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El Mariachi

Play trailer Poster for El Mariachi R 1993 1h 22m Action Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
El Mariachi (Carlos Gallardo) is a traveling guitar player with the modest desire to play music for a living. Looking for a job, he stops at a bar in a tiny town, where his simple, peaceful lifestyle is interrupted. Local hit men, expecting enemy assassin Azul (Reinol Martinez) to invade their town, believe that the visiting musician is the professional killer they are looking for. Unwittingly embroiled in vicious mob warfare, El Mariachi must shoot his way out of town if he is to survive.

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El Mariachi

El Mariachi

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Critics Consensus

Made on a shoestring budget, El Mariachi's story is not new. However, the movie has so much energy that it's thoroughly enjoyable.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle 01/11/2023
4/4
By turns hilarious, soulful, gritty and sexy, this lively crime drama was created by 23-year-old director Robert Rodriguez of Austin, Texas, for a budget of 7,000. Go to Full Review Harper Barnes St. Louis Post-Dispatch 09/09/2021
El Mariachi makes the bloated movies of Steven Seagal and other American martial arts stars look as lazy and cluttered as the tag-team match at a tanktown wrestling arena. This movie means business. Go to Full Review Jay Carr Boston Globe 09/09/2021
Although crude, it deftly balances kinetic action sequences with hip awareness, only occasionally succumbing to moves that seem self-conscious or affected. Go to Full Review Emilie Black Cinema Crazed 09/14/2024
This $7,000 film is one that shows what passion and talent can do and how to bring a story to the screen properly with the right folks involved. Go to Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 08/31/2022
B+
Some of the film is monotonous, but it’s so completely what it is — a shoot-’em-up done with throwaway energy — that you’d have to be fun-impaired not to enjoy it. Go to Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) 09/09/2021
The best movie in the section... [A] vigorous action movie. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jack F @MovieFan111 Feb 16 Rodriquez's first feature film. I unfortunately have to say I didn't like it. Probably due to the fact I watched it without subtitles, so not knowing what they were saying played a big part. But also the scenes between El Mariachi and the woman were boring. I don't want to say anything bad because Rodriguez is one of my favorite directors. His Mexico trilogy is a great addition to cinema in general. The camerawork was unique and interesting. See more Joy B. @9mr_0 Jan 10 فلم جميل . قصة رائعه و سرد المخرج كان غريب و مختلف . الممثلين ادائهم كان رائع و تطور الشخصيات متزن . التصوير كان رائع و الموسيقى جيده. See more thiago s @Thiagostone 03/01/2025 Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, a história do filme ficou meio fraca, as cenas são bacaninhas, mas o elenco quase não ajudou em nada no filme. See more chris h @RT26751167 01/13/2025 Great movie and at the time a 23 year old director.on a budget of 7 k...yes...7k....200k post production.The first in the trilogy that later had desperado and once upon a time in mexico.Must see. See more Iman R @irod78 12/20/2024 I think I've seen every one of Rodriguez's films, even spy kids and still nothing compares to his freshman project imo. Maybe because it was made on a shoestring budget he had to be super creative and precise with his every choice... and it clearly shows. But to me it's a great film not despite the budget, but regardless of the budget...at any price, it's a work of art as far as cinematography and immensely entertaining, funny, sexy and especially impressive to me, it was violent with a purpose not just for the sake of it and not gratuitous. I thought T2 was the best action movie of the year it was made (1991) and honestly this comes close, and may be more charming imo. It's Just oozing with personality and charm and better than all the big budget Hollywood movies by the director to come that seem to replace the charm with production value. See more gerg rev g @RT52552822 08/17/2024 I finally got around to seeing the movie and it is very very very good 👍👍 See more Read all reviews
El Mariachi

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Rodriguez

Director

Carlos Gallardo

El Mariachi

Consuelo Gómez

Domino

Reinol Martinez

Azul

Peter Marquardt

Mauricio (Moco)

Ramiro Gómez

Cantinero

Movie Clips

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El Mariachi

El Mariachi: Official Clip - Pronto, Azul El Mariachi: Official Clip - Pronto, Azul 3:11 El Mariachi: Official Clip - Looking for Work El Mariachi: Official Clip - Looking for Work 2:49 El Mariachi: Official Clip - They Were Thieves El Mariachi: Official Clip - They Were Thieves 2:10 El Mariachi: Official Clip - Sing or Die El Mariachi: Official Clip - Sing or Die 2:56 El Mariachi: Official Clip - Mistaken Identity El Mariachi: Official Clip - Mistaken Identity 3:05 El Mariachi: Official Clip - Calling Your Bluff El Mariachi: Official Clip - Calling Your Bluff 2:59 El Mariachi: Official Clip - The Wrong Case El Mariachi: Official Clip - The Wrong Case 2:57 El Mariachi: Official Clip - Mariachi Day El Mariachi: Official Clip - Mariachi Day 3:05 El Mariachi: Official Clip - No More Moco El Mariachi: Official Clip - No More Moco 2:57 El Mariachi: Official Clip - El Mariachi Sings El Mariachi: Official Clip - El Mariachi Sings 2:58 View more videos

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El Mariachi

A scene from the film "El Mariachi." A scene from the film "El Mariachi." A scene from the film "El Mariachi." A scene from the film "El Mariachi." El Mariachi (1992) El Mariachi (1992) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis El Mariachi (Carlos Gallardo) is a traveling guitar player with the modest desire to play music for a living. Looking for a job, he stops at a bar in a tiny town, where his simple, peaceful lifestyle is interrupted. Local hit men, expecting enemy assassin Azul (Reinol Martinez) to invade their town, believe that the visiting musician is the professional killer they are looking for. Unwittingly embroiled in vicious mob warfare, El Mariachi must shoot his way out of town if he is to survive.
Director
Robert Rodriguez
Producer
Carlos Gallardo, Robert Rodriguez
Screenwriter
Robert Rodriguez
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Los Hooligans Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
R (Stylized Violence)
Genre
Action, Drama
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 26, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.6M
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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