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Tin Cup

Tin Cup is a 1996 American romantic comedy sports film directed by Ron Shelton and starring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson, and Cheech Marin.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tin Cup is a 1996 American romantic comedy sports film directed by Ron Shelton and starring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson, and Cheech Marin. The film follows a washed-up golf pro who tries to qualify for the U.S. Open while pursuing his rival’s girlfriend. It was released by Warner Bros. and became a commercially successful golf-themed movie.

Plot

The story follows Roy McAvoy, a former golf prospect now working at a driving range in Texas. After falling for Molly Griswold, who is dating his rival David Simms, he sets out to qualify for the U.S. Open.

Production

Tin Cup was directed by Ron Shelton, who co-wrote the screenplay with John Norville. Warner Bros. distributed the film, and it was produced through Warner Bros. and Regency Enterprises.

Release and reception

The film premiered in 1996 and received generally positive reviews. It grossed about $75.8 million worldwide against a production budget of about $45 million.

Cast

Kevin Costner stars as Roy McAvoy, with Rene Russo as Dr. Molly Griswold, Don Johnson as David Simms, and Cheech Marin as Romeo Posar.

Key facts

  • Tin Cup is a 1996 American romantic comedy sports film.
  • Kevin Costner plays Roy McAvoy, a talented but flawed golf pro known as 'Tin Cup'.
  • The plot centres on Roy’s attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open and win the affection of Dr. Molly Griswold.
  • Ron Shelton co-wrote and directed the film.
  • It was a box-office success and is widely remembered as a notable golf film.
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Canadian context

The film had theatrical distribution in Canada through Warner Bros. and is part of the broader North American popular-culture canon of golf films often discussed by Canadian sports and film audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tin Cup about?
It is about a washed-up golf pro who tries to qualify for the U.S. Open while competing for the attention of his rival’s girlfriend.
Who directed Tin Cup?
Ron Shelton directed the film and also co-wrote the screenplay.
When was Tin Cup released?
It was released on August 16, 1996.
Who stars in Tin Cup?
The film stars Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson, and Cheech Marin.
What genre is Tin Cup?
It is generally described as a romantic comedy sports film.
Was Tin Cup commercially successful?
Yes. It grossed about $75.8 million worldwide on a reported $45 million budget.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117918/
    Supports: Basic film identification, release year, premise, cast, and credits.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tin_cup
    Supports: Synopsis, director, producer, distributor, genre, rating, runtime, and release date.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_Cup
    Supports: Release date, director, cast, genre, distributor, budget, and box office.
  4. Yahoo Sports — https://sports.yahoo.com/tin-cup-turns-25-interesting-195601145.html
    Supports: Release date, cast, and box-office performance.