Are you learning Spanish? Do you want to boost your listening skills but are tired of listening to boring audio exercises from textbooks?
Instead, you can immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Mexican movies to practise the language and discover the culture.
In this article you're going to get eight recommendations for Mexican movies you can watch whether you're a beginner, intermediate or advanced learner.
Grab some popcorn (pochoclos, palomitas, crispetas… the names are as diverse as the Spanish-Speaking countries) and shout: ¡Luces, cámara, acción!
Pro Tip
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Prefer watching videos to reading? Check out the video version of this post below.
8 Best Mexican Movies For Spanish Learners
1. Almacenados (Comedy – Beginner)
Here is a Mexican film that’s perfect for Spanish newcomers. This comedy (called Warehoused in English) is filled with ironic and borderline-absurd moments that will make you laugh your head off.
It tells the story of two employees of a ship masts’ warehouse. One of them is about to retire, whereas the other is a young lad who is about to take his place.
Because it’s based on a play similar to Waiting for Godot by Beckett, the film’s setting and script are quite simple. But the relationship between the two men is very profound and so are their conversations about work and life in general.
This Mexican movie is an invitation to laugh and to reflect about the different generations that coexist in society and how they can interact with affection.
2. Tesoros (Adventure – Beginner)
Tesoros (or Treasures in English) revolves around two kids called Andrea and Dylan, who rally up their friends in search of a hidden treasure.
This may sound like a children’s movie, but it’s not. Every member of the family can enjoy this Mexican film because it evokes childhood nostalgia and invites adult viewers to rediscover the world’s beauty with curiosity and imagination.
Besides, if you were planning to visit the Caribbean one day, this film is a great source of inspiration: its amazing landscapes from the Pacific coast will leave you in awe!
3. No Se Aceptan Devoluciones (Comedy/Suspense – Beginner)
Here’s another film that’s perfect to watch with the whole family. This movie was written and directed by Mexican actor and comedian Eugenio Debrez, who also happens to star in the lead role.
The story follows Valentín Bravo, a man who lives life to its fullest, even though that means being a little reckless. However, something from his past reappears after some time to turn his life upside down: a baby!
How can a man with so few parenting skills take care of his infant daughter? You can find that out by watching this film.
4. La Camarista (Drama – Beginner/Intermediate)
This Mexican film is one that's better suited to intermediate Spanish learners.
As its title suggests, this is a story of a young chambermaid from a luxury hotel, a woman who is in charge of room service.
This maid, called Eve, is our gateway to a world of contrasts between the hotel’s personnel and the wealthy guests. You'll get glimpses of the protagonist’s frustrations, challenges and dreams.
5. El Museo (Thriller – Intermediate)
If you liked the Spanish TV show on Netflix, Money Heist, you’ll definitely enjoy this Mexican film.
The events that unfold throughout this movie are actually based on a real-life scenario: the famous 1985 robbery of the National Museum of Anthropology of Mexico.
Two young and inexperienced thieves broke into the institution during Christmas and took 140 archaeological relics with them without leaving a trace.
This was no small feat, and it left the Mexican police baffled for several years. Who can blame them, right?
6. Y Tu Mamá También (Dramatic Comedy – Intermediate)
If you want to dive into Mexican cinema, there’s one name you have to know: Gael García Bernal, the star of this film AND of the last one, El Museo.
This movie tells the tale of two 18-year-old friends (not teens anymore but not quite adults yet) from Ciudad de México who venture into the depths of Mexico during a road trip to an imaginary beach.
However, they won’t be doing this journey alone: the third passenger is a beautiful woman called Luisa (portrait by actress Maribel Verdú), the wife of one of the boy's cousins who is ten years older than them.
On the road, the friends try to seduce her even though the three of them are in relationships with other people. The sexual tension and the jealousy of the two friends will unleash major conflicts that will have you on the edge of your seat.
This film, directed by the legend Alfonso Cuarón, features authentic Mexican slang that will help you acquire a better knowledge of this Spanish variant. To learn more about it in the meantime, check out this post about Spain Spanish vs Mexican Spanish.
7. Amores Perros (Drama – Advanced)
Speaking of Gael García Bernal, he had a major hit with this Mexican film and delivered one of his best and most emotional performances.
This Mexican movie is a must if you are a cinephile or if you already have a good Spanish level but want to put your listening skills to the test.
This film is led by the acclaimed Mexican director and Oscar winner Alejandro González Iñárritu, who helped Leonardo Di Caprio get his first Oscar with The Revenant.
Amores Perros tells three separate life stories that are connected by a tragic event. Gael García Bernal, the main character, is a young man named Octavio who wishes to find a better life, but to do so he has to make money through illegal dog fighting.
8. Biutiful (Drama – Advanced)
This is not a movie for people who like easy-going, relaxing films.
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s fourth production focuses on the story of Uxbal (portrayed by the incredible Spanish actor Javier Bardem), a man with a terminal disease who's trying to take care of his two children during the time he has left.
A key fact about this film is that, even though Iñárritu is from Mexico, the film is set in Barcelona, so it’s a nice way of seeing how a Mexican director interacts with Spain’s culture.
And you'll be able to listen to the Catalan-Spaniard accent, which is great for advanced learners. Not only that, but you'll also delve into complex topics in a foreign language as well.
5 Key Tips To Enjoy Mexican Movies To The Fullest
Before diving head first into the universe of Mexican cinema, here’s some advice to prepare yourself and to take advantage of the films as much as you can.
Don’t Be Afraid Of Subtitles
If you know the basics of Spanish already and want to improve your listening skills, it’s better not to use subtitles when watching foreign films.
However, if you want to really focus on acquiring new vocabulary, Spanish phrases and Spanish grammar, a great way of doing so is to turn on the subtitles but in Spanish, not in English.
You might feel like you're cheating, but you really aren't. In fact, using subtitles will allow you to see each word that’s pronounced on screen and correlate sound and symbol.
Write Down New Vocabulary
Keep a notepad and a pen next to you when you're watching a film at home. That way, you won’t forget any new vocabulary that pops up.
When the credits roll, you can look up the words in a dictionary or online, but you can also pause the film anytime to do so!
Don't stop there though: you should also try to incorporate them into your conversations. If not, all your work while watching will have been for nothing.
Go Back To A Scene As Many Times As You Need
If you're watching at home, not at the cinema, you have the ability to pause, rewind and rewatch every scene you like so you don’t miss any details. That way, you can really grasp the full meaning of the movie.
However, it might be best to do this while watching for a second time, because the first time you watch a film is a great opportunity to just focus on the plot and its twists (if there are any).
Read The Synopsis And Watch The trailer
This is a tip that won’t really be helpful for people who hate spoilers.
If you're afraid you won’t understand the plot of the film because you’ll be focusing way too much on understanding the grammar or taking down notes, you can find out what the movie is about beforehand.
Find out the basics: when and where does the film take place? What’s the relationship between the characters? Is there something about Mexico’s history that you should know to better understand the story? Focus on those key points.
Watch Mexican Movies With Your Spanish-Speaking Buddies!
If you happen to be learning Spanish with other people, whether your classmates or your friends, what better way of enjoying a Mexican film than with a movie night?
Or, if you're lucky enough to have a native Spanish speaker in your family, you can ask them for help!
Even if they aren’t Mexican, they'll still be able to help you out with some general expressions or simply understanding the plot.
Mexican Movies: Ideal For Immersion At Home
So there you have it – the 8 best Mexican movies for Spanish learners who want to pick up Mexican Spanish from home.
There's no need to upend your life and move to Mexico to learn Spanish with all these fantastic films you can watch from the comfort of your couch.
In fact, I'm a huge believer in learning a foreign language from home first, before moving abroad. If you'd like more tips to do this, check out this post on on how to learn Spanish from home.
Otherwise, do you know other great Mexican movies you’d like to recommend? You can go to our YouTube video about Mexican movies by teacher Beatriz and leave us a comment!
