Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter 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

American Me

  • 19921992
  • RR
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
9.7K
YOUR RATING
William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
BiographyCrimeDrama
A Mexican-American Mafia kingpin is released from prison, falls in love for the first time, and grows introspective about his gangster lifestyle.A Mexican-American Mafia kingpin is released from prison, falls in love for the first time, and grows introspective about his gangster lifestyle.A Mexican-American Mafia kingpin is released from prison, falls in love for the first time, and grows introspective about his gangster lifestyle.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
9.7K
YOUR RATING
    • Edward James Olmos
    • Floyd Mutrux(story)
    • Desmond Nakano(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Edward James Olmos
    • William Forsythe
    • Sal Lopez
    • Edward James Olmos
    • Floyd Mutrux(story)
    • Desmond Nakano(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Edward James Olmos
    • William Forsythe
    • Sal Lopez
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    American Me
    Trailer 1:48
    Watch American Me

    Photos37

    Richard Coca, Panchito Gómez, and Steve Wilcox in American Me (1992)
    Edward James Olmos in American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, Pepe Serna, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    Edward James Olmos, Evelina Fernández, Ken Medlock, and Rolando Molina in American Me (1992)
    American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward James Olmos
    Edward James Olmos
    • Montoya Santana
    William Forsythe
    William Forsythe
    • JD
    Sal Lopez
    Sal Lopez
    • Pedro Santana
    Vira Montes
    • Esperanza Santana
    Roberto Martín Márquez
    • Acha
    • (as Robert Martin Marquez)
    Dyana Ortelli
    Dyana Ortelli
    • Yolanda
    Joe Aubel
    • Tattoo Artist
    Rob Garrett
    • Zoot Riot Bystander
    Lance August
    Lance August
    • Young Sailor
    Cody Glenn
    Cody Glenn
    • Older Sailor
    Don Pugsley
    Don Pugsley
    • Police Officer
    Panchito Gómez
    • Young Montoya Santana
    • (as Panchito Gomez)
    Albert Joe Medina Jr.
    • Street Mechanic
    Alex Solís
    • Street Mechanic
    • (as Alex Solis)
    Raymond Amezquita
    • Abuelito
    Steve Wilcox
    Steve Wilcox
    • Young JD
    Richard Coca
    Richard Coca
    • Young Mundo
    Javier Castellanos
    • Hazard Kid
      • Edward James Olmos
      • Floyd Mutrux(story) (screenplay)
      • Desmond Nakano(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Blood In, Blood Out
    7.9
    Blood In, Blood Out
    Colors
    6.7
    Colors
    My Family
    7.3
    My Family
    Stand and Deliver
    7.3
    Stand and Deliver
    South Central
    6.8
    South Central
    Mi vida loca
    6.4
    Mi vida loca
    Dead Presidents
    6.9
    Dead Presidents
    Boulevard Nights
    6.5
    Boulevard Nights
    Menace II Society
    7.5
    Menace II Society
    New Jack City
    6.6
    New Jack City
    Vatos Locos
    4.2
    Vatos Locos
    Selena
    6.8
    Selena

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Two of the most dangerous street gangs of East L.A., Il Grande Hazard and MC Forceros, called a truce to allow director Edward James Olmos to shoot the movie on their turfs.
    • Goofs
      The lingo/street talk many of the gang members use didn't start to be used until the late 70's or early 80's.
    • Quotes

      Montoya Santana: I hear Little Puppet's name is on a piece of paper, ese.

      J.D.: I want you to cosign it.

      Montoya Santana: I'm taking it off, ese.

      J.D.: That punk got you kicked back in the hole, set us all back. Now he's running around talking loud shit about how he wants out of La Eme. His number's up, homes.

      Montoya Santana: I said I'm taking it off, ese.

      J.D.: What's gonna happen is gonna happen. Don't try to stop it. You understand me? I'm asking you, carnal.

      Montoya Santana: Is that where it's gotten to, ese?

      J.D.: Brothers are talking about you.

      Montoya Santana: What are they saying, ese?

      J.D.: They're saying that you're not showing them anything.

      Montoya Santana: You know, a long time ago, two best homeboys, two kids, were thrown into juvie. They were scared, and they thought they had to do something to prove themselves. And they did what they had to do. They thought they were doing it to gain respect for their people, to show the world that no one could take their class from them. No one had to take it from us, ese. Whatever we had... we gave it away. Take care of yourself, carnal.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: My Cousin Vinny/Article 99/American Me/The Lawnmower Man/Shakes the Clown/Daughters of the Dust (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      El Gaban
      Arrangement by Alfredo Lopez, Abel Rocha, Fernando Nataren

      Performed by Quetzlcoatl

    User reviews59

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Dark, brutal, and powerful
    A film that explores the criminal lifestyle in a remarkably brutal and cynical fashion, American Me is the stunningly assured directing debut of Edward James Olmos. Olmos also stars, and gives a terrific performance. Even better is William Forsythe as his lifelong friend and right hand man. This film features some of the most unflinching moments of violence I've seen in a mainstream American film. The violence isn't necessarily graphic, but you generally get the idea. One scene involving a brutal gang rape has deservedly achieved notoriety, and yet it doesn't seem gratuitous. It works within the confines of the story. Olmos should be applauded for this achievement, and it's a shame that this film is overshadowed by other gangster films. It belongs right up there with them.
    helpful•39
    2
    • contronatura
    • Feb 21, 2000

    FAQ1

    • What is the name of that arrangement playing during the nostalgic 1940's scene of this film in which Santana's mother is taking the street car?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 13, 1992 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • California Institution for Men - 14901 Central Avenue, Chino, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hivemind
      • Olmos Productions
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 5 minutes
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    William Forsythe, Edward James Olmos, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in American Me (1992)
    Top Gap
    By what name was American Me (1992) officially released in India in English?
    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
    • 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.