A Better Life (2011)

UNKNOWN

Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube

85%

PG-13

2011, Drama, 1h 38m

RT Critics’ Score: 85% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
5 wins & 10 nominations total

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Critics Consensus

Powered by a terrific performance from Demián Bichir, A Better Life is an immigrant story told with simplicity and an ample amount of heart

Audience Consensus

A Better Life is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. Demian Bichir’s performance is so good, you’ll forget he’s acting and start to believe he’s actually Carlos. The film does a great job of showing the struggles of immigrants in America, but it’s not all doom and gloom. There are moments of hope and joy that will make you want to stand up and cheer. Plus, the L.A. landscape is practically a character in itself. Overall, A Better Life is a must-see movie that will leave you feeling inspired and grateful for the life you have.

Storyline

Carlos Galindo is a decent man, a Mexican single parent working as a gardener in California to raise Luis, his fourteen-year-old son, whom Carlos is frightened will drift into local gang culture. Carlos buys a truck for his work with money loaned by his sister but a shifty new employee steals it from him and, though Carlos and Luis track the thief down, he has sold the truck. Father and son bond as they reclaim the vehicle from the pound but Carlos attracts police attention, making his future in America uncertain when it is discovered that he is an undocumented immigrant.

Production Company(ies)
New Line Cinema, Partizan Films, Partizan

Distributor
Summit Entertainment

Release Type
Theatrical

Filming Location(s)
Wattles Mansion – 1824 N. Curson Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some violence, language and brief drug use

Year of Release
2011

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

Dolby Digital DTS
Aspect ratio:

1.85 : 1
Runtime:

1h 38m
Language(s):

English, Spanish
Country of origin:

United States
Release date:

Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2011 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2011

Genre(s)
Drama

Keyword(s)
starring Demián Bichir, José Julián, Dolores Heredia, Joaquín Cosio, Carlos Linares, Tim Griffin, directed by Chris Weitz, written by Eric Eason, Roger L Simon, drama, immigrant story, heartwarming, father-son relationship, gang-affiliated girlfriend, truck, self-employed, stolen, quest, police, box office, budget, reviewed by Derek Malcolm, Anthony Quinn, Cath Clarke, Nigel Andrews, Jason Goodyer, Trevor Johnston, Jack Fleischer, Richard Propes, Sarah Knight Adamson, Kiko Martinez, Katherine Monk, PG-13, Jami Gertz, Christian McLaughlin, Stacey Lubliner, Summit Entertainment, Dolby Digital, DTS

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $1,863,506
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,453,302
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,362
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 267,536

US/Canada gross: $1,759,252
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,316,052
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,996
US/Canada opening weekend: $62,087
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $81,737
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,017

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $13,164,979
Production budget ranking: 1,558
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,089,341
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$17,801,018
ROI to date (est.): -88%
ROI ranking: 1,947

Cast & Crew

Demián Bichir

Carlos Riquelme

José Julián

Luis Riquelme

Dolores Heredia

Carlos Riquelme

Luis Riquelme

Anita

Blasco

Santiago

Demián Bichir – Carlos Riquelme
José Julián – Luis Riquelme
Dolores Heredia – Anita
Joaquín Cosio – Blasco
Carlos Linares – Santiago
Tim Griffin – Charlie

Chris Weitz

Eric Eason

Jami Gertz

Christian McLaughlin

Stacey Lubliner

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
Chris Weitz

Writer(s)
Eric Eason, Roger L. Simon

Producer(s)
Jami Gertz, Christian McLaughlin, Stacey Lubliner

Film Festivals

Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
5 wins & 10 nominations total

Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees

Top Reviews

Derek Malcolm

Anthony Quinn

Cath Clarke

Nigel Andrews

Jason Goodyer

London Evening Standard

Independent (UK)

Guardian

Financial Times

Little White Lies

A BETTER LIFE
All Critics (108) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (16)
It speaks well enough about the fate of immigrants everywhere, especially those who want to work hard but end up being exploited.

July 29, 2011 | Rating: 3/5

Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
July 29, 2011 | Rating: 3/5

Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Bichir carries it all with a measured performance of considerable emotion as the dad, clenched by so many years holding his breath, waiting for the knock at the door.

July 28, 2011 | Rating: 3/5

Cath Clarke
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Fresh, human, insightful, moving.

July 28, 2011

Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Not as insightful as it could’ve been but something to chew on for those who like their social commentary a touch on the light and fluffy side.

July 28, 2011 | Rating: 3/5

Jason Goodyer
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
The didacticism takes the shine off Weitz’s accomplishment, even if the film builds up enough empathy to generate slow-burning emotional impact.

July 27, 2011 | Rating: 3/5

Trevor Johnston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The film takes a great turn in a very simple scene that manages to wrench out both high hope and deep tension all within the context of yard work.

March 24, 2021

Jack Fleischer
Battleship Pretension
Demian Bichir gives one of the year’s finest leading performances.

September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0

Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
A week and a half later, I still haven’t stopped thinking about it. It is the summer, anti-blockbuster movie I am recommending to everyone.

January 14, 2020 | Rating: 4/4

Sarah Knight Adamson
Sarah’s Backstage Pass
The stakes are high in A Better Life and Bichir matches the film’s tormented tone with a portrayal of a man overcome by both fear and faith.

January 26, 2018 | Rating: B+

Kiko Martinez
San Antonio Current
…Weitz finds a third character in the form of the L.A. landscape. Appearing entirely Eden-like when we’re in the gardens with Carlos, but rundown and seedy when he’s in his own element, the city assumes all the dimensions of the American dream itself.

July 10, 2017 | Rating: 2.5/4

Katherine Monk
National Post
The film’s beautiful simplicity is carried massively on the work of Demin Bichir, instantly and surely one of the best performances seen in 2011.

September 14, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4

Clayton Davis
AwardsCircuit.com…

Plot
Carlos Galindo is a decent man, a Mexican single parent working as a gardener in California to raise Luis, his fourteen-year-old son, whom Carlos is frightened will drift into local gang culture. Carlos buys a truck for his work with money loaned by his sister but a shifty new employee steals it from him and, though Carlos and Luis track the thief down, he has sold the truck. Father and son bond as they reclaim the vehicle from the pound but Carlos attracts police attention, making his future in America uncertain when it is discovered that he is an undocumented immigrant.

Trivia