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El Mariachi

Original title: El mariachi
  • 19921992
  • RR
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
67K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
El mariachi (1992)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
40 Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Thriller

A traveling mariachi is mistaken for a murderous criminal and must hide from a gang bent on killing him.A traveling mariachi is mistaken for a murderous criminal and must hide from a gang bent on killing him.A traveling mariachi is mistaken for a murderous criminal and must hide from a gang bent on killing him.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
67K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Writer
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Stars
    • Carlos Gallardo
    • Consuelo Gómez
    • Jaime de Hoyos
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Writer
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Stars
    • Carlos Gallardo
    • Consuelo Gómez
    • Jaime de Hoyos
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 147User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    El Mariachi
    Trailer 1:36
    El Mariachi

    Photos40

    Carlos Gallardo and Jaime de Hoyos in El mariachi (1992)
    Robert Rodriguez and Carlos Gallardo at an event for El mariachi (1992)
    El mariachi (1992)
    El mariachi (1992)
    El mariachi (1992)
    Consuelo Gómez and Reinol Martinez in El mariachi (1992)
    El mariachi (1992)
    Carlos Gallardo in El mariachi (1992)
    Consuelo Gómez in El mariachi (1992)
    Jaime de Hoyos and Peter Marquardt in El mariachi (1992)
    Reinol Martinez in El mariachi (1992)
    Reinol Martinez in El mariachi (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Carlos Gallardo
    Carlos Gallardo
    • El Mariachias El Mariachi
    Consuelo Gómez
    Consuelo Gómez
    • Dominoas Domino
    Jaime de Hoyos
    Jaime de Hoyos
    • Bigotónas Bigotón
    Peter Marquardt
    Peter Marquardt
    • Mauricioas Mauricio
    Reinol Martinez
    Reinol Martinez
    • Azulas Azul
    Ramiro Gómez
    • Cantineroas Cantinero
    • (as Ramiro Gomez)
    Jesús López
    • Viejo Clerkas Viejo Clerk
    • (as Jesus Lopez)
    Luis Baró
    • Domino's Assistantas Domino's Assistant
    • (as Luis Baro)
    Oscar Fabila
    • The Boyas The Boy
    Poncho Ramón
    • Azul's Ratas Azul's Rat
    • (as Poncho Ramon)
    Fernando Martínez
    • Azul's Ratas Azul's Rat
    • (as Fernando Martinez)
    Manuel Acosta
    • Bodyguardas Bodyguard
    Walter Vargas
    • Prisoneras Prisoner
    Roberto Martinez
    • Prisoneras Prisoner
    Virgen Delgado
    • Female Bodyguardas Female Bodyguard
    Juanita Vargas
    • Female Bodyguardas Female Bodyguard
    Yolanda Puga
    • Female Bodyguardas Female Bodyguard
    Jaime R. Rodríguez
    • Moco's Menas Moco's Men
    • (as Jaime Rodriguez)
    • Director
      • Robert Rodriguez
    • Writer
      • Robert Rodriguez
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    El Mariachi just wants to play his guitar and carry on the family tradition. Unfortunately, the town he tries to find work in has another visitor...a killer who carries his guns in a guitar case. The drug lord and his henchmen mistake El Mariachi for the killer, Azul, and chase him around town trying to kill him and get his guitar case. —Josh Pasnak <chainsaw@intouch.bc.ca>
    • singing
    • guitarist
    • mistaken identity
    • attempted rape
    • female prison guard
    • 256 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • With a guitar in his hand and a price on his head, he wasn't looking for trouble...but trouble came looking for him.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Robert Rodriguez was producer, director, writer, special-effect man, etc, the only job he didn't do was act, as there would be no one else to operate the camera.
    • Goofs
      Fairly early in the movie, Azul insists he only killed six of Moco's men, while Moco insists ten and the other four are credited to El Mariachi. Actually, Azul is responsible for the death seven of the men (the three hitmen in the opening, four in the bar) and Mariachi is responsible for three (two in the truck, one beside, leaving one unconscious).
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      El Mariachi: [voiceover] All I wanted was to be a mariachi, like my ancestors. But the city I thought would bring me luck brought only a curse. I lost my guitar, my hand, and her. With this injury, I may never play the guitar again. Without her, I have no love. But with the dog and the weapons, I'm prepared for the future.

    • Crazy credits
      Turtle... Tito La Tortuga
    • Alternate versions
      In addition to the subtitled version, Columbia had an English dubbed version prepared for home video release in the United States.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Anti-Hero's Journey (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Ganas De Vivir
      Written and Performed by Juan Francisco Suarez Vidaurri (as Juan Suarez)

    User reviews147

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Its a good small budget film
    I have loved some of Robert Rodriguez's later works like Sin City, so I was pretty excited to see this movie.

    The movie is extremely small budget and it really feels like it is more expensive than that. I mean, Robert Rodriguez makes this movie look like it had much more money spent on it, and that is because of his creativity and resourcefulness.

    The directing is really good. I loved many of the shots and scenes in this movie and the way they are edited.

    My problem with the film or at least my dilemma is... I just find this movie OK. The main actor and character itself is pretty lousy, the movie is too long for its own good, and the story is just OK.

    Many people argue that this might be justified because of the low budget. But I do believe that all of the story problems don't have anything to do with the budget. It is not as if I don't like low-budget films, I LOVE "The Evil Dead" and other low-budget films. I just find this movie uneventful, and sometimes boring.

    I think this film is the kind of film you should only watch once and move on with your life. I do recommend you to watch it though.
    helpful•3
    1
    • patomartinezfgo
    • May 20, 2017

    FAQ3

    • Was this film's budget really $7000?
    • Is it true that Robert Rodriguez got the money to make the film by submitting to medical experiments?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1993 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Tay Đàn Sát Thủ
    • Filming locations
      • Ciudad Acuña, Coahuíla, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Los Hooligans Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,040,920
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $312,528
      • Feb 28, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,040,920
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo

    Related news

    ‘Spy Kids’ Franchise Reimagining In Works At Netflix; Robert Rodriguez Returning To Mount Next Film For Skydance, Spyglass
    ‘Spy Kids’ Franchise Reimagining In Works At Netflix; Robert Rodriguez Returning To Mount Next Film For Skydance, Spyglass
    Mar 30Deadline Film + TV
    ‘Spy Kids’ Remake From Robert Rodriguez Set at Netflix
    ‘Spy Kids’ Remake From Robert Rodriguez Set at Netflix
    Mar 30The Wrap

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