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Action drama

Chupa (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Chupa (2023) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
74%
worldwide gross
$1.2M
Echo Score
69
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Chupa (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
Jonás Cuarón
Genres
Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Ratings

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).

69 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Chupa Box Office

Chupa grossed $1.2 million worldwide.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.2M

International
$1.2M
Videos

Chupa Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Featurette Christian Slater & Demián Bichir Play With Baby Goats While Answering Questions
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What mythical creature does Alex befriend?

Details

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

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FAQ

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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