Tequila Sunrise

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Tequila Sunrise

R,

1988,

1h 54m,

Crime/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

53%

34 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

40%

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.

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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Apr 1, 2019

Tequila sunrise is an okay movie. Thereâ(TM)s nothing really you can say about it. Still Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell did have great performances.

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Anakin W

Sep 4, 2017

Kurt Russell, Mel Gibson, and Michelle Pfeiffer get involved in a convoluted love triangle in this romantic action thriller that smolders with sexual appeal but contrives itself with a ridiculously layered plot. Russell is a cop and Gibson is a career criminal who happen to be life long friends; they both become enamored with Pfeiffer after eating at her restaurant a number of times. There's also a plot about a drug smuggler who Russell is tasked with tracking down with the loyal aide of Gibson. Needless to say things get way out of hand before we get a conclusion; one that leaves us wondering what all of the twists and turns were about. Charismatic performances outshine the ludicrous pacing.

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Rey W

Jan 7, 2017

Cop and former cocaine-smuggling boyhood friend duel over the same woman as the drug pushing friend has troubles from being dragged back to his past occupation. Three top stars of the day headline this well-financed effort. Never reeled me in. Would seek out these stars' other efforts.

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Rey W

Jan 14, 2008

Three great actors... one lame movie. I couldn't wait for this bore to end.

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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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