Hacker Cinema
Flamin' Hot
2023 · Film · 99 min
Directed by Eva Longoria
The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin' Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.
4 neutralfrom 4 commenters
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4 comments on Hacker News
I don't get it — the trailer says it's "inspired by a true story", but wasn't this completely debunked? [1]
Apparently the creators of the film don't dispute that the story about the janitor isn't true, [2] so then how are they claiming that it's inspired by a true story? Is the "story" they're referring to the fact that Flamin' Hot Cheetos were in fact invented, by someone?
1: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-05-16/flamin-hot-cheetos-richard-montanez
2: https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/flamin-hot-creators-dont-mind-that-its-origin-story-was-debunked
Actually, this is how you know:
> The Times spoke with 20 people who worked at the Frito-Lay divisions responsible for new product development 32 years ago, when Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were first extruded into existence. None recalls anything like the episode Montañez describes taking place.
and the biopic just premiered at SXSW. amazing.
https://www.chron.com/food/article/flamin-hot-movie-17843954.php
This story is being made into a movie. The twitter thread, no doubt, is an effort to promote it. See
https://www.newsweek.com/flamin-hot-cheeto-movie-true-story-creator-richard-montanez-1456377
See IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8105234/