sandy Gibbons as Local Qualifier Official

            George Michael (II) as Host of "The Sports Machine"

            Melissa Young as Beautiful Blonde

            Arina Gasanova as 19th Hole Waitress

            Tom Todoroff as Guy at Bar

            Phil Mickelson
            
            John Cook
            
            Amy Alcott
            
            Kris Ancira as Golden Tassel Dancer

            Tommy Armour III
            
            Gregory Avellone as Man Behind the Ropes

            Lance Barrow as CBS Director

            Brad Britton as Jacobsen's Caddie

            Frank Chirkinian as CBS Co-ordinator Producer

            Bill Costner as Grandparent With Dog

            Joe Costner as Grandchild

            Sharon Costner as Grandparent With Dog

            Steve Elkington
            
            Brian Hammons as Golf Channel Announcer

            Rob Harris as Simms' Agent

            Peter Jacobsen as Himself

            Lee Janzen
            
            Jess King as Guy at Bar

            Nick Kiriazis as Guy at Bar

            Peter Kostis as Golf Channel Reporter

            Steven "Sven" Lewison as Simms' Caddie

            Bruce Lietzke
            
            Andrew Magee
            
            Jeff Maggert
            
            John Mahaffey
            
            Billy Mayfair
            
            Blaine McCallister
            
            Sharyn McCreedy as Golden Tassel Waitress

            David Ogrin
            
            Jerry Pate
            
            Corey Pavin
            
            Tom Purtzer
            
            Mike Ritz as Golf Channel Announcer

            Jimmy N. Roberts as ESPN Reporter

            Roy Del Ruth as Local Qualifier Starter

            Mike Standly as PGA Golfer

            Howard Twitty
            
            D.A. Weibring
            
            Gregory Buff White as PGA Tour Player

            Ben Wright as CBS Announcer

            Frederick Lewis as Guy at Bar

            George Michael (I)
            
See full cast