Popi
“Better to drown in the ocean than in the sewer.”
Synopsis
Abraham, a Puerto Rican single parent with two boys, is becoming very worried about them living in their rundown neighborhood when one day he notices that escaping Cubans are lionized and given exceptional benefits. He schemes to have his sons washed ashore as Cuban immigrants to be adopted by rich Anglos.
Top Cast
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Alan Arkin
Abraham
Rita Moreno
Lupe
Reuben Figueroa
Luis
Miguel Alejandro
Junior
Arny Freeman
Diaz
Joan Tompkins
Miss Musto
Anthony Holland
Pickett
Louis Zorich
Penebaz
Antonia Rey
Mrs. Cruz
Victor Junquera
Man from Novitas
Arnold Soboloff
Dr. Perl
Arnold Soboloff
Dr. Perle
Barbara Dana
Receptionist
Judith Lowry
Elderly Hospital Patient (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 27, 1969
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Arthur Hiller
- Screenplay & Story
- Tina Pine, Lester Pine
- Original Score
- Dominic Frontiere
- Original Title
- Popi
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Production Budget
- $2M
- Production Studios
- Herbert B. Leonard Productions, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Arthur Hiller
Tina Pine, Lester Pine
Dominic Frontiere
Andrew Laszlo
Herbert B. Leonard
Department Leadership Roster
Herbert B. Leonard
Producer
Arthur Hiller
Director
Andrew Laszlo
Director of Photography
Dominic Frontiere
Original Music Composer
Tina Pine
Writer
Lester Pine
Writer
Albert Wolsky
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Popi.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Popi.
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MGM+ US - Family Movies
Curated list of Most Popular on MGM+ (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Popi
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Popi about?
Abraham, a Puerto Rican single parent with two boys, is becoming very worried about them living in their rundown neighborhood when one day he notices that escaping Cubans are lionized and given exceptional benefits. He schemes to have his sons washed ashore as Cuban immigrants to be adopted by rich Anglos.
Who directed Popi?
Popi was directed by Arthur Hiller.
Who stars in Popi?
The principal cast of Popi includes Alan Arkin, Rita Moreno, Reuben Figueroa, Miguel Alejandro, Arny Freeman.
When was Popi released and how long is it?
Popi was released in 1969 with a total runtime of 1h 53m.
Who composed the musical score for Popi?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Popi was composed by Dominic Frontiere.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Popi?
Popi holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).