Selena

1997

Selena

Critics Consensus

Selena occasionally struggles to tell its subject's story with depth or perspective, but those flaws are rendered largely irrelevant by Jennifer Lopez in the title role.

64%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 47

77%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 166,865

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Movie Info

Selena Quintanilla was a major figure in Tejano music, a Grammy-winning recording artist, a beloved star in the American Southwest and Mexico, and seemed poised to cross over into mainstream popularity on the U.S. pop charts when she was murdered on March 31, 1995 by the president of her fan club. Written and directed by Gregory Nava, this biopic concentrates on Selena's relationship with her family and her rise to fame, dealing only briefly with her tragic death. Abraham Quintanilla (Edward James Olmos) is a veteran musician who leads a family-based singing group, The Dinos. At a young age, he notices that his daughter Selena (played as a child by Becky Lee Meza) has a strong singing voice, and he works her into the act (her big number is a version of Over the Rainbow). However, as she grows older, Selena (played as an adult by Jennifer Lopez) wants to establish her own musical identity; while her heritage is Mexican-American, her primary language is English, and her favorite artists are American pop acts like Donna Summer. While Selena and Abraham sometimes argue about the musical direction of the group, he always respects and supports her talent, and her blend of Tejano roots music and danceable pop rhythms soon sparks a revolution in Latin music. Selena later earns the wrath of her father when she becomes romantically involved with Chris Perez (Jon Seda), a rebellious and long-haired guitarist hired to play with the group, but when they elope and Selena convinces Abraham that their love is sincere, Chris is welcomed into the family. After a long string of successes on the Latin charts and playing to a sellout crowd at the Houston Astrodome and a crowd of 100,000 at a stadium in Monterey, Mexico, Selena begins recording her first album in English, which is expected to make her a mainstream star on the level of Whitney Houston or Gloria Estefan. However, the fates decreed it was an album she would never complete. Selena was produced with the participation of the Quintanilla Family (Abraham was executive producer), and Selena's own recordings were used on the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
  • Rating:
    PG (For mild language and thematic elements.)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Gregory Nava
  • Written By:
    Gregory Nava
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Warner Home Video

Cast

Jennifer Lopez
as Selena Quintanilla Perez
Edward James Olmos
as Abraham Quintanilla Sr.
Jon Seda
as Chris Perez
Constance Marie
as Marcela Quintanilla
Jacob Vargas
as Abie Quintanilla
Jackie Guerra
as Suzette Quintanilla
Rebecca Lee Meza
as Young Selena
Richard Coca
as Bobby-Dinos 1961
Lupe Ontiveros
as Yolanda Saldivar
Ruben Gonzales
as Joe Ojeda
Panchito Gomez
as Young Abraham-Dinos 1961
Pete Astudillo
as Himself
Sal Lopez
as Juan Luis
Victoria Elena Flores
as Young Suzette
John Seda
Rafael Tamayo
as Young Abie
Leon Singer
as Concert Promoter
Becky Lee Meza
Ruben Gonzalez
as Joe Ojeda
Selena
George Perez
View All

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Critic Reviews for Selena

All Critics (47) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (17)

  • It tries to satisfy too many different groups at once and ends up watering down the art so much it satisfies no one.

    February 27, 2020 | Full Review…

    Sarah Kerr

    Slate
    Top Critic

  • Gregory Nava's 1997 biopic about the Mexican-American pop star Selena Quintanilla Perez... is typical of the genre's excesses, but I enjoyed quite a bit of it, in large part because of the energy and charisma of Jennifer Lopez in the title role.

    February 27, 2020 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • What makes this movie work is Jennifer Lopez's electric performance as Selena, capturing the charismatic aspects of Selena's stage persona and the essence of her maturity as a growing woman.

    March 21, 2017 | Full Review…

    Duane Byrge

    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic

  • When it doesn't, however - when Selena teeters precariously in the direction of hagiography and buckles under the weight of representing all Latinas to all people - then the real young woman herself is hard to find.

    September 7, 2011 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

    Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic

  • ... Lopez's presence and ability made her seem just one role away from stardom, and with "Selena" she's seized the opportunity and turned in an incandescent presentation that is especially strong during the film's numerous musical numbers.

    July 6, 2010 | Full Review…

    Kenneth Turan

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • At its best, "Selena" suggests why so many people reacted with such great heartbreak to her death.

    July 6, 2010 | Full Review…

    Richard Harrington

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (47)

Audience Reviews for Selena

  • Nov 18, 2011
    Even if you don't know who Selena is you can still watch this film. This film presented a week plot with decent acting. If your going to make a film about how a female becomes a pop artist then why not focus mostly on what she had to do to accomplish such success. This film shows unnecessary stuff like her concert performances and dialogue that has nothing to do with the conflict. The most unnecessary part was the two guys in the low rider. It would have been way better if they focused on the romance between Selena and her boyfriend. Then towards the end when Selena dies the audience can connect with her more and feel for her family and boyfriend. They could have made the ending better and more dramatic. If you'r a fan of Selena or Jennifer Lopez then you should watch this.
    Eduardo T Super Reviewer
  • Aug 05, 2011
    Even if you have never listened to her music, you will still appreciate this film.
    Eric A Super Reviewer
  • Jun 23, 2011
    Heartbreaking! A must see!
    Bethany M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 17, 2009
    The story of a girl who had the spirit to believe in a dream and the courage to make it come true.
    Wahida K Super Reviewer
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