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Drama

Lowriders (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Lowriders (2017) movie poster

Lowriders is a 2017 drama directed by Ricardo de Montreuil, starring Gabriel Chavarria, Theo Rossi and Demián Bichir. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $6.3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget. Critics gave it 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
58%
worldwide gross
$6.3M
Echo Score
60
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Lowriders (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Lowriders About?

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

Gabriel Chavarria's teenage passion for art leads him to collaborate with his older brother, Theo Rossi, as they prepare for a lowrider car show. Through vibrant murals and meticulous detailing, they strive for victory while celebrating their creativity and strengthening their family bond. The competition pushes them to their limits, testing their skills and their relationship.

Lowriders Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • brother brother conflict
  • young man
  • voice over narration
  • interracial romance
  • mechanic
  • couch
  • arrest
  • bail
  • husband wife relationship
  • brother sister relationship
  • brother brother relationship
  • father son relationship
+38 more
  • second wife
  • family home
  • police station
  • pickup truck
  • friendship
  • love
  • young love
  • shot in the chest
  • garage
  • father son conflict
  • bridge
  • chased by police
  • gunshot wound
  • hispanic
  • hispanic american
  • female photographer
  • competition
  • photograph
  • second marriage
  • drunkenness
  • mural
  • aspiring artist
  • camera
  • ex convict
  • stolen car
  • tattoo
  • car restoration
  • hospital
  • hospital visit
  • vandalizing a car
  • vandalism
  • restoration
  • police detective
  • release from prison
  • breaking and entering
  • graffiti artist
  • graffiti art
  • family relationships
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Cast & crew

Lowriders Cast

Gabriel Chavarria leads the cast, with Theo Rossi and Demián Bichir. Directed by Ricardo de Montreuil; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ricardo de Montreuil

More films directed by Ricardo de Montreuil, best-rated first: La Mujer de Mi Hermano, Mistura, Máncora and My Brother’s Wife.

Full filmography
Ratings

Lowriders Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Lowriders 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in sensory experience (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

60 /100

Lowriders Echo Score Breakdown

Lowriders earns a mixed reception that highlights its cultural significance more than its narrative innovation. Reviews commend the film’s sincere portrayal of East LA car culture and engaging family themes, yet they frequently note a predictable structure and thin plotting. Viewers appreciate the performances and setting authenticity, while critiquing the obvious dialogue and melodrama. Ultimately, the film offers earnest energy and striking local detail but remains uneven in its storytelling execution.

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

  • Art & Craft 68

    In terms of art and craft, Lowriders exhibits a compelling visual flair through its diligent location shooting and detailed depiction of lowrider vehicles. Critics note a scrappy low-budget charm paired with vivid local color, though some mention uneven pacing in its editing approach. Overall, the visual styling is engaging but occasionally inconsistent.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film benefits from earnest performances that convey genuine familial bonds. Reviews highlight strong scenes of forgiveness and cultural pride, supported by committed acting. However, some viewers find character arcs predictable and lacking in depth. The net effect is emotionally sincere yet somewhat conventional.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, reactions are mixed due to a formulaic plot and occasional narrative clutter. Critics criticize the thin dialogue, predictable beats, and uneven integration of subplots, while acknowledging teachable moments and earnest intent. The pacing sometimes drifts amid melodramatic turns. As a result, the narrative feels familiar but fragmented.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When it comes to sensory experience, Lowriders offers a vibrant soundscape and authentic visual atmosphere. Reviews praise the soundtrack’s integration of culturally resonant music and the sound design’s emphasis on engine and street ambience. The cinematography captures the textures of East LA settings effectively. Overall, the film delivers an immersive but modest sensory impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    In terms of rewatch factor, Lowriders provides cultural significance that may reward repeat viewing for its representation, but its narrative limitations reduce broad replay appeal. Audiences cite the film’s authentic community depiction and nostalgic visuals as strengths, yet many find the plot’s predictability and uneven pacing less compelling on subsequent viewings. The overall rewatch value is moderate.

Plot

Lowriders Plot Summary

What happens in Lowriders from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Gabriel Chavarria plays Danny Reyes, a talented but troubled graffiti artist whose bold colors splash across East L.A.’s walls, telling stories that mix personal grief with street pride. With his mother gone, his father Miguel Reyes Demián Bichir runs a family auto shop that builds the coveted lowriders at the heart of their Latino community, hoping Danny will join the family trade instead of chasing riskier artistic dreams.

Danny’s world takes a sharp turn when a bridge tagging leads to an arrest, and he’s bailed out as the consequences of his talent begin to collide with the responsibilities he’s expected to shoulder. The pressure drums on his relationship with his father, even as he navigates a fragile bond with his own ambitions and the memory of his mother.

Full summary

The whole story of Lowriders, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Lowriders Box Office & Budget

Lowriders grossed $6.3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $6.3 million came from the US and Canada and $8,473 (0%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$6.3M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$6.3M
International
$8.5K
Budget
$5M
US & Canada 100% Rest of the world 0%
Videos

Lowriders Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Official Trailer
  • Clip The First 10 Minutes - Extended Preview
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Lowriders?

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

Who plays the lead role of Danny Reyes?

Cars

Cars in Lowriders

63 cars on screen, including the 1961 Chevrolet Impala and the 1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible.

All 63 cars
  • 1961 Chevrolet Impala in Lowriders 1961 Chevrolet Impala Main role
  • 1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible in Lowriders 1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible Main role
  • 1936 Chevrolet Master De Luxe in Lowriders 1936 Chevrolet Master De Luxe Important role
  • 2006 Ford Crown Victoria in Lowriders 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Important role
Details

Lowriders Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Low Riders” and “로우라이더”.

Also known as
  • Low Riders
  • 로우라이더
  • Lowriders : A Arte nos Carros
  • Лоурайдърс
  • Лоурайдеры
  • 跳跳车
  • Louraideriai
  • Lowrideri
  • Лоурайдери

Seen Lowriders?

FAQ

Lowriders FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Lowriders?

Lowriders runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was Lowriders released?

Lowriders was released on May 12, 2017.

Who directed Lowriders?

Lowriders was directed by Ricardo de Montreuil.

More films by Ricardo de Montreuil

Who is in the cast of Lowriders?

Lowriders stars Gabriel Chavarria, Theo Rossi and Demián Bichir, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Lowriders make at the box office?

Lowriders grossed $6.3 million worldwide ($6.3 million domestic, $8,473 international) on a budget of $5 million.

How is Lowriders rated?

Lowriders has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Does Lowriders have a post-credit scene?

No. Lowriders has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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