La Bamba: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray

La Bamba: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray presents Luis Valdez’s biographical drama about musician Ritchie Valens in a widescreen, single-disc edition. The listing describes a 2K digital restoration and includes commentaries, interviews, audition footage, and subtitles, making this a feature-rich choice for movie and music fans.

At a glance

The film dramatizes Ritchie Valens’s rise from farm-working roots to early rock-and-roll fame.
The listing describes a director-approved 2K digital restoration and 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio.
Extras include commentaries, interviews, a making-of program, audition footage, and a trailer.
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and Spanish subtitles are listed.

Price

$19.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$39.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A substantial slate of listed extras adds director and cast commentary, interviews, making-of material, audition footage, and a trailer.
The listed restoration, surround soundtrack, and two subtitle options offer more than the film alone.

Technical specifications

16 specifications

Film and disc
Genre	Documentary/Biography, Drama
Format	Blu-ray, Widescreen
Aspect ratio	1.85:1
Runtime	1 hour and 48 minutes
Language	English
Director	Luis Valdez
Actors	Danielle von Zerneck, Elizabeth Peña, Esai Morales, Lou Diamond Phillips, Rosana DeSoto
Studio	The Criterion Collection
Number of discs	1
Release date	September 26, 2023
MPAA rating	PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)

Edition features
Restoration	2K digital restoration, approved by director Luis Valdez
Audio	5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
Special features	Audio commentaries featuring Valdez, actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales, and producers Stuart Benjamin, Taylor Hackford, and Daniel Valdez. New interview with Luis Valdez. Conversation between Valdez and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez from El Rey Network’sThe Director’s Chair. Making-of program featuring cast and crew. Audition footage. Trailer
Subtitles	English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and Spanish subtitles

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	6.92 x 5.78 x 0.58 inches; 3.2 ounces

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers interested in Ritchie Valens, music biographies, or Luis Valdez’s films.
Blu-ray collectors looking for a single-disc edition with extensive listed extras.
Viewers who want English SDH or Spanish subtitles, as specified in the listing.

Less suited to

Buyers seeking a 4K UHD edition rather than Blu-ray.
Viewers seeking a documentary rather than a dramatized biographical film.

La Bamba: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 4,156 ratings

5 stars90%90%
4 stars7%7%
3 stars3%3%
2 stars0%0%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback highlights the music, acting, story, and picture quality, with particular praise for Lou Diamond Phillips’s portrayal and Los Lobos’s songs. The supplied feedback also reports mixed playback experiences, so buyers may want to consider that uncertainty alongside the listed Blu-ray format and restoration. Many ratings are five-star, though aggregate ratings do not explain individual viewing experiences.

Positive themes

Customers praise the music, including Los Lobos’s performances of Ritchie Valens’s songs.
The acting and Lou Diamond Phillips’s portrayal receive positive feedback.
Customers appreciate the story and picture quality, and some report rewatching the film.

Mixed feedback

Playback feedback is mixed.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in this edition?

The listing describes one widescreen Blu-ray disc and lists a 2K digital restoration, 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio, commentaries, interviews, a making-of program, audition footage, a trailer, and English SDH and Spanish subtitles.

Is this a documentary?

The listing categorizes it as Documentary/Biography and Drama, while describing a biographical dramatization of Ritchie Valens’s life.

Does the listing say this is 4K?

No. The product is identified as Blu-ray, and the listed restoration is 2K.

What is the film’s runtime and rating?

The listed runtime is 1 hour and 48 minutes, and the MPAA rating is PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned).