The 20 Best Spanish-Language Movies on Netflix That Everyone Will Love
From Spanish comedies (La llamada) to romantic flicks (Nuestros amantes), you can't go wrong with these picks.
Like to-be-read lists, there are also to-be-watched lists — and yours might just get a little longer after discovering these Spanish-language movies on Netflix. While native Spanish speakers have enjoyed many of these movie for years, the films now have a wider reach thanks to English subtitles and dubbing. Latinx actors hailing from different countries around the world have brought fascinating and interesting storylines to life that you don’t want to miss out seeing.
Whether you want to get caught up on the latest popular releases or you’re in the mood to mix up your queue, these Spanish movies on Netflix are a great place to start browsing. From heart-pumping thrillers (El Bar) to emotional dramas (Roma), there are many Spanish-language movie options available on the streaming service. In the event that you can’t settle on just one, you can bookmark this list and continue working your way through it.
El Bar (The Bar)
Set in Madrid, a busy cafe closes its doors one morning when a murder happens on the sidewalk. A diverse clientele is trapped inside trying to figure out next steps. But the group quickly runs into roadblocks when there's no cell service to reach the outside world. With the streets abandoned, the customers watch news coverage of a killer on the loose. But they begin to suspect that another killer could be among them.
El fotógrafo de Mauthausen (The Photographer Of Mauthausen)
Inspired by real events, the historical drama centers around Francisco Boix, a prisoner at the Nazi German Mauthausen concentration camp. In 1940, the Spanish Civil War veteran was captured, and he used his skills to work in the photography department. There, he hid and preserved thousands of negatives showing the conditions of the camp. After his release in 1945, his evidence became pivotal in trials.
Tiempo Compartido (Time Share)
In this Mexican thriller drama, Pedro goes on vacation with his wife and son. But things go awry after they're forced to share their bungalow with another family as a result of overbooking. While Pedro starts getting suspicious about the strangers, a worker at the hotel named Andres is hoping to get his wife in better spirits. Viewers can expect these storylines to cross and become super dark.
Bajocero (Below Zero)
A prison van is at the center of this heart-pumping flick in which a policeman must try to stay alive. Although carefully orchestrated, a prison transfer goes wrong when the the vehicle is targeted. Calls from the outside demand that the policeman let the prisoners go, but he doesn't cooperate. This sets up a scenario between the policeman, prisoners and attackers trying to get their way. Who will triumph in the end?
La noche de 12 años (A Twelve-Year Night)
Based on true events, the drama retells the incarceration of José "Pepe" Mujica, Mauricio Rosencof and Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro, who were part of the left-wing urban guerrilla group Tupamaros in Uruguay. After being captured as political prisoners in 1973, the three men experience different levels of mental torture as they are moved from prison to prison for 12 years. In real life, José later became Uruguay's president in 2010.
Quien a hierro mata (Eye for an Eye)
Though the original title translates to Who Kills By Iron in English, the Spanish thriller is accurately described by its second translation. When a cartel drug leader is released from prison, he's placed in a nursing home where he crosses paths with a man whose life was impacted by his crimes. But in the aid's quest to get revenge, he starts getting close to more danger that could threaten his family again.
Quién te cantará (Who Will Sing to You)
After singer Lila Cassan suffers an accident that takes her away from the limelight for 10 years, she doesn't remember who she is and what it's like to perform on stage. With the encouragement of her mother, the award-winning artist looks to a fan named Violeta to teach her how to sing again. But the process proves to be as difficult as learning the lyrics to a new fast-beat song.
También la Lluvia (Even the Rain)
Worlds collide when a film crew arrives in Bolivia during the Cochabamba Water War in 2000 and walks into the middle of protests over the privatization of water. There is a clash when the actors want to become involved in the fight, which actually did happen in real life.
Ya no estoy aquí (I’m No Longer Here)
Tapping into Mexico's cumbia music culture, the coming-of-age story takes Ulises out of his home in Monterrey and relocates him to Queens, New York. After the 17-year-old gang leader witnesses a drive-by shooting, he's forced to put his family into hiding and cross into the U.S. to stay safe. But he can't stop being homesick. He eventually finds his way back only to discover it's not the same anymore.
El ciudadano Ilustre (The Distinguished Citizen)
The Argentine-Spanish dramedy follows a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, who has been living abroad in Europe for decades. When he's invited back to his hometown in Argentina to receive an award, he accepts. But he unexpectedly discovers there are "both similarities and irreconcilable differences" amongst his fellow citizens.
¿A quién te llevarías a una isla desierta? (Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island?)
Élite fans will instantly recognize the leads in this Spanish drama as consistent onscreen costars and real-life partners Maria Pedraza and Jaime Lorente. In the 2019 flick, they are part of a close-knit friend group. The foursome is preparing to experience major life changes after living together for eight years. But on their last night, a secret is revealed that changes everything.
Ahí te encargo (You've Got This)
Looking for a good rom-com? This is definitely it. Telenovela stars Mauricio Ochmann and Esmeralda Pimentel are front and center as Alejandro and Cecilia, a married couple with different feelings about having kids. Just as Cecilia is offered a huge career promotion, Alejandro begins wanting to have children really badly. Their entire world changes when a baby that's not theirs enters the picture.
Durante la tormenta (Mirage)
In this mystery drama, protagonist Vera Roy finds herself between two parallel universes. On November 9, 1989, 12-year-old Nico witnesses a murder and dies trying to escape the scene. He leaves behind a videotape he was recording during a 72-hour electric storm. Twenty-five years later, Vera moves into Nico's former home and discovers the tape. She crosses timelines to warn Inspector Leyra about the deaths and he works to stop them before the storm rolls through.
El hoyo (The Platform)
A standard jail is reimagined as vertical with one cell on each level, holding two people. At meal time, a slab of food descends from floor to floor to feed everyone. The inmates at the top eat well, leaving those at the bottom starving. The endless nightmare comes to a head when a rebellion happens.
La llamada (Holy Camp!)
In this musical comedy, two rebellious teens, Maria and Susana, spend their summer at a Catholic camp run by nuns. On their first night, the girls sneak out and go partying. As expected, the camp doesn't plan on tolerating this behavior and discourages their love of music. Slowly but surely, the teens start showing the nuns the power of song.
Nuestros amantes (Our Lovers)
Carlos and Irene meet at a bookshop bar and begin dating, but there's a catch. The two can't share personal information about themselves, not even their real names. Instead, the new couple focuses on enjoying their time together walking around the city. That is, until Irene discovers that Carlos is married to Maria, who is the woman her boyfriend, Jorge, recently left her for.
Roma
At the 91st Academy Awards, this powerful Mexican drama won Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Foreign Language Film. Set in the early '70s, the black-and-white movie follows the life of a live-in housekeeper taking care of a middle-class family in Mexico City. Her personal life intertwines with theirs as a marriage falls apart and a baby is born.
Verónica
In 1991, Verónica and two classmates hold a séance at their school in Madrid. After trying to contact her recently deceased father, Verónica begins to feel a strange presence inside her home. Despite her attempt to escape the evil spirits, she suffers from hallucinations and violent visions that only get worse.
7 Años (7 Years)
The four founders of a successful company are being investigated by the government, who will inevitably discover that they've committed massive tax fraud. The group comes to the conclusion that one of them needs to take the fall and go to jail for seven years, sparing the others. But after everyone refuses to be the scapegoat, a mediator is hired to help out.
100 metros (100 Meters)
Based on a true story, a Spanish man named Ramón Arroyo is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The CEO decides to train for an Ironman Triathlon, despite being told that he won't make it past 100 meters. In the process, he gets help from his father-in-law, Manolo, a former professional athlete, who is battling his own demons.
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