Zoot Suit (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1981, Zoot Suit is a drama and music film directed by Luis Valdez, running about 103 minutes. “An american original.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Part fact and part fiction, Zoot Suit is the film version of Luis Valdez's critically acclaimed play, based on the actual Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the zoot suit riots of 1940s Los Angeles. Henry Reyna is the leader of a group of Mexican-Americans being sent to San Quentin without substantial evidence for the death of a man at Sleepy Lagoon. As part of the defense committee, Alice Bloomfield and George Shearer fight the blatant miscarriage of justice for the freedom of Henry and his friends.
Who’s in it. Zoot Suit stars Edward James Olmos as El Pachuco, Charles Aidman as George Shearer, Tyne Daly as Alice Bloomfield and John Anderson as Judge F.W. Charles, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Zoot Suit has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Zoot Suit page.
If you liked it. Fans of Zoot Suit tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Zoot Suit (1981)?
- In US, Zoot Suit is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Zoot Suit worth watching?
- Zoot Suit holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Zoot Suit?
- Zoot Suit stars Edward James Olmos, Charles Aidman, Tyne Daly, John Anderson and Abel Franco.
- When was Zoot Suit released?
- Zoot Suit was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 103 minutes.