Cocaine Godmother (2017)

Last updated:
September 22, 2025

Cocaine Godmother (2017) is a television crime drama directed by Guillermo Navarro, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones in the role of Griselda Blanco, one of the most infamous drug lords in history. The film attempts to capture her rise and fall, mixing biographical storytelling with gritty crime drama aesthetics.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Early Life and Struggles

The movie traces Griselda Blanco’s early years in Colombia, showing her poverty-stricken childhood and her first steps into a life of crime. Even as a teenager, her ruthless instincts are clear—she uses violence and manipulation to get what she wants.

Moving to the United States

Griselda emigrates to the United States with her family, where she quickly establishes herself in the cocaine trade during the 1970s. She becomes one of the key players in the booming Miami drug scene, using her cunning and brutality to rise above competitors.

Building the Empire

By the early 1980s, Griselda is known as the “Cocaine Godmother.” She controls vast drug routes, orders numerous killings, and terrifies allies and enemies alike. The film shows her power struggles with rival cartels, as well as her personal relationships, which are marked by violence, betrayal, and paranoia.

Personal Downfall

As her empire grows, so do her enemies and her recklessness. Addiction, mistrust, and paranoia lead her to lash out at even her closest allies. Her relationships with her sons become strained, and the DEA starts closing in.

Movie Ending

The ending depicts Griselda’s inevitable fall. After years of ruling the cocaine empire, she is arrested by U.S. authorities. The final act shows her trial and imprisonment, stripping her of her luxurious lifestyle. The once-feared “Cocaine Godmother” ends her reign behind bars, isolated and weakened. The movie closes with the sense that despite her brutal power, her empire was unsustainable—her own choices and paranoia were her undoing. The film does not show her later assassination in Colombia (which happened in real life in 2012), but it leaves the viewer with the haunting conclusion that her story ends in decline, not glory.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. The film ends definitively with her imprisonment and does not include any post-credits scenes.

Type of Movie

Cocaine Godmother is a crime drama and biographical film, focusing on the true story of Griselda Blanco’s rise and fall in the drug trade.

Cast

Catherine Zeta-Jones as Griselda Blanco
Jenny Pellicer as Carolina
Raúl Méndez as Dario Sepúlveda
Juan Pablo Espinosa as Alberto Bravo
Warren Christie as Jimmy
Alejandro Edda as Rudy

Film Music and Composer

The music was composed by Eduardo Aram, who used a tense, moody score to reflect the paranoia, power, and violence of Blanco’s empire.

Filming Locations

The film was shot primarily in Vancouver, Canada, which doubled for both Miami and Colombia. The urban backdrops and coastal visuals were crucial for replicating the atmosphere of Miami in the 1970s and 1980s, while certain set designs recreated Colombia’s grittier environments.

Awards and Nominations

Cocaine Godmother did not receive major awards recognition. However, Catherine Zeta-Jones’ performance was widely discussed, drawing both praise and criticism for her portrayal of Blanco.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Catherine Zeta-Jones reportedly immersed herself in studying Griselda Blanco’s real-life story, interviews, and documentaries to capture her mannerisms and presence.
Director Guillermo Navarro, an Oscar-winning cinematographer for Pan’s Labyrinth, aimed to make the visuals gritty and cinematic despite being a television film.
Some criticism arose during production for casting a Welsh actress as a Colombian woman, sparking debates about Hollywood’s representation choices.

Inspirations and References

The movie is based on the true story of Griselda Blanco, also known as the “Black Widow” of the cocaine trade. It draws heavily from historical accounts, law enforcement reports, and documentaries about Blanco’s empire.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There is no publicly known alternate ending. However, some scenes were reportedly cut for pacing, particularly sequences exploring Blanco’s family relationships.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not directly adapted from a book, but Blanco’s life has been covered extensively in biographies and true-crime accounts. Compared to books and documentaries, the film condenses events and dramatizes characters, sometimes simplifying her complexity for storytelling purposes.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Griselda’s first cocaine smuggling operations in the U.S.
Her violent confrontation with a rival dealer, showcasing her ruthless leadership.
The murder of her second husband, marking her transformation into the feared “Black Widow.”
Her final arrest, symbolizing the collapse of her empire.

Iconic Quotes

Griselda Blanco: “In this business, you either control it—or it controls you.”
Griselda Blanco: “I don’t trust love. I trust fear.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Griselda’s wardrobe choices in the film reflect her rise in power, shifting from simple clothing to luxurious, bold outfits as her empire grows.
The movie makes subtle nods to real-life events, including Miami’s infamous “Cocaine Cowboys” era.
DEA office scenes include photos and case files based on actual drug busts from the 1980s.

Trivia

Catherine Zeta-Jones learned Spanish phrases to make her dialogue more authentic.
The real Griselda Blanco reportedly inspired characters in Narcos and Scarface.
Griselda was suspected of ordering over 200 murders during her reign.

Why Watch?

If you’re interested in true-crime stories and the dark world of the drug trade, Cocaine Godmother offers a dramatized but compelling look at one of history’s most infamous women. It’s not as polished as a Hollywood blockbuster, but Catherine Zeta-Jones’ performance and the sheer story of Griselda Blanco make it worth watching.

Director’s Other Works

While Cocaine Godmother was Guillermo Navarro’s directorial project, he is primarily known as a cinematographer. His notable works as cinematographer include:

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Pacific Rim (2013)
Night at the Museum (2006)
Hellboy (2004)

Cocaine Godmother (2017)