Bound by Honor

"An epic story of three brothers. Bound by blood. Divided by fate. Driven by destiny."

1993 3h 10m EN

🙌

8.2

BANGER

★8.2TMDB · 1,652

CrimeDramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on how a violent crime and the influence of narcotics alter their lives. Miklo is incarcerated and sent to San Quentin, where he makes a "home" for himself. Cruz becomes an exceptional artist, but a heroin addiction overcomes him with tragic results. Paco becomes a cop and an enemy to his "carnal", Miklo.

“An epic story of three brothers. Bound by blood. Divided by fate. Driven by destiny.”

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Cast

Damian Chapa
Miklo
Jesse Borrego
Cruz
Benjamin Bratt
Paco
Enrique Castillo
Montana
Victor Rivers
Magic Mike
Delroy Lindo
Bonafide
Tom Towles
Red Ryder
Carlos Carrasco
Popeye

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Taylor Hackford
Writers: Floyd Mutrux, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Ross Thomas
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

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 190 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 13% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

33 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Taylor Hackford, shot by Gabriel Beristain. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Damian Chapa and Jesse Borrego and Benjamin Bratt carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Taylor Hackford directs. Gabriel Beristain behind the camera. Bill Conti scores. Fredric Steinkamp cuts. A long sit — settle in. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 190 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Earned back only 13% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
333 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
5Directed by Taylor Hackford, shot by Gabriel Beristain. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Bill Conti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Fredric Steinkamp shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Damian Chapa and Jesse Borrego and Benjamin Bratt carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "An epic story of three brothers. Bound by blood. Divided by fate. Driven by destiny.".
10IMDB entry: tt0106469 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 16 themes, including "street gang", "ghetto", "juvenile prison", "artist".

The technical file

Cinematography: Gabriel Beristain
Original score: Bill Conti
Editing: Fredric Steinkamp
Production design: Bruno Rubeo
Costume design: Shay Cunliffe
Makeup / hair: Fred C. Blau Jr.
Stunt coordinator: Gary Davis
Runtime: 190 min · 3h 10m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $35,000,000
Box office: $4,500,000
Return: 13% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Bound by Honor (1993)

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Taylor Hackford

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What people are saying

Chandler Danier2024-04-18
★ 10/10
First off, if you learn all the Spanish in this movie, you will be the coolest motherfucker in the world. Just like Miklo. Blonde, blue eyed but the Latines accept him in to their hearts. Gringo version of the gaijin dream. Not even Tom Cruise could be Japanese, though. The Latine culture is just so much more welcoming! This movie is called Blood in Blood out. It is not called Bound By Honor. Stupid name. The act of swearing blood oaths is honour-based. Blood In. Blood Out. But then it doesn't really mean a blood oath. But it kind of is. It's a very good title. It's long. Good god is it long. But I enjoyed it. Laughed a bit. Intense shit happens. Amazing Spanish. Vatos Locos, baby. I want to be in a gang now...but I'm old and from a small mountain town and only had 2 channels. I could be in a gang but I'm not really drawn to the life in a meaningful way. I hope that tamale place and tree are still there. Blood in...blood ouuuuut!!!

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