La Bamba (1987)

La Bamba
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $54,215,416Details
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$5,651,990 (10.4% of total gross)
Legs:9.59 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$6,500,000 (worldwide box office is 8.3 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,251 opening theaters/1,251 max. theaters, 10.4 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $149,473,701

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,703 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,909 $54,215,416

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 24th, 1987 (Wide) by Sony Pictures
April 16th, 2021 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events
Video Release: April 6th, 1999 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 108 minutes
Comparisons: vs. En kongelig affære
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Biography, Rock 'n' Roll, Biographical Drama
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: Columbia Pictures, New Vision
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 196 $10,758,945 Sep 4, 1987 45

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,703 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,023 $149,473,701
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,291 $54,215,416
Top 1987 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 14 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies 71 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,375 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 101-200) 101 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 201-300) 239 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 701-800) 713 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Sony Pictures Movies (Rank 201-300) 228 $54,215,416

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 24, 1987 5 $5,651,990   1,251 $4,518   $5,698,884 1
Jul 31, 1987 3 $5,187,778 -8% 1,249 $4,154   $14,377,467 2
Aug 7, 1987 4 $4,481,433 -14% 1,183 $3,788   $21,980,663 3
Aug 14, 1987 5 $3,633,080 -19% 1,060 $3,427   $28,126,620 4
Aug 21, 1987 7 $3,315,634 -9% 1,105 $3,001   $33,351,578 5
Aug 28, 1987 8 $2,637,528 -20% 1,093 $2,413   $37,604,290 6
Sep 4, 1987 5 $3,722,785 +41% 1,180 $3,155   $42,433,770 7
Sep 11, 1987 5 $2,194,731 -41% 1,192 $1,841   $45,077,268 8
Sep 18, 1987 8 $1,788,161 -19% 1,059 $1,689   $47,415,888 9
Sep 25, 1987 7 $1,480,319 -17% 1,011 $1,464   $49,240,819 10
Oct 2, 1987 9 $1,080,736 -27% 887 $1,218   $50,599,842 11
Oct 16, 1987 12 $776,459   710 $1,094   $52,678,820 13

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 24, 1987 4 $9,142,795   1,251 $7,308   $9,189,689 1
Jul 31, 1987 3 $8,309,541 -9% 1,249 $6,653   $17,499,230 2
Aug 7, 1987 4 $6,994,310 -16% 1,183 $5,912   $24,493,540 3
Aug 14, 1987 5 $5,542,404 -21% 1,060 $5,229   $30,035,944 4
Aug 21, 1987 6 $4,930,818 -11% 1,105 $4,462   $34,966,762 5
Aug 28, 1987 8 $3,744,223 -24% 1,093 $3,426   $38,710,985 6
Sep 4, 1987 6 $4,171,552 +11% 1,180 $3,535   $42,882,537 7
Sep 11, 1987 5 $2,745,190 -34% 1,192 $2,303   $45,627,727 8
Sep 18, 1987 8 $2,132,773 -22% 1,059 $2,014   $47,760,500 9
Sep 25, 1987 7 $1,758,606 -18% 1,011 $1,739   $49,519,106 10

Leading Cast

Lou Diamond Phillips Ritchie Valens

Supporting Cast

Esai Morales Bob Morales
Rosana DeSoto Connie Valenzuela
Elizabeth Peña Rosie Morales
Joe Pantoliano Bob Keene
Noble Willingham Howard
Danielle von Zerneck Donna Ludwig
Rick Dees Ted Quillin
Marshall Crenshaw Buddy Holly
Brian Setzer Eddie Cochran

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Luis Valdez Director
Luis Valdez Screenwriter
Taylor Hackford Producer
Bill Borden Producer
Stuart Benjamin Executive Producer
Joel Sill Executive Music Producer
Adam Greenberg Director of Photography
Carlos Santana Composer
Miles Goodman Composer
Rosemary Brandenberg Set Decorator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$5,651,990 (10.4% of total gross)
Legs:9.59 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$6,500,000 (worldwide box office is 8.3 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,251 opening theaters/1,251 max. theaters, 10.4 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $149,473,701

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,703 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,909 $54,215,416

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 24th, 1987 (Wide) by Sony Pictures
April 16th, 2021 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events
Video Release: April 6th, 1999 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 108 minutes
Comparisons: vs. En kongelig affære
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Biography, Rock 'n' Roll, Biographical Drama
Source:Based on Real Life Events
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Dramatization
Production/Financing Companies: Columbia Pictures, New Vision
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 196 $10,758,945 Sep 4, 1987 45

Leading Cast

Lou Diamond Phillips Ritchie Valens

Supporting Cast

Esai Morales Bob Morales
Rosana DeSoto Connie Valenzuela
Elizabeth Peña Rosie Morales
Joe Pantoliano Bob Keene
Noble Willingham Howard
Danielle von Zerneck Donna Ludwig
Rick Dees Ted Quillin
Marshall Crenshaw Buddy Holly
Brian Setzer Eddie Cochran

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Luis Valdez Director
Luis Valdez Screenwriter
Taylor Hackford Producer
Bill Borden Producer
Stuart Benjamin Executive Producer
Joel Sill Executive Music Producer
Adam Greenberg Director of Photography
Carlos Santana Composer
Miles Goodman Composer
Rosemary Brandenberg Set Decorator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,703 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,023 $149,473,701
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,291 $54,215,416
Top 1987 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 14 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies 71 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,375 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 101-200) 101 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 201-300) 239 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 701-800) 713 $54,215,416
All Time Domestic Box Office for Sony Pictures Movies (Rank 201-300) 228 $54,215,416

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 24, 1987 5 $5,651,990   1,251 $4,518   $5,698,884 1
Jul 31, 1987 3 $5,187,778 -8% 1,249 $4,154   $14,377,467 2
Aug 7, 1987 4 $4,481,433 -14% 1,183 $3,788   $21,980,663 3
Aug 14, 1987 5 $3,633,080 -19% 1,060 $3,427   $28,126,620 4
Aug 21, 1987 7 $3,315,634 -9% 1,105 $3,001   $33,351,578 5
Aug 28, 1987 8 $2,637,528 -20% 1,093 $2,413   $37,604,290 6
Sep 4, 1987 5 $3,722,785 +41% 1,180 $3,155   $42,433,770 7
Sep 11, 1987 5 $2,194,731 -41% 1,192 $1,841   $45,077,268 8
Sep 18, 1987 8 $1,788,161 -19% 1,059 $1,689   $47,415,888 9
Sep 25, 1987 7 $1,480,319 -17% 1,011 $1,464   $49,240,819 10
Oct 2, 1987 9 $1,080,736 -27% 887 $1,218   $50,599,842 11
Oct 16, 1987 12 $776,459   710 $1,094   $52,678,820 13

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 24, 1987 4 $9,142,795   1,251 $7,308   $9,189,689 1
Jul 31, 1987 3 $8,309,541 -9% 1,249 $6,653   $17,499,230 2
Aug 7, 1987 4 $6,994,310 -16% 1,183 $5,912   $24,493,540 3
Aug 14, 1987 5 $5,542,404 -21% 1,060 $5,229   $30,035,944 4
Aug 21, 1987 6 $4,930,818 -11% 1,105 $4,462   $34,966,762 5
Aug 28, 1987 8 $3,744,223 -24% 1,093 $3,426   $38,710,985 6
Sep 4, 1987 6 $4,171,552 +11% 1,180 $3,535   $42,882,537 7
Sep 11, 1987 5 $2,745,190 -34% 1,192 $2,303   $45,627,727 8
Sep 18, 1987 8 $2,132,773 -22% 1,059 $2,014   $47,760,500 9
Sep 25, 1987 7 $1,758,606 -18% 1,011 $1,739   $49,519,106 10

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,909 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,301-2,400) 2,316 $54,215,416
Top 1987 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 16 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 101-200) 154 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,439 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 101-200) 195 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 501-600) 513 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,060 $54,215,416
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Sony Pictures Movies (Rank 301-400) 347 $54,215,416