Selena (1997)

64% of critics liked it
(39 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(149,641 ratings)

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.… More 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Gregory Nava
Written By: Gregory Nava
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 21, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Sep 23, 1997
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy, Variety
Selena surmounts its connect-the-dots approach to its heroine's life to create an appealing, energetic look at a too-briefly soaring musical star.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
By the end of the film, Selena has been all but canonized.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
Nava, who started his feature-film career with El Norte, is a good director who invariably finds a strong rapport with his actors. He's not much of a writer, though, and he should think twice about creating dialogue for his future projects.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Missing is a sense of the interior life behind the smiling face that Selena showed the world. What of the drive that led her to music? What comfort did she find in it? What pain?
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
This is a simple story of hope and triumph, of one girl with the drive to succeed defying the odds and following her dream. It's not an original tale -- movies like this abound -- but Nava's point-of-view is fresh.
Mike Clark, USA Today
Selena Quintanilla Perez's life was too short to fill a screen bio with traditional dramatic components, yet Selena infectiously salutes the Tejano singer who had a rapturous fan base when she was slain in 1995.
Teresa Talerico, Common Sense Media
J-Lo hits the right notes in Tejano star's tale.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
Still a very sad and touching movie, with an ending that still gives me heartaches...
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
Owners of Warner's original disc will definitely want to pick up this new set for the additional features and extended scenes.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
Jennifer Lopez ... elevates the film immensely with her radiant and energetic performance.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The 10th anniversary special edition DVD release is a two-disc production with a few extras to appeal to Selena's fans.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
A well-meaning but bland and shallow salute to Selena.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
What a biography. And what a screenplay.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
Even in its sappiest moments, Jennifer Lopez's performance and Selena's music shine through.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat
In spite of Jennifer Lopez' strong performance, it doesn't save an incomplete story that only covers some of Selena's life.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In her first major, star-making role, Jennifer Lopez is compelling, but the rest of this showbiz biopic is shallow and excessively melodramatic, like most of Gregory Nava's films.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Lopez's commanding presence makes up for any of the script's shortcomings.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Jennifer Lopez is outstanding as Selena, lending ability and grace to the stage numbers, in particular, but throughout the film, in general.
Fred Topel, About.com
Beautiful movie, Lopez's best work
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Not only gives you some insight into a talented young singer, but some insight into Chicano life in the U.S. Most of all, it is a solid love story.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Alexander D

SELENA isn't the best music biopic, in general (though it did remind me of LA BAMBA with Lou Diamond Phillips), but the performances you'll find here are absolutely stellar. We have J.Lo in her breakthrough performance as the titular singer known best by that one name. Now… More
SELENA isn't the best music biopic, in general (though it did remind me of LA BAMBA with Lou Diamond Phillips), but the performances you'll find here are absolutely stellar. We have J.Lo in her breakthrough performance as the titular singer known best by that one name. Now she may not be the greatest actress today (that's a mere assumption from what I see in critical reaction to films like THE BACK-UP PLAN and MONSTER-IN-LAW), but her delivery here is wonderful. Even her oral movements match up perfectly to the recordings of the actual Selena, whose recordings were chosen for soundtrack purposes less than two years prior to Lopez's pursuit in a musical career. Jon Seda is great, as well. He channels musicians like Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Guns 'n' Roses' Slash; we hear the latter band's "Welcome to the Jungle" a few times to enhance his character: a wild, heavy metal animal with too much hair. http://themoviefreakblog.WordPress.com/review-selena
Eric A

Even if you have never listened to her music, you will still appreciate this film.
Bethany M

Heartbreaking! A must see!
Wahida K

The story of a girl who had the spirit to believe in a dream and the courage to make it come true.
Jason O

One of the better biographical movies in my book. J-Lo was great in this.
Lenny M

Jennifer Lopez does a fine job in a descent movie.
Michael S

Very good biopic.
Chris W

Good bio pic about the short lived career of a rising star. Jennifer Lopez makes her breakout into the realm of celebrity with this one.
Dean M

Fantastic and interesting story of an innocent and young Mexican-American singer. Really emotionally.
Eduardo T

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… More
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.
Joseph E

Forget any reasons, of why you aren't or don't want to see this movie. This film is so expertly acted, and choerographed. I think this film is so emotional, and heartfelt, that not only the Hispanics will enjoy it. "Four out of Four" Stars. High Reccomendation.
Cinema F

It may be a bit cliche, but Selena was the Latin version of Madonna today, if she's still with us today.
Yinalí R

I think this movie touched everyone's heart.
Joey N

Yes, it's hardly innovative and it feels like a TV movie. But you know what? It's got a lot of heart and it made J. Lo's big break fresh and exciting. I watched this alot when it came out, when I was 9. I remember feeling very drawn to Selena. Um yeah. True Story.… More
Yes, it's hardly innovative and it feels like a TV movie. But you know what? It's got a lot of heart and it made J. Lo's big break fresh and exciting. I watched this alot when it came out, when I was 9. I remember feeling very drawn to Selena. Um yeah. True Story. (pun intended)
Leina R

Okay film. Somewhat mediocre.
Donna D

Wonderful movie made on the story of Selena, one of the most popular Latina singers that met ended tragically. Movie was touching and Jennifer Lopez potraying the amazing singer was excellent.
Leo L

Good movie. Great music.
Jared H

Although this movie, as far as biographical pictures go, isn't quite as good as La Bamba or Walk the Line, it's still one of those films that you can't help but treasure and remember. Jennifer Lopez, who was unknown at the time, pulls off what remains the best… More
Although this movie, as far as biographical pictures go, isn't quite as good as La Bamba or Walk the Line, it's still one of those films that you can't help but treasure and remember. Jennifer Lopez, who was unknown at the time, pulls off what remains the best performance of her career. The film generally follows the standard bio-pic formula, but is still a worthy love-letter to the late and beloved Mexican-American performer. "Busti-caca...mira, es un BRA!"
Erin C

I remember seeing this when it was in theaters. J-Lo did an awesome job in this one. Selena was an amazing person, and a very talented singer, and the world suffered a great loss when she died :(
Rose G

this film made jennifer lopez a household name! loved it!