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Celluloid
RomanceDramaComedy

Cocktail

Directed by Roger Donaldson · 1988 ·

Short answer

Is Cocktail worth watching?

Probably not. Cocktail (1988) earns a 32% Celluloid Score. That is below our 60% Recommended threshold. Audiences (58%) responded more warmly than critics (9%). See the 4 inputs.

32%
Celluloid Score Not Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

9% Editorial Rating
58% Audience snapshot · excluded
12 Metascore
★★☆☆☆ Letterboxd 2.4
5.9 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 44m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · M (Australia) · 15 (South Korea) · R15+ (Japan)
Cast
Tom Cruise , Bryan Brown , Elisabeth Shue , Lisa Banes , Kelly Lynch , Gina Gershon , Ron Dean , Ellen Foley , Chris Owens , Louis Ferreira
Streaming
HBO Max
Language
English

Also known as Coctel カクテル 칵테일 鸡尾酒 雞尾酒 Kokteyl ค๊อกเทล หนุ่มรินรัก

Where to watch

  • HBO Max

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Cocktail by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Disney+
South Korea Disney+
Turkey Disney+
United Kingdom Disney+
United States HBO Max

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is reserved (9/100).
  • Audience reception was lukewarm (58%).
  • Celluloid Score 32% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
  • Crowd-pleaser seekers — audiences liked it more than critics

Not ideal for

  • Anyone needing a safe, highly rated pick

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is Cocktail worth watching?

Probably not — Cocktail earns a 32% Celluloid Score. That is below our 60% Recommended threshold. It suits short runtime — easy weeknight watch, but anyone needing a safe, highly rated pick may want to skip it.

Celluloid verdict

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

, Founder & Editor

Audiences (58%) responded more warmly than critics (9%).

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.

Watch the Trailer

Cocktail stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

Cocktail production still 1
Cocktail production still 2
Cocktail production still 3
Cocktail production still 4
Cocktail production still 5
Cocktail production still 6

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

Reader takes

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Cocktail: frequently asked questions

Is Cocktail worth watching?

Probably not. Cocktail (1988) has a Celluloid Score of 32%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That is below our 60% Recommended threshold. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

Where can I watch Cocktail?

In the United States, Cocktail streams on HBO Max with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Disney+ in Japan; Disney+ in South Korea; Disney+ in Turkey; Disney+ in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is Cocktail?

Cocktail runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).

What is Cocktail rated?

Cocktail is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, M in Australia, 15 in South Korea and R15+ in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

Who stars in Cocktail?

Cocktail is directed by Roger Donaldson and stars Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elisabeth Shue, Lisa Banes, Kelly Lynch.

What is the Metascore for Cocktail?

Metacritic's Metascore for Cocktail is 12 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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