Franklin Entertainment
Searchlight Pictures
Not part of a collection.
Flamin' Hot
The flavor you know. The story you don't.
The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin' Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.
- Original title
- Flamin' Hot
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots
Aug 4, 2023 · via TMDB
Eva Longoria makes her feature film directorial debut in “Flamin’ Hot,” a breezy biopic about Richard Montanez, the man who invented the super spicy (and well known) flavor of Cheetos. This underdog story of a hardworking Mexican immigrant who found success despite all of the boxes society tried to put him in is one that’s inspiring, satisfying, and universal. As a teenager, Montanez (Jesse Garcia) was in and out of trouble. As he puts it, “when society treats you like a criminal, you become one.” He was on the fast track to a permanent life of crime until his wife Judy (Annie Gonzalez) became pregnant with their first son. Searching for a better life for his new family, Richard relied on his street smarts and entrepreneurial attitude to go out and make his own success story. A go-getter from the start, he ended up working at Frito Lay and, after “thinking like a CEO,” came up with the idea to create a flavor that would appeal to the large Hispanic market and save the snack food industry. It’s a terrific story that captures the Mexican-American experience that’s not often seen in mainstream films. Linda Yvette Chávez’s script feels deeply personal, and she takes Richard’s inspiring, complex story and gives us an intimate picture of the man behind the Cheetos. The result is a very human film about discrimination, determination, and the ability to get a leg up on life by pulling yourself out of a bad situation. The story (which is actually controversial because there is a debate as to who really invented the snack flavor) is full of humor and heart. It’s a love story between Richard and Judy, his supporting, loving wife. She isn’t just a background character waiting in the shadows, but is presented as a very strong, tenacious woman who dominates every seen she’s in. As is the case with most biopics, there’s obvious embellishment and exaggeration, and there’s no shortage of emotional fluffery that is designed to tug on your heartstrings. There’s plenty of discussion about having faith and living the American dream, which does feel as corny as it sounds. There’s a lot of talk about representation in front of the camera, but it’s important behind the camera, too. Longoria put her money where her mouth is and hired a diverse crew for her film because who tells these stories also matters. The final product is something that radiates an authentic tone and feeling that is rare, especially for a biopic. Longoria’s directorial style is polished and well-matched to the script, with a clear vision and voice. The cast is just as easy to love. Charismatic and sympathetic, I was rooting for Richard and Judy the minute they were introduced onscreen. Casting is so important in a film like this, and it couldn’t be more perfect. Despite a predictable outcome and a few obvious exaggerations of the truth, “Flamin’ Hot” is an irresistible underdog story about a disruptor who shook up the snack food industry. It’s a funny, sweet, and delightful film that’s as crowd-pleasing as it gets. By: Louisa Moore
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Disney Plus
Hulu
Jesse Garcia
Richard Montañez
Annie Gonzalez
Judy Montañez
Emilio Rivera
Vacho Montañez
Vanessa Martinez
Concha Montañez
Dennis Haysbert
Clarence C. Baker
Tony Shalhoub
Roger Enrico
Pepe Serna
Abuelito
Bobby Soto
Tony Romero
Jimmy Gonzales
Hector Morales
Matt Walsh
Lonny Mason
Hunter Jones
Lucky Montañez
Carlos Solórzano
Young Lucky Montañez
Jayde Martinez
Young Judy
Fabian Alomar
Pablito
Scar
Diego
Eric Marq
Nacho
Alejandro Montoya Marin
Alejandro
Howard Ferguson Jr.
Al Carey
Peter Diseth
James Finley
Lora Martinez-Cunningham
Enrico's Secretary Patti
Zach Rose
Wade Carson
J.D. Garfield
Pastor Marco
Jacob Browne
Post Office Clerk
Stephanie Jones
Frito Lay Personnel Secretary
Stephen Fuller Austin
Frito Lay Plant Director
Landall Goolsby
Scientist
Gianna Gallegos
Young Mary Lou
Hank Rogerson
1966 Quickie Mart Manager
Vic Browder
Quickie Mart Police Officer
Eli Bickel
Cafeteria Kid
Jack O'Donnell
Grocery Store Manager
Mickey Bond
Social Worker
Greg Lutz
Angry Husband
Eva Longoria
Secretary (uncredited)
Grant George
Additional Voices (voice)
Joshua R. Aragon
Property Master
Derick Pritchard
Stunt Coordinator
Leah Hopkins
Stunts
Eva Longoria
Director
Kayla Emter
Editor
Wolfie Trausch
ADR Voice Casting
Samuel Rodriguez
Executive Producer
Shayne Hartigan
Extras Casting
DeVon Franklin
Producer
Mark DeSimone
ADR Mixer
Frank Smathers
Dialogue Editor
Marcelo Zarvos
Original Music Composer
Diane Warren
Songs
Richard Montañez
Book
Lewis Colick
Screenplay
Linda Yvette Chavez
Screenplay
Die Steine
Ambrogio
Die von der Sanitätskolonne
Fake Me A Happy New Year
Modern Times
Saving Private Ryan
Crucified Girl
Titanic
Beggars and Noblemen
October Sky
All the President's Men
Girl, Interrupted
JFK
Cinderella Man
Gandhi
Birdman of Alcatraz
Almost Famous
Apollo 13
Badlands
Ludwig
Ana
Becoming Jane
Radio
Annaluise & Anton
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Pirates of Silicon Valley
Her Royal Lover
Monarch
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Ochtendzwemmers
An Angel at My Table
Frances
Gods and Monsters
Antwone Fisher
Antonia's Line
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band
Miss Potter
Since Otar Left
Military Wives
Lost and Found
The Milagro Beanfield War
Cantinflas
The Great Raid
White Boy Rick
Japanese Story
The Edge of Love
The King
Code_Switch
The Right to Love
The Girl Has Flown
Death Defying Acts
Michael
Love for Share
Sticky Notes
The Women
Gisela
Baise-moi
The Heart of Paula
Chants of Lotus
Bugatti: The Final Race
I Swear
Selena
Cabrini
Richard Jewell
The Best of Enemies
Harriet
The Fire Inside
La Bamba
The Boys in the Boat
Norma Rae
Belfast
The Scarlet and the Black
The Way Back
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
Shattered Glass
Munich - The Edge of War
Saint Judy
Victoria & Abdul
Respect
A Call to Spy
Back to Black
The 33
Origin
Fat Man and Little Boy
Jobs
The Birth of a Nation
The Girl in the Book
Mar 11, 2023
South by Southwest Film & TV Festival
Jun 9, 2023
Disney+ / Hulu
