This is the inspiring true story of Richard Montañez who as a Frito Lay janitor disrupted the food industry by channeling his Mexican American heritage to turn Flamin' Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon.
"Flamin' Hot" is a biographical drama directed by Eva Longoria that tells the story of Richard Montañez, the man who invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Set in the 1980s, the movie follows Richard's journey from a janitor at a Frito-Lay factory to becoming an executive at the company.
With the help of his supportive wife and a retired Frito-Lay executive, Richard pitches his idea of adding chili powder to unseasoned Cheetos to make them more flavorful to the higher-ups at Frito-Lay. Despite initial skepticism, Richard's product becomes a success, and he becomes an executive himself. The movie emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, perseverance, and the power of belief in oneself.