# Cocktail (1988) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/cocktail-1988/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-24

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 37% |
| Critic Score | 9% |
| Audience Score | 58% |
| Metascore | 12/100 |
| Letterboxd | 2.4/5 |
| IMDb | 5.9/10 |
| Director | Roger Donaldson |
| Genres | Romance, Drama, Comedy |
| Runtime | 104 min |

## Quick answer

Cocktail (1988) earns a 37% Celluloid Score — Not Recommended. Cruise as a flair bartender chasing the American dream — a campy ’80s romance that remains a guilty-pleasure search titl Critics and audiences diverge (9% critic vs 58% audience). Metascore 12/100. Directed by Roger Donaldson.

## Critics consensus

Cruise as a flair bartender chasing the American dream — a campy ’80s romance that remains a guilty-pleasure search title.

## Synopsis

After being discharged from the Army, Brian Flanagan moves back to Queens and takes a job in a bar run by Doug Coughlin, who teaches Brian the fine art of bar-tending. Brian quickly becomes a patron favorite with his flashy drink-mixing style, and Brian adopts his mentor's cynical philosophy on life and goes for the money.

## Cast

Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elisabeth Shue, Lisa Banes, Kelly Lynch, Gina Gershon, Ron Dean, Ellen Foley, Chris Owens, Louis Ferreira

## Common questions

**Is Cocktail worth watching?**
Cocktail holds a 37% Celluloid Score. Cruise as a flair bartender chasing the American dream — a campy ’80s romance that remains a guilty-pleasure search title.

**What is Cocktail about?**
After being discharged from the Army, Brian Flanagan moves back to Queens and takes a job in a bar run by Doug Coughlin, who teaches Brian the fine art of bar-tending. Brian quickly becomes a patron favorite with his flashy drink-mixing style, and Brian adopts his mentor's cynical philosophy on life and goes for the money.

**Who directed Cocktail?**
Cocktail (1988) was directed by Roger Donaldson.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Cocktail?**
37% — the average of five public sources: critics 9%, audience 58%, Metascore 12/100, Letterboxd 2.4/5, and IMDb 5.9/10.

**Where can I watch Cocktail?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the Cocktail page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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