Cocktail movie: The highs and lows of chasing dreams in neon-lit New York
Brian’s story begins after his discharge from the U.S. Army, as he returns to New York City with dreams of making it big. Facing rejection in the corporate world due to his lack of a college degree, he takes up bartending to make ends meet. Under the mentorship of the seasoned Doug Coughlin, played by Bryan Brown, Brian learns the art of flair bartending — transforming drink-making into a performance art. Their dynamic routines and charismatic presence quickly make them stars in the city’s vibrant bar scene.
The film doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker sides of ambition. As Brian becomes entangled in a world of easy money and fleeting relationships, he faces moral dilemmas that challenge his values. His relationship with Jordan Mooney, portrayed by Elisabeth Shue, introduces a contrasting perspective, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and genuine connection over superficial success.
Despite its commercial success — grossing over $171 million worldwide against a $20 million budget — Cocktail received mixed reviews from critics. It won two Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay, and holds a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, the film has garnered a cult following over the years, appreciated for its energetic performances and iconic soundtrack featuring hits like The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo.”
Cocktail serves as a time capsule of the late 1980s, reflecting the era’s cultural landscape and the allure of the American Dream. Its portrayal of the highs and lows of chasing success resonates with audiences, offering both entertainment and a cautionary tale about the costs of ambition.
Below, we’ve gathered a collection of photos, articles and vintage advertisements related to Cocktail, providing a deeper look into the film’s production and its place in cinematic history.
The movie Cocktail: Tom Cruise passes the bar (1988)
In Top Gun he was an ace pilot, in The Color of Money, he was an expert pool player, and now, in his upcoming film Cocktail, Tom Cruise goes behind the counter to play star bartender Brian Flanagan, who works the Manhattan watering holes in spring and summer, and spends his winters in the tropics.
The vintage Cocktail movie trailer
Making the movie Cocktail
Excerpted from Rolling Stone – May 19, 1988
Filming seven days a week in Jamaica, Cruise found that the island “wasn’t exactly paradise.” One of his more difficult days was spent filming a love scene at a jungle waterfall with actress Elisabeth Shue.
“Those scenes are always awkward,” he says. “But it was cold, and we were in the water, and I was freezing.”
Cruise wound up getting sick. “It’s not quite as romantic as it looks,” he says. “It was more like ‘Jesus, let’s get this shot and get out of here.’ Actually, in certain shots, you’ll see that my lips are purple and, literally, my whole body’s shaking.”
Cocktail will open this summer.
Cruise is now shooting Rainman with Dustin Hoffman, and he finally plays someone who’s not on top of the world. “He’s self-destructive, angry, resentful of the world,” Cruise says of his character.
Cocktail: Official press release for the movie
Cruise as a bartender in Manhattan meets his match
Young, confident and ambitious, Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) always dreamed of a career that would bring him power, excitement and quick personal profit.
But when it becomes apparent that the top brokerage firms aren’t exactly breaking down his door with job offers, the cold reality of an empty wallet leads him to take a job as a bartender.
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Soon, with the help of seasoned pro Doug Coughlin (Bryan Brown), who convinces his eager sidekick that bartending can bring more perks than brokering, Brian believes that he’s found his niche — pouring drinks and putting on a killer smile for the prettiest women on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Swept up in a seductive world of easy money and sex, Brian is initially thrilled to be a “star” on the club circuit.
When he meets and falls in love with Jordan Mooney (Elisabeth Shue) though, their spirited romance brings a new perspective to the cocksure bartender’s life.
MORE: How to make 30 classic cocktails & drinks
Intrigued by the beautiful and down-to-earth artist’s independence and self-assurance, Brian realizes that in Jordan, he has found someone who can teach him some important truths about love, happiness, and, most importantly, about who Brian Flanagan really is.
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Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown and Elisabeth Shue star in “Cocktail.” a new drama directed by Roger (“No Way Out”) Donaldson.
A Touchstone Pictures presentation in association with Silver Screen Partners III, “Cocktail” is produced by Robert W. Cort and Ted Field from a screenplay by Heywood Gould, based on Gould’s novel of the same name.
Drawn from Gould’s own experiences as a New York bartender during the 1970s, “Cocktail” uses the driving and exciting world of the Manhattan bar scene as a backdrop for a story that addresses issues of personal responsibility and integrity, as well as the evolving pattern of social trends in America.
Tom Cruise is electrifying as Brian Flanagan, a young, confident and ambitious bartender who, with the help of a seasoned pro (Bryan Brown — Gorillas In The Mist, F/X 2), becomes the toast of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
But when he moves to Jamaica and meets an independent artist (Elisabeth Shue — Adventures In Babysitting, Hollow Man), their vivid romance brings a new perspective to the self-centered bartender’s life.
Sizzling with high-powered performances and a #1 hit soundtrack, the box office blockbuster Cocktail has it all!
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Kokomo, from the Cocktail soundtrack
This hit song by The Beach Boys also featured Full House actor John Stamos on drums/percussion
“Hippy Hippy Shake” scene from Cocktail
Here, Tom Cruise (Brian Flanagan) and Bryan Brown (Doug Coughlin) mix drinks at the bar in a zany, super-choreographed kind of way.
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