It used to be hard to find non-English films. The rest of the world's cinema was shoved into one "foreign" category, taking up a 10th of the space of the "domestic, English-dominate" variety. Obviously, we still see that at award shows like the Oscars, but even there, things are finally changing. The reason behind that change has a lot to do with how we consume films. COVID aside, we're all streaming more of our movies, and online there's no reason why we can't have access to all films, regardless of language.
That's certainly what Netflix has done, and it's been paying big dividends as non-English productions break through in the global marketplace. It's also great for everyone — it means more titles for movie-lovers and more opportunities for global filmmakers. Your algorithm may not be showing you as many Spanish titles as you'd like, so we've rounded up 25 choices to get you started. Thankfully, there are a lot to pick from.
Spanish-language movies run the full gamut from serious award-fodder films to light romantic comedies to action-packed thrillers. And the perspectives are diverse, too. We've got films from Spaniards and Latin Americans; from white, Black, and Indigenous folks; from gay and straight perspectives; from people of all genders. And that makes sense because Spanish speakers are so diverse. There's a variety of aesthetics, interests, and preferences.
On our list, you'll see Oscar winners like 2019's "Roma," which made Yalitza Aparicio a star for her turn as the old-soul domestic worker Cleo. Or watch the recent YA romance "Through My Window," which follows two teenage neighbors who fall in love after connecting over a shared WiFi connection. Just make sure to watch them sooner rather than later, as titles have a way of falling off the streaming platform if you wait too long.
Raquel is obsessed with Ares, her attractive and mysterious neighbor, even though they haven't exchanged a single word. But Raquel's not innocent or helpless, so when Ares does finally notice her, things heat up in this passionate teen drama.
Fashion assistant Maca has just gotten her life together after a devastating breakup when Leo, the man who broke her heart, returns. Seeking support from best friends Adriana and Jime, all three learn love can be complicated.
In a drug-torn mountain town in Mexico, three young girls take over the houses of those who have fled, dress up as the women they're forbidden to be, and hide from the violence surrounding them.
A former childhood singer traumatized by his experiences becomes a recluse, nurturing his heart until a woman comes into his life and really hears him.
In this critically acclaimed, gritty film, a terrible misunderstanding with a local gang sends 17-year-old Ulises, leader of a group of cumbia fans, across the border to save his life.
In this telenovela-style comedy, four sisters learn of a family secret after their mother's death, prompting them to embark on a journey of self-discovery.
After checking into a timeshare, Pedro becomes increasingly suspicious of the resort, leading him to believe that the timeshare has a bigger plan: to take his family away.
Based in 1970s Mexico, this emotional drama takes you through a year in the life of Cleo, a domestic worker facing her own troubles as she takes care of a fractured middle-class family, based on the filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón's experiences growing up.
Young architect Bea feels as though everything is going right until she discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her. In an attempt to reassess her life, she returns home to her family.
Fans of "The Shape of Water" will enjoy this sci-fi romantic drama about a woman who has spent her life alone on a spaceship and falls for an engineer who comes into her life.
