Overview
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.
Trailer
Crew
DirectorLuis Valdez
WriterLuis Valdez
Cast
Lou Diamond Phillips
Ritchie Valens
Danielle von Zerneck
Donna Ludwig
Elizabeth Peña
Rosie Morales
Rosanna DeSoto
Connie Valenzuela
Esai Morales
Bob Morales
Joe Pantoliano
Bob Keane
Marshall Crenshaw
Buddy Holly
Brian Setzer
Eddie Cochran
Daniel Valdez
Lelo
Howard Huntsberry
Jackie Wilson
Felipe Cantu
Curandero
Eddie Frias
Chino
Mike Moroff
Mexican Ed
Geoffrey Rivas
Rudy
Sam Anderson
Mr. Ludwig
Maggie Gwinn
Mrs. Ludwig
Jeffrey Alan Chandler
Alan Freed
Stephen Lee
Big Bopper
John Quade
Bartender
Lettie Ibarra
Vera
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Keywords
rock 'n' rollbiographydeathdying youngnostalgicmexican americanmarital rape1950sromantic
Details
Budget
$7M
Revenue
$54M
TMDb Votes
781
Added May 14, 2026Updated Jun 4, 2026