Flamin' Hot

"The flavor you know. The story you don't."

2023 1h 39m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.8

IMDB

★8.0TMDB · 873●58Metacritic★6.8IMDB · 20,330

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin' Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.

“The flavor you know. The story you don't.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Disney PlusSubscription

HuluSubscription

Cast

Jesse Garcia
Richard Montañez
Annie Gonzalez
Judy Montañez
Emilio Rivera
Vacho Montañez
Vanessa Martinez
Concha Montañez
Dennis Haysbert
Clarence C. Baker
Tony Shalhoub
Roger Enrico
Pepe Serna
Abuelito
Bobby Soto
Tony Romero

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Eva Longoria
Writers: Linda Yvette Chavez, Lewis Colick
Languages: English, Spanish
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 3 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Directed by Eva Longoria, shot by Federico Cantini. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Marcelo Zarvos. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Liza D. Espinas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Jesse Garcia and Annie Gonzalez and Emilio Rivera carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The flavor you know. The story you don't.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt8105234 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Eva Longoria directs. Federico Cantini behind the camera. Marcelo Zarvos scores. Liza D. Espinas cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 3 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
3Directed by Eva Longoria, shot by Federico Cantini. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Marcelo Zarvos. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Liza D. Espinas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jesse Garcia and Annie Gonzalez and Emilio Rivera carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "The flavor you know. The story you don't.".
8IMDB entry: tt8105234 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Federico Cantini
Original score: Marcelo Zarvos
Editing: Liza D. Espinas
Production design: Brandon Mendez
Costume design: Elaine Montalvo
Makeup / hair: Christi Moraga
VFX supervisor: Jose Marra
Sound: Greg Orloff
Stunt coordinator: Derick Pritchard
Runtime: 99 min · 1h 39m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Flamin' Hot (2023)
Metacritic: 58/100
IMDB rating: 6.8/10 · 20,330 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 7 wins & 9 nominations total

Also by

Eva Longoria

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots2023-08-04
★ 6/10
Eva Longoria makes her feature film directorial debut in “Flamin’ Hot,” a breezy biopic about Richard Montanez, the man who invented the super spicy (and well known) flavor of Cheetos. This underdog story of a hardworking Mexican immigrant who found success despite all of the boxes society tried to put him in is one that’s inspiring, satisfying, and universal. As a teenager, Montanez (Jesse Garcia) was in and out of trouble. As he puts it, “when society treats you like a criminal, you become one.” He was on the fast track to a permanent life of crime until his wife Judy (Annie Gonzalez) became pregnant with their first son. Searching for a better life for his new family, Richard relied on his street smarts and entrepreneurial attitude to go out and make his own success story. A go-getter from the start, he ended up working at Frito Lay and, after “thinking like a CEO,” came up with the idea to create a flavor that would appeal to the large Hispanic market and save the snack food industry. It’s a terrific story that captures the Mexican-American experience that’s not often seen in mainstream films. Linda Yvette Chávez’s script feels deeply personal, and she takes Richard’s inspiring, complex story and gives us an intimate picture of the man behind the Cheetos. The result is a very human film about discrimination, determination, and the ability to get a leg up on life by pulling yourself out of a bad situation. The story (which is actually controversial because there is a debate as to who really invented the snack flavor) is full of humor and heart. It’s a love story between Richard and Judy, his supporting, loving wife. She isn’t just a background character waiting in the shadows, but is presented as a very strong, tenacious woman who dominates every seen she’s in. As is the case with most biopics, there’s obvious embellishment and exaggeration, and there’s no shortage of emotional fluffery that is designed to tug on your heartstrings. There’s plenty of discussion about having faith and living the American dream, which does feel as corny as it sounds. There’s a lot of talk about representation in front of the camera, but it’s important behind the camera, too. Longoria put her money where her mouth is and hired a diverse crew for her film because who tells these stories also matters. The final product is something that radiates an authentic tone and feeling that is rare, especially for a biopic. Longoria’s directorial style is polished and well-matched to the script, with a clear vision and voice. The cast is just as easy to love. Charismatic and sympathetic, I was rooting for Richard and Judy the minute they were introduced onscreen. Casting is so important in a film like this, and it couldn’t be more perfect. Despite a predictable outcome and a few obvious exaggerations of the truth, “Flamin’ Hot” is an irresistible underdog story about a disruptor who shook up the snack food industry. It’s a funny, sweet, and delightful film that’s as crowd-pleasing as it gets. By: Louisa Moore

Production companies