Chupa (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Chupa is a 2023 action drama directed by Jonás Cuarón, starring Evan Whitten as Alex, Demián Bichir and Nickolas Verdugo. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $1.2 million worldwide. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 35m (95 min)
- Director
- Jonás Cuarón
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Netflix
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Chupa About?
The premise of Chupa without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A shy 13-year-old boy, Alex, moves from Kansas City to Mexico to spend time with his relatives. While adjusting to a new culture and forming new friendships, he discovers a young chupacabra cub, Chupa, hiding near his grandfather’s shed. When a dangerous scientist threatens Chupa, Alex must protect his newfound friend and unravel the mysteries surrounding his family’s history, embarking on an exciting adventure filled with unexpected challenges.
Chupa Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- young
- teenager
- young boy
- teenage boy
- mexico
- mythical
- creature
- exploration
- trip
- power
- grandfather
- child
+38 more Show fewer
- children
- farmer
- life
- lifetime
- journey
- friend
- monster
- magic
- chupacabra
- folklore
- treasure
- car
- flashlight
- cave
- friendship
- defend
- mystical
- protect
- fake cactus
- magical place
- latin america
- feather
- shooting
- secret
- hunting
- family relationships
- car chase
- fairy tale
- lucha libre
- mexican wrestling
- u.s. government
- medicine
- game boy
- kansas city
- grief
- mysterious death
- greed
- cancer
Chupa Cast & Characters
Evan Whitten leads the cast as Alex, with Demián Bichir as Chava and Nickolas Verdugo as Memo. Directed by Jonás Cuarón; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Jonás Cuarón
- Evan Whitten as Alex
-
Demián Bichir as Chava - Nickolas Verdugo as Memo
- Ashley Ciarra as Luna
Also Starring in Chupa
· 6 more- Alex Knight Jumpsuit
- Gonzalo Robles
- Krystin Goodwin Newscaster
- Xzavier Estrada
- Julio Cedillo
- Berna Kenshin
Chupa Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Chupa 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 69/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in story & flow (65).
Chupa Echo Score Breakdown
Chupa presents a modestly enjoyable family adventure that leans on cultural charm and likable characters while struggling with uneven storytelling and visual execution. Critics note a rich sense of place and occasional strong performances, yet many point to generic plot beats and subpar CGI. User feedback echoes this split, praising the film's heart and soundtrack but lamenting uneven acting and animation quality. Overall, the movie offers pleasant moments for younger audiences but leaves a mixed impression for broader viewers.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
In terms of art and craft, Chupa demonstrates solid direction and an appealing visual palette that captures Mexican locales. Critics commend the sense of place and some reviewers highlight nicely filmed sequences, while others cite inconsistent visual effects and occasional editing lapses. Users echo the appreciation for the musical score and scenery but criticize the animation quality. The cumulative view is that the film’s technical execution is competent with notable flaws.
- Character & Emotion 68
When evaluating character and emotion, the film succeeds in presenting likable, relatable youths and a charming creature. Critics and users alike praise the chemistry of the young cast and a standout performance by Demian Bichir. Conversely, several reviews mention stiff child acting and underdeveloped villain depth. The overall character work is engaging for its target audience, though hampered by occasional performance shortcomings.
- Story & Flow 65
Regarding story and flow, Chupa delivers a familiar coming‑of‑age narrative that feels both heartfelt and derivative. Positive commentary highlights its wholesome themes and cultural references, while criticism points to generic plot structure and missed opportunities to explore the chupacabra myth. Users note both the adorable premise and moments of repetitive pacing. The narrative therefore lands as serviceable but lacking in originality.
- Sensory Experience 70
In the sensory experience domain, the movie offers an enjoyable soundtrack and vibrant Mexican scenery that reinforce its tone. Reviewers commend the musical score’s magical quality and the visual appeal of location shots. However, feedback also notes inconsistent CGI and animation quality that detract from immersion. The sensory components largely support the film’s mood despite technical imperfections.
- Rewatch Factor 68
For rewatch factor, Chupa possesses a modest replay value anchored by its heartwarming moments and cultural flavor. Critics suggest it will engage children on repeat viewings, and many users describe it as a comforting family film worth revisiting. Yet, some reviewers find it forgettable beyond an initial watch due to narrative blandness. Consequently, the film offers moderate lasting appeal for its intended audience.
-
IMDb 5.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 57%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 48 Metascore
User score 5.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.5 /5
12357 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.7 /5
See on Movie Insider
Chupa Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Chupa from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Scientist Richard Quinn is on a quest to capture the chupacabra, a legendary creature, in San Javier to exploit its supposed abilities. While tracking it down in an abandoned mine, he encounters the creature, who, upon being injured by a vehicle, abandons her baby to distract the pursuing scientists. After the passing of his father, Beto, due to cancer, 13-year-old Alex flies to Mexico to connect with his extended family for the first time—a trip that was originally planned for him and his father. In Mexico, he meets his grandfather Chava, a former lucha libre champion, along with his lively cousin Memo, who is obsessed with wrestling, and his brave cousin Luna.
Full summary
The whole story of Chupa, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Chupa Box Office
Chupa grossed $1.2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$1.2M
- International
- $1.2M
Chupa Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette Christian Slater & Demián Bichir Play With Baby Goats While Answering Questions
How Well Do You Know Chupa?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What mythical creature does Alex befriend?
Chupa Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Meu Amigo Lutcha” and “アレックスとチュパ”.
- Also known as
-
- Meu Amigo Lutcha
- アレックスとチュパ
- Чупа
- 我的吸血怪好友
- 내 친구 추파카브라
- Chupa: A Criatura Mítica
- ชูปาเพื่อนฉัน
- צ’ופה
- تشوبا
- Čupa
Seen Chupa?
Movies Like Chupa
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Chabelo and Pepito vs. the Monsters, La Leyenda de los Chaneques and Adventures with Uncle Manuelo.
-
Chabelo and Pepito vs. the Monsters 1973 -
La Leyenda de los Chaneques 2023 -
Adventures with Uncle Manuelo 1971 -
Chuzalongo 2024 -
The Great Adventure of Zorro 1976 -
Chac: The Rain God 1975 -
The Adventure of Little Ghost Hunter 2024 -
The Book of Life 2014 -
Chicuarotes 2019 -
Little Monsters 1989 -
Haunted Tales For Wicked Kids: The Movie 2017 -
Chiquidracula 1985
Chupa FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Chupa, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Chupa?
Chupa runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).
When was Chupa released?
Chupa was released on April 7, 2023.
Who directed Chupa?
Chupa was directed by Jonás Cuarón.
More films by Jonás Cuarón Who is in the cast of Chupa?
Chupa stars Evan Whitten as Alex, Demián Bichir as Chava and Nickolas Verdugo as Memo, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Chupa make at the box office?
Chupa grossed $1.2 million worldwide.
How is Chupa rated?
Chupa has 5.5/10 on IMDb, 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
Does Chupa have a post-credit scene?
No. Chupa has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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