Tequila Sunrise
“A business on the line. A friendship on the edge. A woman caught in the middle.”
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.
Where to watch Tequila Sunrise in United States
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Tequila Sunrise there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Tequila Sunrise streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Canal VOD |
| Spain | — | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Google Play Movies |
| Brazil | Looke, Looke Amazon Channel, NetMovies | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Japan | HBO Max on U-Next | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise is a 1988 English-language thriller, crime and romance film directed by Robert Towne. The cast is led by Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell. It has a runtime of 1h 55m. Viewers rate it 6.1/10 across 600 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
Tequila Sunrise was produced by Cinema City Films, The Mount Company, and Warner Bros. Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on December 2, 1988, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $23 million, it went on to gross $106 million worldwide.
- Director
- Robert Towne
- Writers
- Robert Towne
- Release date
- December 2, 1988
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $23 million
- Box office
- $106 million
- Production
- Cinema City Films, The Mount Company, Warner Bros. Pictures
Tequila Sunrise cast & crew
Tequila Sunrise was directed by Robert Towne and written by Robert Towne.
The cast features Mel Gibson as Dale "Mac" McKussic, Michelle Pfeiffer as Jo Ann Vallenari, Kurt Russell as Lieutenant Nick Frescia, Raúl Juliá as Commandante Xavier Escalante, J.T. Walsh as DEA Agent Hal McGuire, and Arliss Howard as Gregg Lindroff.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Dave Grusin, cinematography is by Conrad Hall, and it was produced by Thom Mount and Tom Shaw.
Is Tequila Sunrise worth watching?
Tequila Sunrise holds an audience score of 6.1/10 from 574 ratings, a solidly received thriller films.
At 1h 55m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy thriller, crime, and romance, Tequila Sunrise is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
Your rating and review are saved privately in this browser — no account needed.
Cast of Tequila Sunrise
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
Tequila Sunrise — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Tequila Sunrise in United States?
Tequila Sunrise is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
▸What language is Tequila Sunrise in?
Tequila Sunrise is originally in English, with audio tracks including English, Spanish. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Tequila Sunrise?
Tequila Sunrise runs 1 hours 55 minutes (115 minutes).
▸What is Tequila Sunrise rated?
Tequila Sunrise is rated R. It holds a 6.1/10 audience score from 574 ratings.
More like Tequila Sunrise
