La Bamba
1987 · Movie · PG-13 · 108 min · ★ 7.3 · 74% critics
In 1958 Los Angeles, a teenage rock musician suddenly becomes a breakout success after writing a hit love ballad. As fame rises, he faces family tensions and recurring fears of a looming plane crash, right as he begins his first national tour alongside other music legends.
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Details
- Years
- 1987
- Release date
- 1987-07-24
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 74/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (790 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy La Bamba if you want an energetic, heartfelt music biopic with real family tension and lots of early rock flair; Not for you if you dislike biopics with heavy tragedy or you prefer The Buddy Holly Story or Sweet Dreams.
Pros: emotional, period music; solid brother drama; entertaining rags-to-stardom | Cons: uneven script; hammy/flat scenes; negative acting claims
Themes
- rock 'n' roll
- biography
- death
- dying young
- nostalgic
- mexican american
- marital rape
- 1950s
- romantic
Awards & recognition
- Kids' Choice Award — Favorite Movie · 1988 · nominated
Cast & crew
Lou Diamond Phillips
as Ritchie Valens
Danielle von Zerneck
as Donna Ludwig
Elizabeth Peña
as Rosie Morales
Rosanna DeSoto
as Connie Valenzuela
Esai Morales
as Bob Morales
Joe Pantoliano
as Bob Keane
- MC
Marshall Crenshaw
as Buddy Holly
Brian Setzer
as Eddie Cochran
- DV
Daniel Valdez
as Lelo
- HH
Howard Huntsberry
as Jackie Wilson
Directed by Luis Valdez