<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $20 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $171.5 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Cocktail is a 1988 American romantic comedy - drama film directed by Roger Donaldson and written by Heywood Gould, whose screenplay was based on his book of the same name . The film tells the story of a young New York City business student, Brian Flanagan, who takes up bartending in order to make ends meet . The film stars Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, and Elisabeth Shue . Released by Touchstone Pictures, the film features an original music score composed by J. Peter Robinson . </P> <P> Brian Flanagan gets a part - time job as a bartender at night while studying for a business degree by day . Over time, he learns the tricks of the trade, including flairing, from his mentor, Doug Coughlin . His advice usually begins with "Coughlin's Law". Brian has high personal aspirations, but Doug is leery of the two starting their own bar together . Doug intends to call his bar "Cocktails & Dreams". </P>

Who was the girl in the movie cocktail