vincent canby of "the new york times" gave a negative review, calling it "an upscale, utterly brainless variation on those efficient old b-movies of the 1930s and 40s about the lives, loves and skills of coal miners, sand hogs, and telephone linemen, among others." roger ebert of the "chicago sun-times" was also critical, explaining that "the more you think about what really happens in "cocktail", the more you realize how empty and fabricated it really is."