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Drama

El Chicano (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

El Chicano (2019) movie poster

El Chicano is a 2019 drama directed by Ben Bray, starring Raúl Castillo as Diego Hernandez, David Castaneda and Adolfo Alvarez. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $1.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it 40% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
40%
worldwide gross
$1.4M
Echo Score
50
Metascore
46
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El Chicano (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Director
Ben Bray
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is El Chicano About?

The premise of El Chicano without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Detective Diego Hernandez seeks justice when a cartel investigation connects to his brother's death. He assumes the identity of El Chicano, a masked vigilante, and wages a violent war against his former childhood friend, now a powerful gang leader. Determined to dismantle the cartel and reclaim his city, Diego’s personal vendetta blurs the lines between law and retribution, leading him down a dangerous path.

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Cast & crew

El Chicano Cast & Characters

Raúl Castillo leads the cast as Diego Hernandez, with David Castaneda and Adolfo Alvarez as Young Jose, Shotgun. Directed by Ben Bray; 12 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

El Chicano Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave El Chicano 40% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in story & flow (45).

50 /100

El Chicano Echo Score Breakdown

El Chicano delivers mixed results across key elements, offering intermittent strengths amid notable weaknesses. While its action direction and technical execution earn praise for visceral energy and authentic cultural immersion, the film frequently falters in narrative depth and character engagement. Reviews highlight stiff dialogue, uneven pacing, and underdeveloped thematic exploration that undermine its ambition. In sum, the sum of decent spectacle and inconsistent storytelling yields a middling experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s visual presentation feels uneven and constrained by limited stylistic ambition. Critics point to a pitch-video aesthetic and occasional budgetary strain that undercuts production design and editing cohesion. However, moments of polished stunt coordination hint at technical competence behind the scenes. Overall, art execution delivers modest gains amid notable shortcomings.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film achieves limited resonance due to uneven performances and clunky dialogue. Reviews frequently cite stiff delivery that fails to offset the story’s gravity, though Raúl Castillo occasionally infuses empathy into his role. The all-Latino ensemble adds cultural authenticity but struggles with depth. In sum, character development registers as middling.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, the film’s narrative coherence and pacing are uneven and often underwhelming. Critics note reliance on familiar vigilante tropes and hit-or-miss mythic themes that render the plot predictable. While some background detail garners praise and certain set pieces excite, the overall arc stalls in cliché territory. Overall, the storyline delivers only moderate engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film presents energetic action choreography and forceful sound design that engage on a visceral level. The director’s stunt background is evident in kinetic sequences and polished effects, while a few stylistic limitations prevent sustained visual innovation. The authentic urban settings and motorized set pieces deliver palpable momentum. Overall, the sensory component offers a compelling but uneven thrill ride.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film offers limited replay value given its inconsistent narrative and shallow emotional layers. While select action sequences and cultural representation might prompt a second look, predictable plot beats reduce successive-viewing appeal. Enthusiasts anticipating a sequel may revisit certain scenes, but most viewers are unlikely to engage with the film beyond its initial screening. Overall, rewatch potential is moderate at best.

Plot

El Chicano Plot Summary

What happens in El Chicano from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Growing up in East Los Angeles, the twin brothers Diego Hernandez, Raúl Castillo and Pedro, along with their friend José, hear stories of a vigilant legend named El Chicano—the anonymous guardian who roams the streets to wipe out gangsters and other criminals. After dropping off José at his house, Diego’s mother delivers a harsh beating, a brutal memory that foreshadows the violence to come. Later, El Chicano appears and kills José’s father, Shadow, a wheelchair-using shot caller for his gang. The masked savior seems to notice Diego and Pedro before slipping away into the night.

Full summary

The whole story of El Chicano, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

El Chicano Box Office

El Chicano grossed $1.4 million worldwide. $1.4 million came from the US and Canada and $4,043 (0%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.4M

US & Canada
$1.4M
International
$4K
US & Canada 100% Rest of the world 0%
Videos

El Chicano Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 1 trailer, 4 teasers and 3 clips.

All 8 videos
El Chicano :: OFFICIAL TRAILER | In Theaters May 3rd
  • Teaser EL CHICANO :: Trailer Cutdown - IN THEATERS MAY 3rd
  • Teaser "Family" - El Chicano - In Theaters May 3
  • Teaser "Las Mañanitas" - El Chicano - In Theaters May 3
  • Teaser "The Storyteller" - El Chicano - In Theaters May 3
Quiz

How Well Do You Know El Chicano?

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 is the name of the vigilante legend that Diego eventually assumes?

Details

El Chicano Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “墨西哥裔美国人” and “El Chicano: O Mito”.

Also known as
  • 墨西哥裔美国人
  • El Chicano: O Mito
  • 墨裔美國人
  • Los Angeles
  • El Chicano - Gyilkos a múltból
  • エル・チカーノ レジェンド・オブ・ストリート・ヒーロー
  • 엘 치카고
  • Ел Чикано

Seen El Chicano?

FAQ

El Chicano FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of El Chicano, each answered in a sentence.

How long is El Chicano?

El Chicano runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was El Chicano released?

El Chicano was released on May 3, 2019.

Who directed El Chicano?

El Chicano was directed by Ben Bray.

Who is in the cast of El Chicano?

El Chicano stars Raúl Castillo as Diego Hernandez, David Castaneda and Adolfo Alvarez as Young Jose, Shotgun, among 12 credited actors.

How much did El Chicano make at the box office?

El Chicano grossed $1.4 million worldwide ($1.4 million domestic, $4,043 international).

How is El Chicano rated?

El Chicano has 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic, 66% on TMDB and 2.8/5 on Letterboxd.

Does El Chicano have a post-credit scene?

No. El Chicano has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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