Bound by Honor (1993): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1993, Bound by Honor is an action, thriller, drama and crime film directed by Taylor Hackford, running about 190 minutes. “An epic story of three brothers. Bound by blood. Divided by fate. Driven by destiny.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on how a violent crime and the influence of narcotics alter their lives. Miklo is incarcerated and sent to San Quentin, where he makes a "home" for himself. Cruz becomes an exceptional artist, but a heroin addiction overcomes him with tragic results. Paco becomes a cop and an enemy to his "carnal", Miklo.

Who’s in it. Bound by Honor stars Damian Chapa as Miklo, Jesse Borrego as Cruz, Benjamin Bratt as Paco and Enrique Castillo as Montana, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.1/10, Bound by Honor sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $4.5M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bound by Honor page.

If you liked it. Fans of Bound by Honor tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.