There's no doubt Netflix (and the other early streaming channels) have transformed how we watch TV. The streamer pretty much invented the binge watch [1] by dropping entire seasons at a time and encouraging us to stay up late and watch episode after episode. It's not even a guilty pleasure anymore — binging is the new normal with shows like "Euphoria" [2] standing out by not being available all at once.
Of course, the other big change brought about by Netflix is the availability of content across borders. Now everyone with a subscription has access to a global library of TV shows and films, and I think we're better off for it. When I want to switch my primarily English-using brain [3], the best thing to do is to fall in love with a Spanish-language [4] show. Suddenly, I'm thinking, dreaming, and muttering in Spanish. This whole other side of me comes out, and it makes me proud of where I come from and where I'm going.
That's why I'm excited to share 20 Spanish-language shows you can binge on Netflix [5] right now. There's a little bit of everything in here for you, from biopics of our communities like "Luis Miguel: La Serie" [6] and "Jenni Rivera: Mariposa de Barrio" to modernized telenovelas like "La Casa de las Flores" [7] and "Monarca," and even period pieces like "Las Chicas del Cable" and "Hache" remind us that we didn't spring up out of nowhere. There are even teen shows, crime shows, and teen crime shows in Spanish — the options are endless.
I also appreciate how their take on what it means to be Spanish-speaking varies, which should be a no-brainer since we're talking about shows from Spain, Latin America, and of course, here in the United States. But regardless of whether these shows feel foreign or domestic to you, they're all a great way to spend your next binge session. So, check out our list of 20 Spanish-language shows you can stream on Netflix right now.
— Additional reporting by Armando Tinoco [8]
"La Casa de las Flores"
"La Casa de las Flores" is a classic telenovela that actually critiques the format. It follows a rich and dysfunctional family as they unearth decades of sordid secrets and try to figure out who they are and what makes them happy. Showrunner Manolo Caro convinced legend Verónica Castro to come out of retirement for the first season. But even after her exit, the cast are a joy, led by the hilarious Cecilia Suárez and her signature slow drawl.
Watch it now [9].
"Rebelde"
Premiering in 2022, Netflix's "Rebelde" had big shoes to fill as a sequel to the popular Mexican series, which was a reboot of a hit Argentine telenovela. It takes place in the same elite high school and has the same love of music and cross-class tensions. Starring Azul Guaita and Franco Masini, it's already been renewed for a second season.
Watch it now [10].
"La Casa de Papel"
"La Casa de Papel," or "Money Heist," as it's known in English, is one of Spain's biggest contributions to the world of television. Every season, the show — about a group of criminals who get together for a grand heist — gets better and more exciting. Binge all five seasons for a wild ride.
Watch it now [11].
"Valeria"
With a third season on the way, "Valeria" is a romp. Like "Sex and the City [12]," its central character is a writer (focusing on sex and relationships) and the show follows her and her three best friends, all in their 30s. But this show is its own vibe. Set in Madrid, it follows a modern heroine ready to make her own, non-Carrie Bradshaw mistakes.
Watch it now [13].
"Ingobernable"
Starring Kate del Castillo, "Ingobernable" is a Mexican political thriller. It starts when Mexico's first lady (del Castillo) finds her abusive husband dead. Worried she's being set up for the crime, she has to flee the scene and try to figure out who killed the president.
Watch it now [14].
"Las Chicas del Cable"
Set in 1920s Spain, the fashion and history are reason enough to tune into "Las Chicas del Cable." But, of course, following our four leads is really what drives the show. The switchboard operators are defining modern womanhood, thanks to the freedom that comes with working outside the home and taking home their own paycheck. Running for six seasons, "Las Chicas del Cable" has romance, secret pasts, and plenty of drama, all building upon the girls' friendship.
Watch it now [15].
"Luis Miguel: La Serie"
Diego Boneta stars as Luis Miguel in the biopic of the Mexican superstar. Three seasons in, this intense drama makes you understand why the real-life singer is the way he is, including why he can be a little cold with the press. Plus, it's very fun to catch all the cameos from other celebrities who came in and out of Miguel's life.
Watch it now [16].
"Sky Rojo"
Warning: "Sky Rojo" is a show that combines sex and violence. It follows three women escaping a sex-trafficking ring through any means necessary. It's an intense experience, showing "las tres tías" struggling but also forming found families and refusing to be defined by the toxic men around them.
Watch it now [17].
"Alguien Tiene Que Morir"
"Alguien Tiene Que Morir" is the first noncomedy project from "La Casa de las Flores" creator Manolo Caro. It's a three-episode miniseries set in prudish 1950s Spain, starring one of Pedro Almodóvar's original muses, Carmen Maura, who plays the mysterious and intimidating abuela. This is a family drama you will definitely finish in one sitting.
Watch it now [18].
"Carmel: ¿Quién Mató a María Marta?"
True-crime fans are going to stay glued to this docuseries about the death of sociologist María Marta García Belsunce, one of the most talked-about and written-about criminal cases in Argentina. No spoilers.
Watch it now [19].
"Control Z"
All hell breaks loose at a Mexican high school after a hacker starts revealing the students' hidden secrets. The main character, Sofia, and the new guy in school, Javier, lead the investigation to unmask the hacker before it's too late. You'll love this one if you were addicted to "Elite," "Pretty Little Liars," [20] or "Gossip Girl." [21]
Watch it now [22].
"El Club"
"El Club" explores the youth of Mexico's elite. Starring Alejandro Speitzer, the series follows a group of rich kids who decide to sell MDMA. They soon find themselves in trouble with their own families, law enforcement, and cartels.
Watch it now [23].
"El Dragón: El Regreso de un Guerrero"
Arturo Pérez-Reverte, the creator of "La Reina del Sur," follows up the Teresa Mendoza saga with "El Dragón: El Regreso de un Guerrero," starring Sebastián Rulli. Viewers dive into a worldwide adventure sprawling across Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. The story follows a Tokyo financier who returns to his home country of Mexico to take over his grandfather's cartel.
Watch it now [24].
"Narcos: Mexico"
While we get a little tired of cartel stories — sometimes it seems like Hollywood will only feature our community if we're running drugs — there's no denying "Narcos: Mexico." [25] The production is top quality and will leave you at the edge of your seat. Plus, we can't help but root for Diego Luna [26] and Bad Bunny [27] wherever we see them.
Watch it now [28].
"Jenni Rivera: Mariposa de Barrio"
Based on her autobiography, "Jenni Rivera: Mariposa de Barrio" follows the beloved singer on her path to fame. Netflix has 10 episodes of the saga, which premiered on Telemundo and ended after 90 episodes. Those first 10 installments give you a sense of the singer's life, how her career started, and her relationship with her family.
Watch it now [29].
"Monarca"
If you like telenovelas, "Monarca" will be right up your alley. The series is like a Latin take on HBO's "Succession," [30] but instead of media, this powerful family has a tequila business. There's nothing more Mexican than tequila, and this series captures it to perfection. Corruption, drama, and secrets are what keep you wanting to see more and more.
Watch it now [31].
"Elite"
Season five of "Elite" is premiering soon, and fans will not want to miss it. The first season centers on three working-class teens enrolling in an exclusive private school in Spain and a murder that ensues. The new season promises more hookups, betrayals, and horrible decisions.
Watch it now [32].
"Paquita Salas"
"Paquita Salas" is another Spanish series, a light comedy that is fun to watch. The show revolves around Paquita, a talent agent who's fallen behind the times. When her biggest client leaves her, she is forced to make changes fast.
Watch it now [33].
"Hache"
We love a period piece, and "Hache" delivers. The Spanish crime drama is set in the drug-trafficking world of the '60s. The main protagonist is Helena, a young sex worker who becomes the biggest heroin trafficker in Barcelona.
Watch it now [34].
"Puerta 7"
Soccer is one thing a lot of Latinx communities love and appreciate, and "Puerta 7" is a whole series built around it. This one is set in Argentina and revolves around a woman who tries to free an important soccer club from violence and corruption. Dolores Fonzi stars in this drama as a heroine going against the club's intense fan base.
Watch it now [35].