Flamin' Hot (2023)

March 11, 2023 (US) • Drama, History • 99m

Overview

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.

Director

Eva Longoria

Writers

Linda Yvette Chavez, Lewis Colick

Top Billed

Jesse García

Keywords

factory worker factory biography based on true story janitor mexican american woman director

Where to watch

Free / Included

Disney Plus

Hulu

Top Billed Cast

Jesse García

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 Gonzáles

Hector Morales

Matt Walsh

Lonny Mason

Carlos S. Sanchez

Young Richard

Hunter Jones

Lucky Montañez

Carlos Solórzano

Young Lucky Montañez

Brice González

Steven 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

Stephen Zamora

Courthouse Judge

J.D. Garfield

Pastor Marco

Jacob Browne

Post Office Clerk

Jackamoe Buzzell

Post Office Customer

Stephanie Jones

Frito Lay Personnel Secretary

Stephen Fuller Austin

Frito Lay Plant Director

Brent Black

Frito Lay VP of Operations

Landall Goolsby

Scientist

Gianna Gallegos

Young Mary Lou

Hank Rogerson

1966 Quickie Mart Manager

Vic Browder

Quickie Mart Police Officer

Kevin Chambers

Quickie Mart Manager

Ericka Zepeda

Quickie Mart Customer

Eli Bickel

Cafeteria Kid

Beckett Bauer

Cafeteria Kid

Brady Bauer

Cafeteria Kid

Rafael Herrera

Landscaper

Jack O'Donnell

Grocery Store Manager

D'Nette Wood

Supermarket Woman

Mickey Bond

Social Worker

Greg Lutz

Angry Husband

Gerald Cordova

Janitor

George Strada

Waiter

Margarito Chairez

Bus Boy

Eva Longoria

Secretary (uncredited)

Grant George

Additional Voices (voice)

Crew

Linda Yvette Chavez

Screenplay

Christi Moraga

Hairstylist

Byron Beane

Casting Associate

Samuel Rodriguez

Executive Producer

Marcelo Zarvos

Original Music Composer

Brandon Mendez

Production Design

Liza D. Espinas

Editor

Cabot McMullen

Production Design

Kayla Emter

Editor

Federico Cantini

Director of Photography

David Kern

Executive Producer

Diane Warren

Songs

Kelly D. Miller

Set Decoration Buyer

Laura Estelle Connolly

Set Costumer

Kim Trujillo

Costume Supervisor

Colleen Fox

Set Costumer

Billy W. Ray

Art Direction

Greg Orloff

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

David Hack

Set Decoration

Elaine Montalvo

Costume Design

Colt Allen

Set Dresser

Tateum Kohut

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Katie Halliday

Supervising Sound Editor

Carla Hool

Casting

Luke Hussack

Special Effects Technician

Sierra Barton

Assistant Makeup Artist

Kierke Panisnick

Production Supervisor

Smokey Cloud

First Assistant Sound Editor

Madeline McCue

Key Makeup Artist

Zane D. Bruce

Foley Artist

Mark DeSimone

ADR Mixer

Lindsay Zgonina

Assistant Costume Designer

Susan Parras

Costumer

Andrew La Pointe

Special Effects Technician

Álvaro Moreno

Digital Compositor

Selinda Zhou

First Assistant Editor

Shayne Hartigan

Extras Casting

Richard Montañez

Book

TK Shom

First Assistant Director

Antony Zeller

Foley Editor

Eric Jacobo

Visual Effects Coordinator

Ursula Rose Rochester

Key Costumer

Alison Grossman

Additional Second Assistant Director

Alejandro Marmolejo

Art Department Assistant

Phillip Bladh

Production Sound Mixer

Jonathan Thornhill

VFX Editor

David Kern

Unit Production Manager

Lindsay Pepper

Foley Artist

Kirbie Seis

Boom Operator

Emily Aragones

Still Photographer

Vanessa Jorge Perry

Music Supervisor

Antony Zeller

Foley Mixer

Sebastian Hasbun

Digital Compositor

Shane Bruce

Foley Artist

Teressa Hill

Hair Department Head

Giovanna Anderson

Art Department Coordinator

Nicole Auringer

ADR Recordist

Jolynn Nieto

Hairstylist

Cole Henken-Siefken

Production Assistant

Danny Reeves

ADR Recordist

Frank Smathers

Dialogue Editor

Thomas Milsom

Assistant Location Manager

Richard Ziegler

Music Editor

Ben Roe

Assistant Location Manager

Jack Keough

First Assistant Editor

Marisa Freeman

Casting Assistant

Lisa Rodgers

Post Production Supervisor

Shani Orona

Location Manager

Leah Hopkins

Stunts

Conrad R. Padilla

Stunts

Walter Volpatto

Colorist

Wolfie Trausch

ADR Voice Casting

Judy Montañez

Book

Takashi Takeoka

Digital Compositor

Chelsea Hooper

Script Supervisor

Linda Moulton

Casting Assistant

Jennie Shea

ADR Recordist

Nicholas A. Mudd

Casting Associate

Derick Pritchard

Stunt Coordinator

Lewis Colick

Screenplay

Olivia Hasse

Assistant Editor

Rudy Covarrubias

Key Grip

Taylor Roberts

Makeup Department Head

Neil Solberg

Gaffer

Paul Broadhead

Best Boy Electric

John Bonaccorse

Second Assistant Director

Dylan Kelling

Set Designer

Deidre Hannah

Production Coordinator

Merrin Marra

Visual Effects Producer

Donavin Merritt

Set Designer

Eric Thelander

Special Effects Coordinator

Dennis Noyes

Camera Operator

Sweta Madhapuri

Visual Effects Producer

Joshua R. Aragon

Property Master

Daniel Zollinger

Camera Operator

Erica Weis

Supervising Music Editor

Carol Mitchell

Hair Department Head

Carlos Oyarzun

Visual Effects Coordinator

Jose Marra

Visual Effects Supervisor

Ricardo Camacho Paramo

Visual Effects Supervisor

Marisa Frantz

Set Designer

Smokey Cloud

Assistant Sound Editor

Hetal Jain

Visual Effects Producer

Audrey Gu

Sound Effects Editor

Eva Longoria

Director

DeVon Franklin

Producer

John Wesley DeWolfe

Camera Technician

Jo Edna Boldin

Local Casting

Marie A.K. McMaster

Local Casting

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

⭐ 6/10

August 4, 2023

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

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Flamin' Hot (2023)

Linda Yvette Chavez, Lewis Colick

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew