Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 9, 2026

Captain Avispa

Captain Avispa is a 2024 Dominican animated superhero film directed by Jean Gabriel Guerra and Jonnathan Melendez from a screenplay written by Miguel Yarull and Gustavo López, based on an idea by Juan Luis Guerra inspired by his own song "Las Avispas". It was the highest-grossing film of 2024 in the Dominican Republic. It is considered the most expensive Dominican film ever produced, based on its reported production budget.

Last revised
Aug 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 4 min
Length
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Captain Avispa
Theatrical release poster
SpanishCapitán Avispa
Directed byJean Gabriel Guerra
Jonnathan Melendez
Screenplay byGustavo Lopez
Miguel Yarull
Based on
"Las Avispas"
by Juan Luis Guerra
Produced byAmarilys Germán
Juan Luis Guerra
StarringLuis Fonsi
Edited byGeu Florentino Gómez
Music byJuan Luis Guerra
Production
company
Guerra Toons
Distributed byCaribbean Films Distribution
Release dates
  • April 1, 2024 (2024-04-01) (Santo Domingo)
  • April 4, 2024 (2024-04-04) (Dominican Republic)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryDominican Republic
LanguageSpanish
BudgetRD$128.5 million1

Captain Avispa (Spanish: Capitán Avispa) is a 2024 Dominican animated superhero film directed by Jean Gabriel Guerra and Jonnathan Melendez (in their directorial debut) from a screenplay written by Miguel Yarull and Gustavo López,2 based on an idea by Juan Luis Guerra inspired by his own song "Las Avispas".34 It was the highest-grossing film of 2024 in the Dominican Republic. It is considered the most expensive Dominican film ever produced, based on its reported production budget.5

Synopsis

Superhero Captain Avispa is charged with protecting Avispatrópolis and the Honey Kingdom. However, when his evil arch-enemy, the hornet Jacques Puasón, hatches a plan to take over the colonies, Captain Avispa must fight him while upholding his values.6

Voice cast

The actors participating in this film are:78

  • Luis Fonsi as Captain Avispa
  • Joy Huerta as Honey Bee
  • Juanes as Sergeant Picadura
  • Karen Martínez as Ximena Colmena
  • José Guillermo Cortines as Jacques Puasón / Bobby Flashington / Máximo Waxon / DJ
  • Adalgisa Pantaleon as Queen Ada
  • Roger Zayas as Mayor Panales
  • Amelia Vega as Polibya Néctar
  • Bianca García as Aki Teriyaki
  • Héctor Aníbal as Mínimo Waxon
  • Edwin Sánchez as Bombo Peluca
  • Juan Luis Guerra as Leo Vespa / Juan Miel Guerra
  • Paulina Guerra as Worker Bee

Production

In 2019, Juan Luis Guerra announced his foray into filmmaking as a producer with the development of an animated feature.9 The film was produced remotely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.10 It required 600 hours of sound mixing.11

Release

Captain Avispa had its world premiere on April 1, 2024, at the Downtown Center in Santo Domingo,12 followed by a wide national theatrical release on April 4.13

Reception

Box office

In its opening weekend, it attracted 26,800 viewers,1415 becoming the fifth-best opening for an animated film in the Dominican Republic,16 and ending its first week with more than 30,000 viewers.17

The film attracted a total of 150,976 viewers throughout its theatrical run in Dominican theaters. It was the highest-grossing dominican film of 2024 with RD$46.8 million.181920 In its opening week in Colombia, it grossed $46,750, ranking as the 6th highest-grossing film of the week. Over its first five weeks, it eventually earned more than $95,000.21

Accolades

Award / Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Soberano Awards 25 March 2025 Best Film - Drama Juan Luis Guerra Nominated 2223
Platino Awards 27 April 2025 Best Animated Film Captain Avispa Nominated 2425

Future

In September 2024, during an interview with Diario Libre, producer Juan Luis Guerra confirmed that he is working on a sequel: "We are trying to have a second part and, above all, develop that industry (animation) here in the Dominican Republic."26

References

References

  1. Alcántara, Karla. "Capitán Avispa, de Juan Luis Guerra, película dominicana más cara en los últimos 13 años". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  2. Lora, Felix (2024-04-09). "CAPITÁN AVISPA, 2024". Cinema Dominicano (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  3. Rivera, Severo (2024-03-25). "La música y el encanto de la película "Capitán Avispa": Juan Luis Guerra comparte su inspiración". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  4. Alvarez, Renzo (2024-01-17). "Juan Luis Guerra debuta en el cine con su película animada 'Capitán Avispa' [VIDEO]". RPP Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  5. "Capitán Avispa, de Juan Luis Guerra, película dominicana más cara en los últimos 13 años". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  6. ""Capitán Avispa", la película de animación que llegará en septiembre a España, con los cantantes Luis Fonsi y Juanes como protagonistas". Leo Radio.
  7. Ayala, Eduardo (2024-05-24). ""Capitán Avispa": ¿de qué trata la película de Juan Luis Guerra?". UnoTV (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  8. Pujols, Daniela (2024-04-01). "Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes y Luis Fonsi encabezan la premier de "Capitán Avispa"". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  9. de la Morena, Ana (2023-12-14). "Juan Luis Guerra estrenará en 2024 'Capitán Avispa', su primera película". LOS40 (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  10. Duque, Jaime. "Juan Luis Guerra avanza su película animada "Capitán Avispa", que llegará en 2024". Noticine.com. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  11. "Juan Luis Guerra inicia el camino de 'Capitán avispa', un héroe que dice siempre la verdad". La Crónica de Hoy (in Spanish). 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  12. Acosta, José (2024-04-01). "Hoy será la gala premier de "Capitán Avispa"; Juan Luis Guerra "estoy feliz"". RC Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  13. "VIDEO: Capitán avispa se prepara para su estreno el 4 de abril". Noticias Telemicro (in Spanish). 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  14. ""Capitán Avispa" rompe récord de asistencia en fin de semana de estreno". Diario Libre (in Spanish). 2024-04-08. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  15. Degaudenzi, Adrian (2024-04-11). ""Capitán Avispa" rompe récord de asistencia en fin de semana de estreno". DGCINE (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  16. Durán, Marina. "Producción de Juan Luis Guerra "Capitán Avispa" triunfó en Dominicana y busca conquistar a Puerto Rico... pensando en el Oscar". Noticine.com. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  17. ""Capitán Avispa": bate récords la producción animada de Juan Luis Guerra » Crónica Viva". Crónica Viva (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  18. Martínez, Faurys. ""Capitán Avispa" hace historia: primera película animada dominicana nominada a los Premios Platino". gikPlus (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  19. "Público de las películas dominicanas creció un 33 % entre 2023 y 2024". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  20. "¿Cuántos dominicanos realmente van al cine?". Acento (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  21. "Captain Avispa". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  22. "Nominados a Premios Soberano 2025: Los urbanos se adueñan de Revelación del Año". Listín Diario (in Spanish). 2025-01-28. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  23. "Lista de ganadores de Premios Soberano 2025". Listín Diario (in Spanish). 2025-03-25. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  24. Vicencio, Miguel (March 14, 2025). "Nominados a los Premios Platino 2025: Lista completa". Vogue Mexico. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  25. Valdivia, Gonzalo (April 28, 2025). "Premios Platino 2025: el dominio de Aún Estoy Aquí y la alegría del chileno Vinko Tomicic". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  26. Jiménez, Karina (2024-09-12). "Juan Luis Guerra habla del éxito de Capitán Avispa y la posibilidad de una segunda parte". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
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