La Bamba
“Born into poverty. Destined for stardom. He lived the American dream.”
Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens becomes an overnight rock 'n' roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called "Donna" that he wrote for his girlfriend. But as his star rises, Valens has conflicts with his jealous brother, Bob, and becomes haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash just as he begins his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly.
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Cast
48 people
Lou Diamond Phillips
Ritchie Valens
Known for
Stargate Universe
Prodigal Son
Danielle von Zerneck
Donna Ludwig
Known for
My Science Project
Living in Oblivion
Elizabeth Peña
Rosie Morales
Known for
The Incredibles
Jacob's Ladder
Thomas Rosales, Jr.
Man at Party
Rosanna DeSoto
Connie Valenzuela
Known for
Stand and Deliver
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Esai Morales
Bob Morales
Known for
Titans
Caprica
Joe Pantoliano
Bob Keane
Known for
Memento
The Matrix
Marshall Crenshaw
Buddy Holly
Also in
Peggy Sue Got Married
Brian Setzer
Eddie Cochran
Also in
The Simpsons
Daniel Valdez
Lelo
Known for
The China Syndrome
Howard Huntsberry
Jackie Wilson
No other roles listed
Felipe Cantu
Curandero
No other roles listed
Luis Valdez Director · Miles Goodman Composer Carlos Santana Composer
Worldwide gross $54M · Budget $6.5M · United States release July 24, 1987
Box office
Budget
$6,500,000
Worldwide gross
$54,215,416
Gross vs. budget
8.3×
Production
New Visions Pictures
Production
Columbia Pictures
Production · Studio
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Spanish
Release dates
United States · May 1, 1987
Premiere · Seattle International Film Festival
United States · July 24, 1987
Theatrical
Argentina
October 29, 1987 · Theatrical
Australia
September 14, 1987 · Theatrical
Brazil
September 24, 1987 · Theatrical
Canada
April 6, 1999 · Physical · DVD
Colombia
November 12, 1987 · Theatrical
Denmark
September 18, 1987 · Theatrical
Finland
September 11, 1987 · Theatrical
France
September 30, 1987 · Theatrical
Germany
September 24, 1987 · Theatrical · West Germany
Greece
March 5, 2001 · Physical · DVD
Ireland
October 8, 1987 · Theatrical
Italy
October 23, 1987 · Theatrical
Japan
November 24, 1987 · Theatrical
Mexico
November 20, 1987 · Theatrical
Netherlands
September 24, 1987 · Theatrical
Peru
November 5, 1987 · Theatrical
Philippines
September 10, 1987 · Theatrical
Portugal
September 25, 1987 · Theatrical
South Korea
May 28, 1988 · Theatrical
Spain
October 1, 1987 · Theatrical
Sweden
August 11, 1987 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
August 7, 1987 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.