The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) Review: A Mexican Classic

Is The Motorcycle Diaries worth watching?

Yes — The Motorcycle Diaries remains one of the most celebrated films from Mexico, with a 83/100 Celluloid Editorial Rating and enduring audience appeal. On Celluloid it holds a 83/100 Celluloid Editorial Rating, 87% Audience Snapshot, 75 Metascore, 4 on Letterboxd, and 7.7 on IMDb — numbers that explain why it still surfaces on every “best of Mexico” list.

What is The Motorcycle Diaries about?

Young Che Guevara and Alberto Granado travel across South America on a motorcycle, witnessing poverty that shapes revolutionary consciousness. Directed by Walter Salles, the film stars Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna, Mía Maestro, and remains a reference point for Biography and Drama filmmaking from Mexico.

Should you watch The Motorcycle Diaries?

Yes, without hesitation — The Motorcycle Diaries rewards viewers who want more than algorithm-friendly new releases. At 126 minutes, it more than earns its running time — and the critics’ consensus still resonates today: Salles’ road movie humanizes an icon before ideology hardened, with Gael García Bernal luminous in the lead.

Where can I watch The Motorcycle Diaries?

Streaming availability varies by region — check major platforms in your country or local cinemas for revival screenings. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) is widely indexed on IMDb (tt0310793) and remains one of the most searched classic titles from Mexico on CelluloidScore.com.