LA Bamba follows the overnight rise of Ritchie Valens to stardom and the impact of his death to his loved ones.
14 March 1950, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
2 September 1950, San Jose, California, USA
15 October 1942, Gallup, New Mexico, USA
23 September 1959, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
2 April 1947, South Dakota, USA
24 December 1955, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
1 May 1961, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
28 August 1967, Orange County, California, USA
31 August 1931, Mineola, Texas, USA
9 September 1944, New York City, New York, USA
17 February 1962, Subic Bay Naval Base, Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines
3 February 1948, El Paso, Texas, USA
13 August 1973, West Monroe, Louisiana, USA
21 December 1965, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
4 December 1973, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA
January 02, 2017
A strong statement about the fleeting, fragility of life, and the bond between brothers.
June 12, 2003
As Valens, Lou Diamond Phillips has a sweetness and sincerity that in no way diminish the toughness of his onstage persona. The role is blandly written, but Mr. Phillips gives Valens backbone.
January 01, 2000
Predictably, there isn't a Ritchie blemish in sight. But the circumstances of Valens' life seem to beg this golden portrait.
July 07, 2010
An enjoyable if slightly innocuous biopic based on the brief life and short-lived fame of teen rock'n'roll idol Richie Valens
January 01, 2000
This is a sincere, well-acted movie about the short life of a minor rock 'n' roll star, and by the time it's over we almost have the feeling Valens would have been surprised not to have died in a crash.
February 07, 2005
solid, entertaining biopic
April 30, 2003
Fairly well put together film about the hispanic king of rock'n roll.
January 01, 2011
Sweet, sad rock-idol story for mature teens.
November 08, 2016
This is a movie about music and it is the Valens sound, a unique blending of Latin rhythm and rock beat, that prevents La Bamba from being just another example of Hollywood hero worship.
January 07, 2003
Perhaps otherwise destined to be remembered as a talented footnote in musical history, Richie Valens is immortalized for the masses in this well-conceived and involving movie.
March 26, 2009
La Bamba is engrossing throughout and boasts numerous fine performances.
January 01, 2000
Basically, it's a load of corn -- an up-from-the-basement account of a pop comet -- but the movie has an energetic, almost naive spirit.

