Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stiff music drama has strong language, gun threats.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Clika
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In CLIKA, Chito (Jay Dee) lives in Yuba City, California, and earns a living picking peaches, just as his grandfather did before him. He keeps a notebook of song lyrics and dreams of being a Música Mexicana star. But his mother (Nana Ponceleon) has been out of work, and they've fallen behind on their mortgage payments. So, unbeknownst to his mother, Chito starts working for his Tío Alfredo (Cristian E. Gutierrez) running marijuana—and becoming very successful. Meanwhile, a video of one of his songs goes viral, racking up millions of views, but he accepts a deal to expand the drug empire into Los Angeles, likely bringing more danger on himself. Can he find the right path?
Is It Any Good?
Música Mexicana fans are likely to appreciate the fact that this drama is rooted in the genre, but it's pretty stiff, formulaic stuff, and it doesn't effectively capture the vibrancy of the music. It's hard to watch Clika and not get 8 Mile vibes from it—or, for that matter, plenty of other "dreaming of the big time" movies in a similar vein. There's not a single plot turn or character behavior that isn't overly familiar. Some of the situations feel unsophisticated (especially in the way the movie represents women), and some of the performances feel one-note, as if actors were modeling instead of performing. Dee comes to life when he's singing, but it's too bad that the movie couldn't have offered more insight as to what makes his music special. Given the fact that Latino stories are chronically underrepresented in the movies, Clika is appreciated, but its artlessness makes it a disappointment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Clika's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How are drinking, smoking, and drug use portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
How are women portrayed? Do they have agency? Are they objectified? Why is that problematic?
How does the movie demonstrate the importance of perseverance?
What's the value of seeing stories rooted in specific communities and music traditions? Why are diverse representations in the media important?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 23, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : February 24, 2026
- Cast : Jay Dee , Cristian E. Gutierrez , Nana Ponceleon
- Director : Michael Greene
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Mexican Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , South American Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Columbia Pictures , Sony Pictures Releasing
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Family Stories ( Moms , Siblings , Single Parents ) , Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : drug content, language throughout, and sexual material
- Last updated : February 2, 2026
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