Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise (1988) is a California crime thriller written and directed by Robert Towne — the man behind Chinatown — and you can watch it online on iFILM. Mel Gibson plays Mac McKussic, a former drug dealer trying to leave the business behind. Kurt Russell is Nick Frescia, his childhood best friend — and the detective assigned to bring him down.

Their friendship holds until a restaurateur named Jo Ann (Michelle Pfeiffer) steps into the picture and both men fall for her. Nick is already playing both sides: feeding intelligence to federal agents while quietly protecting Mac. The Mexican cartel connection, handled by a smooth Raul Julia, keeps the pressure building from outside. Everyone in this film has at least one hidden motive.

Towne shoots the whole thing against Pacific sun and beachside restaurants, which makes the underlying betrayals land harder. It is a neo-noir that looks like a summer blockbuster. Stream Tequila Sunrise (1988) online on iFILM.