Born in East L.A.
A wrongly deported East Los Angeles native turns border-crossing survival into a sharp, irreverent fight for citizenship and home.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- energetic
- anxious
- social comedy night
- 1980s movie night
What critics said
Critics were divided, with some praising the film's energetic social comedy while aggregate scores indicate a mixed overall reception.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rudy is deported despite being an American citizen and must navigate institutions that deny his identity.
Rudy's Mexican descent causes authorities to mistake him for an undocumented immigrant from Mexico.
The central plot follows Rudy's resourceful attempts to return from Mexico to East Los Angeles.
The story centers Mexican American identity and East Los Angeles as both a home and cultural anchor.
Films like Born in East L.A., and why
The Milagro Beanfield War
Shared immigrant experience, cultural identity, and comedic social critique within a warm contemporary setting.
Mi Vida Loca
Shared Chicano identity, family tension, and comedy-drama treatment of Mexican American life in the United States.
¡Three Amigos!
Shared fish-out-of-water comedy, border-crossing premise, and culture-clash humor.
Movie Details
- Director
- Cheech Marin
- Release Date
- 1987-08-21
- Runtime
- 84 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (121)
Cast
- Cheech Marin
- Daniel Stern
- Paul Rodríguez
- Jan-Michael Vincent
- Kamala Lopez
- Alma Martinez
- Tony Plana
- Eddie Barth
- Lupe Ontiveros
- Ronald G. Joseph
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Born in East L.A. about?
- A wrongly deported East Los Angeles native turns border-crossing survival into a sharp, irreverent fight for citizenship and home.
- What is Born in East L.A. like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Born in East L.A. as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Born in East L.A. violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Born in East L.A. as mild.
- What did critics think of Born in East L.A.?
- Critics were divided, with some praising the film's energetic social comedy while aggregate scores indicate a mixed overall reception.
- Which films are like Born in East L.A.?
- Films with a similar feel include The Milagro Beanfield War, Mi Vida Loca, and ¡Three Amigos!.
- How long is Born in East L.A.?
- Born in East L.A. runs 84 minutes.
- Where can I watch Born in East L.A.?
- In United States, Born in East L.A. is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
