Tequila Sunrise
“A business on the line. A friendship on the edge. A woman caught in the middle.”
Synopsis
In a seaside California town, best friends Mac and Nick 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. Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-09-13
Top Cast
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Mel Gibson
Dale "Mac" McKussic
Michelle Pfeiffer
Jo Ann Vallenari
Kurt Russell
Lieutenant Nick Frescia
Raúl Juliá
Commandante Xavier Escalante
J.T. Walsh
DEA Agent Hal McGuire
Arliss Howard
Gregg Lindroff
Arye Gross
Andy Leonard
Gabriel Damon
Cody McKussic
Daniel Zacapa
Arturo, bartender at Vallenari's (credited as Garret Pearson)
Tom Nolan
Leland
Eric Thiele
Vittorio
Dawn Martel
Sin Sister #1
Lala Sloatman
Sin Sister #2
Budd Boetticher
Judge Nizetitch
Ann Magnuson
Shaleen McKussic
Kenny Moore
Woody
Jason Randal
Magician
Bob Swain
Ralph Spudder
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 2, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$23M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$105.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.6x
+$82.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Towne
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Towne
- Original Score
- Dave Grusin
- Original Title
- Tequila Sunrise
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Budget
- $23M
- Worldwide Gross
- $105.9M
- Production Studios
- Cinema City Films, The Mount Company, Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Towne
Robert Towne
Dave Grusin
Conrad Hall, John Toll, Robert Seaman
Claire Simpson
Thom Mount, Tom Shaw
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Towne
Screenplay
Robert Towne
Director
Conrad Hall
Director of Photography
Dave Grusin
Original Music Composer
Claire Simpson
Editor
Thom Mount
Producer
Julie Weiss
Costume Design
Richard Sylbert
Production Design
David S. Cass Sr.
Stunt Coordinator
Bobby Bass
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Tequila Sunrise.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tequila Sunrise
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Tequila Sunrise about?
In a seaside California town, best friends Mac and Nick 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. Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.
Who directed Tequila Sunrise?
Tequila Sunrise was directed by Robert Towne.
Who stars in Tequila Sunrise?
The principal cast of Tequila Sunrise includes Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Raúl Juliá, J.T. Walsh.
When was Tequila Sunrise released and how long is it?
Tequila Sunrise was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
What was the box office and production budget of Tequila Sunrise?
Tequila Sunrise had a reported production budget of $23M and grossed $105.9M at the worldwide box office (4.6 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Tequila Sunrise?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Tequila Sunrise was composed by Dave Grusin.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Tequila Sunrise?
Tequila Sunrise holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).