Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- sleek
- tense
- wistful
- late night viewing
- 1980s movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the polished direction, cinematography, and lead performances while remaining divided over the tangled and sometimes confusing plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mac and Nick are former best friends whose opposing legal positions and attraction to Jo Ann threaten their bond.
Conrad Hall's Oscar-nominated cinematography gives the Los Angeles and seaside settings a glossy, atmospheric crime-film look.
Mac is an ex-drug dealer trying to go straight while police scrutiny and Carlos's arrival pull him back toward organized crime.
Jo Ann becomes the emotional center of Mac and Nick's rivalry as Nick approaches her partly to investigate Mac.
Films like Tequila Sunrise, and why
The Long Goodbye
shared neo-noir crime plotting, romantic tension, moral ambiguity, and Los Angeles atmosphere
Chinatown
shared entangled crime narrative, shifting loyalties, friendship under pressure, and Los Angeles setting
Heat
shared cop criminal friendship, romantic complications, and stylish crime thriller tone
The Last Seduction
shared cocaine-era crime milieu, conflicted loyalties, and romanticized noir atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Towne
- Release Date
- 1988-12-02
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (609)
Cast
- Mel Gibson
- Michelle Pfeiffer
- Kurt Russell
- Raúl Juliá
- J.T. Walsh
- Arliss Howard
- Arye Gross
- Gabriel Damon
- Daniel Zacapa
- Tom Nolan
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Tequila Sunrise about?
- A former drug dealer seeking redemption is caught between a suspicious police friend, a poised restaurateur, and the criminal world he wants to leave behind.
- What is Tequila Sunrise like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tequila Sunrise as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Tequila Sunrise violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Tequila Sunrise as moderate.
- What did critics think of Tequila Sunrise?
- Critics broadly admired the polished direction, cinematography, and lead performances while remaining divided over the tangled and sometimes confusing plot.
- Which films are like Tequila Sunrise?
- Films with a similar feel include The Long Goodbye, Chinatown, Heat, and The Last Seduction.
- How long is Tequila Sunrise?
- Tequila Sunrise runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tequila Sunrise?
- In United States, Tequila Sunrise is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
