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Selena

  • 1997
  • PG
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
33K
YOUR RATING
Jennifer Lopez in Selena (1997)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:23
3 Videos
63 Photos
Showbiz DramaBiographyDramaMusic

The true story of Selena, a Texas-born Tejana singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart-topping albums on the Latin music charts.The true story of Selena, a Texas-born Tejana singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart-topping albums on the Latin music charts.The true story of Selena, a Texas-born Tejana singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart-topping albums on the Latin music charts.

  • Director
    • Gregory Nava
  • Writer
    • Gregory Nava
  • Stars
    • Jennifer Lopez
    • Edward James Olmos
    • Jon Seda
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    33K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gregory Nava
    • Writer
      • Gregory Nava
    • Stars
      • Jennifer Lopez
      • Edward James Olmos
      • Jon Seda
    • 189User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos3

    Selena
    Trailer 2:23
    Selena
    Selena
    Trailer 2:17
    Selena
    Selena
    Trailer 2:17
    Selena
    Which Celebs Almost Played Rock Stars?
    Video 3:59
    Which Celebs Almost Played Rock Stars?

    Photos63

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    Top cast83

    Edit
    Jennifer Lopez
    Jennifer Lopez
    • Selena Quintanilla
    Edward James Olmos
    Edward James Olmos
    • Abraham Quintanilla
    Jon Seda
    Jon Seda
    • Chris Perez
    Jackie Guerra
    Jackie Guerra
    • Suzette Quintanilla
    Constance Marie
    Constance Marie
    • Marcela Quintanilla
    Alex Meneses
    Alex Meneses
    • Sara
    • (as Alexandra Meneses)
    Jacob Vargas
    Jacob Vargas
    • Abie Quintanilla
    Pete Astudillo
    • Self - Dinos 1990s
    Rueben Gonzáles
    • Joe Ojeda - Dinos 1990s
    • (as Ruben Gonzalez)
    Ricky Vela
    • Self - Dinos 1990s
    Don Shelton
    • Stage Dancer
    Richard Emanuelle
    • Concert Reporter
    • (as Richard Emanuele)
    Panchito Gómez
    • Young Abraham - Dinos 1961
    • (as Panchito Gomez)
    Richard Coca
    Richard Coca
    • Bobby - Dinos 1961
    George Perez
    • Seff - Dinos 1961
    Brian Fallteen
    • Club Owner
    Carmen Martínez
    • Irate Club Goer
    Elisabeth Gonzalez
    • Irate Club Goer
    • Director
      • Gregory Nava
    • Writer
      • Gregory Nava
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews189

    6.932.9K
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    Featured reviews

    9smatysia

    What a lovely biopic

    What a lovely biopic. I had barely heard of Selena when she was killed, and I'm no fan of Tejano music. But this picture was a wonderful tribute to the young talent. The movie is a celebration of her life, rather than fixating on her death, as one would expect with her family so involved (controlling) with the film. This approach also just felt right. I'm sure that Hollywood, if it had had its way, would have sensationalized this aspect to the max. I don't know how much of the film is factual, and how much is apocryphal. A local reviewer wrote that a true biography of Selena would have to wait a few years, and be done without a Quintanilla looking over both shoulders.

    All I can do is rave about Jennifer Lopez. Her beauty, her talent, her sheer magnetism flows right out of the screen. She was amazing. Since her biography subject died so young, she was able to avoid the problems, inherent in the genre, of trying to age the actress to match the aging of the subject. Constance Marie, who I'm not familiar with, was quite good as Selena's mother, although she did have to deal with the question of appearing to age 15 years. Every cast member seemed right for their part, and everyone did very well. The film seemed well-directed, in that I never thought about the director at any time during the film.

    Overall, the movie was very sweet, with obvious tragic overtones. Highly recommended.
    gbheron

    Good Movie, Great Music

    Not expecting to enjoy this movie, I was very pleasantly surprised. Jennifer Lopez, Edward Olmos and the rest of the ensemble cast do a marvelous job in bringing the close-knit Quintanilla family to life. The screenwriters and director skillfully lead the viewer from the father's failed attempts at rock 'n roll in the early 60s through Selena's childhood and her eventual rocket to the top of the Tejano music charts as a young woman. Thankfully her murder is not addressed as a major plot item, its almost irrelevant. And the concert scenes are fantastic. Its Selena's voice and Lopez does an incredible job. Definitely worth a rental regardless of your musical tastes.
    famousgir1

    ~Selena Quintanilla-Perez~

    Selena is the true-story of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, a talented young Mexican singer, who was discovered by her own father at the age of 10. Selena had everything going for her, a good family, whom she was very close with, a great husband, loads of fans and of course her music career that kept getting stronger. Selena had even won a prestigious Grammy award for Best Mexican/American Singer and was the most popular Latin singer at that time. Until, all that was taken away from her, when at the age of 23 in 1995, Selena's 'friend' and fan club manager, Yolanda Saldivar murdered her, after Selena had confronted Yolanda about money, she had stolen.

    I'm one of the many people out there who only heard about Selena in the last couple of years. I can't remember where I first heard of her. The internet, maybe, but the things I did hear were all good and she sounded like a very talented and popular young singer and of course I was really shocked to hear about how she died.

    I was really interested to watch the movie Selena and when I finally got to watch it, I thought it was really great. It tells you the whole story of Selena's life, from when she was just a young girl, to her meeting guitarist Chis Perez and secretly getting married to him, we see her singing at sold-out concerts, all the wonderful fans she had and not only that but we find out that Selena was planning to have kids and she was just about to release her first English language album, all until she was she was terribly murdered. I thought the end of the movie, where there was real footage of the real Selena, was beautifully done and it was great to see clips of the real Selena singing at her concerts, meeting her fans and just having fun with her family, friends and husband.

    I thought the whole cast in the movie were great, Jennifer Lopez played Selena really well and deserved any award she received or got nominated for. The rest of the cast including, Edward James Olmos, who played Selena's father and Jon Seda, who played Selena's husband Chris Perez did really well too.

    After watching the movie and hearing Selena, (Jennifer Lopez was lip-synching to Selena's voice. I thought that was good too.) I am going to get hold of some of Selena's music. I hope her memory will live on forever. Selena, the movie is highly recommended. Whether you're fan or not, see it.
    karansandeep

    Excellent Movie

    I don't know bow many people in India has seen this movie. I did not about Selena at all before this movie. I had not seen any movie of Jenifer Lopez as well before this. One thing I can say the world definitely lost a great singer very early and Ms.Lopez is definitely an under rated actress. She is better off going good cinema than her pop singing career. Over all a great movie with excellent songs. The star cast was good and deserves a credit for the casting director. The director also goes a good job. But not to ignore that the storyline was true so that added to the whole effect of the movie. Deserves a all 10 star rating.
    Chrysanthepop

    Live Life To The Fullest Like Selena Did

    'Selena' tells the fascinating story of the late Selena Quintanilla, the first famous female tejano singer. In her short life, with the support of her parents and husband, the vivacious young Selena lived the dream of every girl. Nava does a fine job of telling the story. He shows us how happy Selena was with her life (even though there were ups and downs) and she lived it to the fullest. In her short 23 years she achieved what would take a lifetime for some. This was a life that wasn't a waste because Selena knew hot to live life.

    But the best thing about 'Selena' is Jennifer Lopez. Those were the days when Lopez acted her heart out on screen as has also been apparent in 'Out of Sight' and 'Blood and Wine'. Not only that, but Lopez looks stunning. Many prefer the way she looks today but in 'Selena' there's an innocence and honesty about her beauty and this coupled with her natural and spirited performance is a delight to watch. The supporting cast that includes Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda and Constance Marie are all very good too.

    I loved the way the soundtrack was used in the film and it brings a lot of energy to the story. The cinematography is quite good but I did not like the 3 split screen.

    Even though we know the tragic fate of Selena, this film reminds us that it's more important to live a big life than a long life. Make full use of what you have and take your chance. That's what Selena did. She was loved by her friends and family and won the hearts of millions. Strongly recommended.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jackie Guerra wanted the part of Suzette Quintanilla so badly that she lied at her audition, saying that she was an experienced drummer, when in fact she had never played the drums. When the truth was revealed, Suzette Quintanilla herself gave Guerra private lessons.
    • Goofs
      During Selena's Grammy walk, the song Bidi Bidi Bom Bom is played. Selena won a Grammy for the album Live, which didn't have Bidi Bidi Bom Bom on it. At Selena's actual Grammy walk, the song No Debes Jugar was played.
    • Quotes

      Mexican Guy: Anything for Salinas!

    • Crazy credits
      The producers wish to thank The Quintanilla Family
    • Alternate versions
      Superstation TV version includes an additional scene showing young Selena at school.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Return of the Jedi: Special Edition/Love Jones/The Godfather/City of Industry/Troublesome Creek/Mandela (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Amor Prohibido
      Written by A.B. Quintanilla (as A.B. Quintanilla III) and Pete Astudillo

      Produced by A.B. Quintanilla (as A.B. Quintanilla III)

      Used by permission of Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI) and Peace Rock Publishing (BMI)

      Courtesy of EMI Latin

      Performed by Selena

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Selena?Powered by Alexa
    • Why in the special features are the mom and sister that played in the movie switched ?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 21, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Warner Bros.
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Selena: The Movie
    • Filming locations
      • San Antonio, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Q Productions
      • Esparza / Katz Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $35,764,351
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,615,722
      • Mar 23, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,764,351
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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