Thirty five years later and this scene still hits so hard. 😭

Bob outlived Ritchie by nearly 60 years, he passed away 4 years ago. May they all RIP.

Esai Morales stole the show...it's a crime he wasn't even nominated for best supporting actor. He is grossly underrated. His chops are beast level.

Imagine getting news like this on a radio broadcast, randomly going about your day. This was always a heart wrenching scene to watch.

I can't wrap my head around Ritchie Valens dying at age 17. When I was 17 I was sleeping til noon and scratching my ass. This guy put out hit records and was touring.

This was the saddest scene ever watching this as a kid. One of my favorites to this day.

That last shot of two brothers running up a hill kills me...with Ritchie, always attached to his guitar.

The last shot of the brothers running up the hill gets me every time.

The ending gets me every time, you can hear the pain in Connie's cry when she breaks down and when Bob yells out Richie's name; losing a loved one or someone really close hurts a lot

When Bob screams Richie!!!! Man does it hit the heart!! Lost my baby brother in 2020 !! Changes a man forever

I just noticed that Bob rushes across town to his mom’s house, but slows down as he turns the corner and hesitates to allow his mom to process the tragic news. Then finally rushes to her when she breaks down. I’ve watched this movie 100+ times. Gets me every time.

Morales is such a powerful actor. Just a natural.

Esai Morales shouldve gotten an award for his role in this movie

Esai Morales should have been awarded an Academy Award,,,his performance throughout that entire movie was Great 👍

Esai Morales seriously should’ve won the Oscar for best supporting actor. His work in this movie, especially the last scene is some of the best I’ve ever seen

One of the saddest scenes in cinematic history from Richie’s mom’s cry to the soundtrack playing and then Bob’s cry for his little brother at the end. It gets me every time.

Losing a sibling is the most devastating pain you'll ever feel. I lost both of my beautiful sisters and they both were only 38 years old. That scream just comes from your soul..feels like part of me died with them

I remember when this came out and I saw his brother being interviewed and he asked about how he was portrayed in the movie as not a nice person. He nodded and said "That's how I was and I wanted it to be as close to reality as possible."

Takes me back to that part when he was talking to Bob on the phone and tells him “we’re still brothers, right?” Made this scene even more powerful…

When he jumps the fence and embraced his Mom it was so heartbreaking. To this day it makes me cry.

“Sleep Walk” will forever be tied to this scene for me. I was 14 when I saw this movie and I haven’t watched it since… Rest in Paradise, Ritchie Valens 🙏🏾😔

When the mom said “not my Richie” ugh I cried!!!! 😢😢😢

You understand that pain in his scream when you lose a brother. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Miss you every second of every day big bro ❤

that song when ritchie's mother is crying...just kills me...the tragedy of one of the greatest rock stars ever to grace this earth

Connie freaking out and when Bob yells Richie at the end. Both those scenes really punch you in the heart. Gets me every freakin time! Lol. I know it's coming and I've watched it so many times. Still brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. Amazing acting.

I like that you can tell that Bob was raised the old school way where men don't show there tears but when there alone they let the emotions out. I think that plus his acting is what made the scene so strong. You can even see how he wanted to cry when he saw his mom in pain but new he had to be strong for her.

65 years ago today😭❤️🕊 February 3rd 1959 R.I.P Buddy Holly, Ritchie Vallens, J.P Richardson❤️❤️

If this movie is playing you sit down and watch even if you’ve seen it 100 times its never old and you will always cry at the end

This gets me every time....I had 3 brothers... now down to 2. R.I.P Jo, we love you.

I never really understood bobs pain as a kid, I always thought it was just being dramatic for drama sake. Till I lost a sibling I grew up with, it’s a deep deep pain, after I learned of my sisters death I did the same thing and just screamed as loud as I could from the pain. Such a great scene

Christ, this scene gets me every time. Phenomenal acting, and Ritchie Valens will be truly missed.

How Esai Morales was not nominated for an Oscar for this role is one of the most injustices in movie history.

I was absolutely obsessed with this movie when I was little. Lou Diamond Phillips was Ritchie Valens in my mind. I remember always feeling sad and not understanding it when I was little. Now I’m old as hell with three little girls and the heartbreak means something else now.

The scene is very symbolic and Richie's guitar symbolizes the life he chose, the life that ultimately caused his demise. Bob is chasing Richie trying to catch him and hold onto him but he can't and in the end he loses him. Richie knows his music is the only way out of that town, that life. Bob is trying to tell Richie to slow down, things aren't so bad here.

I was a young teen watching this awesome movie growing up. The ending left not a dry eye from anyone!!! Richie didn't want to fly because he was afraid of flying. Lou Diamond Phillips was awesome, as was the whole cast. ❤

Every time I want a good cry , I come here

Such a heartbreaking thing to experience. I cannot imagine how hard it felt to hear this in the middle of doing regular chores.

I lost my beautiful mother three days ago, watching them hug broke me, I love you mom ❤️

At 43 yrs old in 2023 and as many times as I’ve seen this I still cry.😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

It’s been decades since I’ve seen this film, it inspired me to play guitar. This movie hit so hard back when I was a kid, and I just teared up at 42, just from this scene, So powerful!

When Richie's(Rob) brother goes to that bridge n yells his brothers name, it always sends chills down my spine( every time)!!! Richie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Imagine a 17 year old, gone waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too soon. I may not have been born or even thought of back then but this has to be 1 of the most heartbreaking celebrity deaths I've ever heard and seen. May you rest in perfect peace, Ritchie Valens!!!! 😭💔🕊

The pain in Bobs scream at the end is gut wrenching

Bob reunited with his brother May the music ring in the heavens

This gets to me every damn time.....RICHIEEEE! 😢😢😢😢😢

My momma rest in peace loved Richie music very much. The day after he passed away my momma wrote a poem. She stood up in front her class and she read it in front of all students in her class. Before of my mama passing away in 2011 she told me that she had envelope with poem in it and she asked me to read it at her funeral. Here is poem that my momma read about Richie. It is titled. Until We Meet Again. Those special memories of you Will always bring a smile. If only I could have you back for just a little while. Then we could sit and talk again, just like we used to do. You always meant so very much and always will too. The fact that you’re no longer here will always cause me pain, But you’re forever in my heart until we meet again. Every student her class came up and gave her hug.

Every time I see this part it makes me cry

Just the most heartbreaking but brilliant end to a film. Chokes me up every time. RIP Ritchie, Buddy and JP.

Man, this scene STILL puts a lump in my throat after all these years.

No matter how many times I watch La Bamba, this scene ALWAYS leaves me a sobbing mess. I can't imagine learning of a loved one's death over the radio.

After all these years, when Bob cries out Richie's name, ohh God, it still tears me apart. God bless them all.

The hardest, and most emotional ending in a movie EVER.

The agonising pain from Bob when he screams “Ritchie” tears me up every time

As someone really close with his little brother, this movie gets to me

He was so Young May He, Selena, Biggie, 2Pac, Eazy, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe Rest In Peace they died when they still had so much to give.

I was a senior in high school when this movie was released.I remember the revival of Ritchies music at that time was really cool.Several years ago here in San Antonio a screening and q and a was held with Bob in attendance.I regret not being able to attend .May they all rest in peace

Tears me up every single time. Connie’s scream and heartbreak gets me every time. Just a powerful painful emotion

Rosanna DeSoto's acting here was very powerful but very unnoticed by movie critics. Very few sad movie scenes, especially after all these decades, still make me shed a tear like this with her portraying a devastated and heart broken mother upon hearing the news that her beloved son was killed in a plane crash.

As a kid I never really understood how Bob brought his family from poverty into not so rich but a decent house and a decent neighborhood but nobody gave him credit but when Richie did it everybody even his mom loved him for it and give him credit even after that Bob still loved Richie the ending always gets me😢😢😢 as well

This scene still chokes me up like the first time I saw it over 30 years ago.😢… great movie

*RITCHIE!* That gets me every time. This movie was wonderful.

3:18 yes bob knew he messed up hurting his family over his drinking problems but deep down he loves his brother so damn much losing him broke him so hard what a performance by Esai Morales

His mother breakdown and his brother scream Ritchie at the end sends chills down my spine every time I watch 😭 RIP Ritchie 🌺🌹🌺🌹🌺🌹.. wonderful job by the actor's

When I watched this movie for the first time I was a kid and felt the movie blindsided me with Richie's death (I knew nothing of Ritchie Valens at the time). When I lost my sweet sister last year in a tragic car crash, I understood life that blindsides you with that kind of despair. I now understand the pain Bob is going through at the end. Something as simple as a stranger's smile is enough to set you off, because "how can you possibly smile when a 29-year-old mother of three can die in a car crash that wasn't her fault?" You just want to cry out to the heavens in a primal scream from deep within your soul. Beautiful movie.

My grandma use to sometimes call me Richie when I was little. This was also my dad's favorite movie. R.I.P to them both 🙏👼

My mom named me after Ritchie, and my middle name is Esai after Esai Morales. Can only imagine how far Ritchie could've got..

My first time seeing this movie, i cried so hard. Especially when he shouted Ritchie's name. 😭😭😭

One one the saddest endings to any movie.😢

No parent should have to bury their child before they die, but that’s life for you, death doesn’t care how old you are…..Rest in Peace to all

Saw this in the theatre (17 years old at the time) and Bob crying out Richie's name still haunts me to this day.

I’ve watched this movie so many times and I just finished my most recent rewatch and was tearing up like crazy at this scene

Sleep walk and the scream ritchieeeeeee always gets me

I was an extra in La Bamba in 1986. I was 19. Such an amazing experience!

Hearing “not my Richie” hurts

This part still brings tears to my eyes.

I can only imagine losing your baby brother. I have a younger brother and losing him would kill me too. RIP Ritchie Valenez and anyone who has lost a sibling too.

Saw it during the summer just before my freshman year in High School. This is still one of the saddest endings in the history of Cinema. Crushes me everytime.

Never thought Santo and Johnny's Moonwalk coulda been played so beautifully in a movie scene like this one. Every time I hear this song my mind takes me directly to this movie. Thats trully art.

This scene broke my heart when i first saw it,.... Still does...RIP. La Bamba

I was 8 years old when Ritchie Valens Died, I’ll never forget that Tuesday. Me and My dad were at the chicken pie shop in Fresno, California having breakfast when they announced it on the radio. Everyone in the diner started crying. 65 years later it still brings back some good and horrible memories.

Cried my heart out as a kid…still breaks my heart now as a grown ass man..the music…the sadness across all his family and friends…the “ritchiiieeeeeee”…sigh

This scene gets me every time... so heartbreaking for Donna and his family.

My son got me the DVD of this movie for Christmas years ago. And I still watch it every so often

I loved this move as a child in the 90s gives me chills every time.

Impossible for me to watch this scene without shedding a tear. As a kid, or 40 year old man, scene still hits me hard.

I know this pain too well, losing my brother barely a year older than me at 37, how do you let go of someone like that? My Lord, just one more bro hug or football game…one more laugh together…I’d even take an argument over nothing.

When Bob grabbed his mom it was emotional for sure, had to witness something very similar when my friends sister died in a car crash at only 21 years old, had to pick my friend up from the airport take him to his moms, it was just like this scene.. 😞 Seeing a mother cry for her baby rips your heart out …

35 yrs later and it still hits me emotionally 😢😢😢😢😢😢 *RITCHIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!* 💔

i watch this whenever i need to cry and can't get the tears out on my own. This ending and the ending of 'imitation of life'

When the brother yelled Ritchie at the end, I literally felt the pain.

64 years ago today the world lost Ritchie Vallens😰😰 Rest In Peace Ritchie Vallens❤️❤️

RIP Ritchie Valens and Bob Morales

Can’t even imagine the feeling of finding out your lost your child, brother, and love of your life over the radio like this. Especially when there was no internet or cell phones.

Absolutely agree that Esai Morales definently deserved an award for that performance! all cast members were great obviouly phillips but without Morales that movie is completely different

The ending is so emotional the pain and hurt that you can hear in Connie’s voice still gets to me till this day

Every six months or so, i come back here for a nice little cry.

Lost my brother recently. He was only 31 years old. When I saw this scene as a kid I never imagined I’d go through the same pain.

2:01 That scream always almost gets me, and I’m not one that cries when there are sad scenes in movies, but that scream is painful and it almost gets me every time. Underrated film.

This is one of the greatest movies ever made about a real life legendary singer Richie valance. I can’t imagine how he’s family felt receiving the news like that . Before they heard it on the radio someone could of called over to the house and told the family in person . Before they heard on the radio with the rest of the world . R.I.P Richie valance your gone but you will never ever be forgotten forever in our hearts x

Saw this when I was 4 in 87 and still one of the saddest scene in cinema history