Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Born in East L.A.

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
Born in East L.A. (1987)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:32
2 Videos
86 Photos
Comedy

When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.

  • Director
    • Cheech Marin
  • Writer
    • Cheech Marin
  • Stars
    • Cheech Marin
    • Daniel Stern
    • Paul Rodriguez
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    6.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Cheech Marin
    • Writer
      • Cheech Marin
    • Stars
      • Cheech Marin
      • Daniel Stern
      • Paul Rodriguez
    • 39User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins

    Videos2

    Born in East L.A.
    Trailer 1:32
    Watch Born in East L.A.
    Born in East L.A.
    Clip 2:47
    Watch Born in East L.A.

    Photos86

    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Born in East L.A. (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cheech Marin
    Cheech Marin
    • Rudy
    Daniel Stern
    Daniel Stern
    • Jimmy
    Paul Rodriguez
    Paul Rodriguez
    • Javier
    Kamala Lopez
    Kamala Lopez
    • Dolores
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    • McCalister
    • (as Jan Michael Vincent)
    Lupe Ontiveros
    Lupe Ontiveros
    • Rudy's Mother
    Urbanie Lucero
    • Rudy's Sister
    Chastity Ayala
    • Rudy's Niece
    David Perez
    • Rudy's Nephew
    Neith Hunter
    Neith Hunter
    • Marcie
    Larry Blackmon
    • Slick Dude
    Tito Larriva
    Tito Larriva
    • Oscar
    Geoffrey Rivas
    Geoffrey Rivas
    • Immigration Aide
    • (as Geoff Rivas)
    Eddie Barth
    Eddie Barth
    • Lester
    Miguel Delgado
    • Jose
    David Yanez
    • Altar Boy
    Bret Chafe
    • Immigration Man
    McKeiver Jones III
    • Immigration Man
    • Director
      • Cheech Marin
    • Writer
      • Cheech Marin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Nice Dreams
    6.1
    Nice Dreams
    Still Smokin
    5.4
    Still Smokin
    Cheech and Chong's Next Movie
    6.0
    Cheech and Chong's Next Movie
    Cheech & Chong's: The Corsican Brothers
    4.6
    Cheech & Chong's: The Corsican Brothers
    Up in Smoke
    6.9
    Up in Smoke
    Things Are Tough All Over
    5.8
    Things Are Tough All Over
    Get Out of My Room
    4.7
    Get Out of My Room
    The Shrimp on the Barbie
    5.6
    The Shrimp on the Barbie
    Hey Watch This
    6.0
    Hey Watch This
    How to Get High in 2015
    7.9
    How to Get High in 2015
    Far Out Man
    4.9
    Far Out Man
    Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie
    4.7
    Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Contrary to popular belief, the picture of Jesus Christ in Rudy's house is not Tommy Chong. Chong turned down an offer to cameo in the film.
    • Goofs
      Standard procedure for Customs agents at the Border for someone without ID would be ask for Social Security number and Mother's maiden name. However this changed in 2009 when the government started requiring American citizens to have a passport to cross back and forth from Mexico.
    • Quotes

      Rudy: If you want to be cool, first you pull your headband into the cool position. then you just lean back, put this hand in your pocket and then you wave this hand behind you like you just cut one and your trying to shoo away the stinch.

    • Alternate versions
      The television broadcast version adds at least 15 to 20 minutes of footage. In this footage, Rudy does make it across the border only to be captured by kidnappers with his friends. He is held for ransom in the house across the street from his home and is rescued by the border patrol. When he hears that Dolores will have to be sent back across the border, he marries her and makes her a citizen. That's why the priest is behind them in the last shot of the TV versions.
    • Connections
      Featured in Demented Top 20 Video Countdown (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Born in East L.A.
      Words by Cheech Marin

      Music by Bruce Springsteen

      Published by Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP)

      Performed by Cheech & Chong

      Cheech & Chong appear courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews39

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A dynamic comedy
    I heard about this movie recently, and last night I finally got to see it. I'm glad I did! There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, including scenes with Javier and scenes when Rudy has to deal with the boarder patrol. The romance with the woman from El Salvador was actually tolerable (I generally do not like romance in movies), plus it didn't take up too much of the time. As the movie goes on the audience sees Rudy is a man with a good heart, yet I sensed no sappieness. Another aspect of "Born in East L.A." is that it can make people think about the struggles and poverty that happens just over our boarder; this serious issue is presented in a comedy though, so it's easier to take and people don't have to put their guard up for preachy morals while they're looking for a good laugh. Yes, the movie isn't very deep, but it certainly doesn't have to be. I would recomend "Born in East L.A." to anyone. I definitely have to see it again.
    helpful•9
    1
    • lourd-master
    • Jan 12, 2004

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 21, 1987 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Nacido al este de Los Ángeles
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Clear Type
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,355,263
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,359,040
      • Aug 23, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,355,263
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Born in East L.A. (1987)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for Born in East L.A. (1987)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.