Raising Victor Vargas (2003)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 14 nominations
A coming-of-age tale marked by its authenticity.
Raising Victor Vargas” is a movie that captures the essence of teenage life in New York’s Lower East Side. It’s a coming-of-age story that’s both funny and heartwarming. The film follows the lives of Latino teenagers as they navigate their way through love, sex, and family. The characters are relatable and the dialogue is authentic. Director Peter Sollett does an excellent job of capturing the raw emotions of his young cast. It’s a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels. If you’re looking for a movie that will leave you feeling good, “Raising Victor Vargas” is the perfect choice.
Production Company(ies)
Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 28m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte, Melonie Diaz, Altagracia Guzman, Silvestre Rasuk, Krystal Rodriguez, directed by Peter Sollett, written by Peter Sollett, Eva Vives, Comedy, Drama, $2.1M box office, reviewed by Neil Norman, Nell Minow, Stella Papamichael, Geoff Pevere, Kimberley Jones, Terry Lawson, David Walsh, Felicia Feaster, Nick Rogers, Mark Halverson, R MPAA rating, produced by Scott Macaulay, Robin O’Hara, Alain de la Mata, Samuel Goldwyn Company, Surround, Dolby Stereo, Flat (1.85:1) Aspect Ratio
Worldwide gross: $2,816,116
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,564,563
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,205
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 497,771
US/Canada gross: $2,078,661
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,369,243
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,915
US/Canada opening weekend: $33,166
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $53,758
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,185
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,296,697
Production budget ranking: 2,069
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $698,272
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,569,594
ROI to date (est.): 129%
ROI ranking: 829
Judy Marte – Judy Martinez
Melonie Diaz – Melonie
Altagracia Guzman – Grandma
Silvestre Rasuk – Nino Vargas
Krystal Rodriguez – Vicki Vargas
Director(s)
Peter Sollett
Writer(s)
Peter Sollett, Peter Sollett, Eva Vives
Producer(s)
Scott Macaulay, Robin O’Hara, Peter Sollett, Alain de la Mata
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (110) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (106) | Rotten (4)
Peter Sollett’s remarkable movie about the lives and loves of Latino teenagers in New York’s Lower East Side is an unexpected treat.
January 11, 2018
Neil Norman
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: A+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
A keenly observed, captivating, and innately funny portrait of teenagers coming to terms with their sexuality.
September 9, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A marvel of closely observed, intimately captivating moments.
July 5, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
June 8, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It is throughly involving, depicting the real and recognizable frustrations of teenagers and the grown-ups who have responsibility for them.
May 30, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
The work avoids a variety of clichés and attempts to take seriously its young protagonists’ lives and dilemmas.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Few films capture how hostile and enormous the world can be for children and the defenses they create to cope, but this easygoing, lovely film does, to great, tender effect.
February 4, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
Writer/director Peter Sollett refreshingly avoids placing characters into lazy traps of pregnancy, betrayal or violence. These are intelligent, thoughtful teenagers whom you’ll fondly remember as struggling through desires and instincts.
September 17, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
ultimately, it lacks the backbone, the thematic heft, to be anything beyond a sweet redemption story
September 30, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Antani
Los Angeles Alternative
Sollett isn’t crusading or exploiting the kids’ sex lives. His approach is reminiscent of John Cassavetes’s Shadows in its emphasis on sibling bonds and improvised dialogue.
April 30, 2004
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife…
Plot
Raising Victor Vargas is a coming-of-age comedy/drama about a Dominican teen in New York City’s Lower East Side who is determined to win over the stunning and stuck-up Judy Ramirez.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Victor Rasuk, who plays the titular character in Raising Victor Vargas, went on to star in the HBO series How to Make It in America.
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