Tequila Sunrise

1988
15
1h 55m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

35K

YOUR RATING

Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Kurt Russell in Tequila Sunrise (1988)

Play trailer1:27

1 Video

56 Photos

Dark Comedy Drug Crime Crime Drama Romance Thriller

A former L.A. drug dealer tries to go straight but his past and his underworld connections bring him into the focus of the DEA, the Mexican feds and the Mexican drug cartels.A former L.A. drug dealer tries to go straight but his past and his underworld connections bring him into the focus of the DEA, the Mexican feds and the Mexican drug cartels.A former L.A. drug dealer tries to go straight but his past and his underworld connections bring him into the focus of the DEA, the Mexican feds and the Mexican drug cartels.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

35K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 3 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:27

Tequila Sunrise

Photos56

+ 49

‘Snow White’ Stars Test Their Wits

Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and director Marc Webb take our Ultimate Disney Quiz.

Watch now

9:57

More like this

6.0

5.8

6.4

6.7

6.3

6.7

The Man Without a Face

6.7

Ransom

7.0

Maverick

6.4

Tango & Cash

6.9

The Fabulous Baker Boys

7.1

Payback

7.1

The Year of Living Dangerously

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
The hot tub was not built properly or chlorinated. Michelle Pfeiffer, her double, and Mel Gibson got skin rashes and splinters from the wood. Production shut down for a few days while Pfeiffer recovered from her rash.

Goofs
When Pfeiffer is at the police station getting her chef released, Russell pulls up and parks directly in front of her car. When they leave the station, his car isn't there and Pfeiffer is able to drive away unobstructed.

Quotes
Carlos: You son of a bitch! How could you do this? Friendship is the only choice in life you can make that's yours! You can't choose your family, God damn it - I've had to face that! And no man should be judged for whatever direction his dick goes - that's like blaming a compass for pointing north, for Christ's sake! Friendship is all we have! We chose each other. How could you fuck it up? How could you make us look so bad?

Crazy credits
As the end credits roll, the color of the text changes from dark orange (at the bottom of the screen) to yellow (at the top), mirroring the colors of a Tequila Sunrise cocktail.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels/Tequila Sunrise/Twins/My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)

Soundtracks
Surrender to Me (Love Theme from 'Tequila Sunrise')
Performed by Ann Wilson & Robin Zander
Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc. & Epic Records
Produced by Richie Zito
Written by Richard Marx & Ross Vannelli

User reviews110

Featured review

8/10

Interesting plot setup and although dated, very enjoyable

I remember this movie for one real thing, the soundtrack. I bought it on vinyl and played a few songs until they were scratched, the fabulous "Do you believe in shame" by Duran Duran was one of my favourites and remains so to this day.

I like this film, I really do. Okay so it now looks dated, but the rest of the film is extremely good. Mel Gibson plays a big time Drug Dealer now trying to go straight but seemingly lined up for one final big deal, or so the Police think, and his old school friend who is now the Chief of Police in the same city, Kurt Russell. Russell rocks, he really does, and they play off each other so perfectly. Michelle Pfieffer is the female caught between them who falls for one, and then the other, each playing the reverse of what you think their character may be and each, in their own way, using her to gain information on the other. That plot device alone makes the movie work for me and I love watching the dynamics between all three characters.

Although a couple of plot turns need a little twist of the imagination, it's still very well written and carried through to the screen with these actors giving good performances to take it there. I still have a soft spot for this movie.