10 Best Mexican Movies That You Should Watching Update 03/2024

Best Mexican Movies

In the meantime, we’re stuck at home, waiting for the next blockbuster film to come out in 2021. Even if Netflix and Amazon Prime have some of the best movies currently available, I think it’s perfectly OK to have a look at international films to see what the rest of the world has to offer. As a result, you’ll learn how to stream some of the best Mexican films, like Roma and Coco, from well-known Mexican filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuarón.

1. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) – Guillermo del Toro

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Pan’s Labyrinth takes place in the summer of 1944, during the early Francoist era, in this famous dark fantasy film. An overgrown labyrinth and enigmatic animals, whom the main character interacts with, are at the heart of the mythical narrative.

I don’t know how much I can say about this film without giving away too much. It wasn’t until this picture came out that Guillermo del Toro truly became a household name in the film industry. With some of the best makeup I’ve ever seen in a movie, the creatures in this film are truly terrifying. It’s a treasure of a film that everyone should see, and the tale is loaded with fantastical moments and stunning photography.

2. Biutiful (2010) – Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Look no farther than Biutiful, which is a Spanish phonetic spelling of lovely, for a psychological thriller. A man with terminal cancer is given only a few months to live, and we follow his journey as he becomes entangled in the world of narcotics, trafficking, and so much more.

The film’s premise gives the impression that it covers a wide range of topics at once. Even more impressive is how well this works in practice. Javier Bardem’s character is on specific medications, which can cause some pretty bizarre and chaotic visuals and experiences if you’re trying to get better at the same time, which is what this film is about. Javier Bardem received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his work in Biutiful.

3. Like Water For Chocolate (1992) – Alfonso Arau

Like Water For Chocolate (1992)

Like Water for Chocolate tells the narrative of a woman named Tita, who lives in the early 1900s and deals with love, her family, and the family tradition in this romantic comedy.

In this film, I mean what I say when I say that you have no idea what is going to happen. Alfonso Arau, the film’s director, did an excellent job. Despite the fact that it initially appears to be a typical romance drama, there are several twists and turns that will have you gasping for air. Your heart is torn apart by its fist, and you are left with no choice but to surrender. If you’re a fan of romantic dramas, you should definitely see this film.

4. Roma (2018) – Alfonso Cuarón

It’s 1970-71 in Mexico City, and Alfonso Cuaron’s Oscar-winning film Roma follows the lives of a middle-class family’s live-in maid in the Roma area.

There’s no joking around when it comes to Roma. You’ll realize right away that this is one of the more dramatic films on this list because of its significant focus on family issues. Both Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira are excellent in the film, which is bolstered by a talented cast. Aside from being nominated for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film, Roma became the first Mexican film to win an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend it.

If you’re a fan of Alfonso Cuaron’s work, don’t miss his road movie Y Tu Mama Tambien. Unlike Roma, it portrays a wonderful story of adolescence.

5. Desierto (2015) – Jonas Cuarón

Desierto (2015)

Desierto is a great thriller if you’re looking for a fantastic read. In this clip, a lone gunman attacks a group of Mexican migrants who are attempting to enter the US border illegally in the desert..

Alfonso Cuaron’s eldest son, Jonas Cuaron, directs this thriller. You’re on the edge of your seat the entire time, wondering who’s out there hunting down these migrants and plotting to put an end to their lives. Gael Garcia Bernal and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are the stars of this picture, and they carry you through to the gruesome conclusion.

6. Amores Perros (2000) – Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu

Isn’t love a pain in the ass?

At least that’s what the title Amores Perros means to Alejandro Gonzalez Innarito. It’s an automobile accident that connects three storylines in Amores Perros, a psychological drama film set in Mexico City. A slum adolescent, a model who injured her leg, and a mysterious hitman all feature canines in their plotlines.

For some reason, I conceive of this picture as a precursor to films like Crash, in which multiple tales revolve around a central event. Then then, it’s a fantastic example of this. Each of the stories is intriguing and has interesting characters, but the true pull is seeing how everything ties into the same event in a beautiful way.

7. Cronos (1993) – Guillermo del Toro

Cronos (1993)

After four hundred years, a mysterious device that was designed to give its owner eternal life suddenly resurfaces, creating problems in its wake. Guillermo del Toro’s first film, Cronos, is an independent horror-drama film written by the director himself and tells the story of the mysterious device’s return.

I wish more people had seen Cronos, which is a fantastic horror film. Because it’s so simple, it’s one of my favorite horror films. Cronos doesn’t have a massive budget and isn’t particularly gruesome, but it manages to straddle the thin line between horror and drama better than most other horror films. Neither is overdone in this film, which results in a well crafted tale that’s chock-full of fascinating backstory and spine-tingling moments. Definitely a ten out of ten.

8. Coco (2018) – Lee Unkrich

As a young kid, Coco lives and loves to play music, but music has been outlawed in the family for centuries because it caused a rift in the family many years ago. But when Miguel takes Hector de la Cruz’ guitar to perform, he is sent into the kingdom of the dead and must combine with old family members to find his way back to the human world.

One of my favorite Latinx films, and one of my favorite movie ever, Coco is without a doubt one of my favorites. Despite the fact that the film was developed by Pixar, the Mexican culture is well-represented, from the color scheme, animation, and music. To top it all off, the plot is one of the best Pixar has to offer and portrays the genuine meaning of family. For those of you who haven’t seen Coco yet, do so immediately.

9. Desperado (1995) – Robert Rodriguez

Desperado (1995)

Desperado, a neo-Western action film, follows the narrative of El Mariachi, a man on a mission to avenge the death of his girlfriend by a drug lord.

When Robert Rodriguez produced his “Mexican trilogy” in the 1990s, this was the one that stood out to me as the most enjoyable. Also notable are Salma Hayek’s first significant breakout roles and Antonio Banderas’ outstanding performance. Along with that, the rest of the cast, including stars like Steven Buscemi and Danny Trejo, is also excellent, and even Quentin Tarantino has a role. You’ll want to watch the combat sequences over and over again because they’re so good. It’s a blast.

10. Sicario (2015) – Denis Villaneuve

Final film on this list, Sicario tells the story of an FBI agent who was hired to track down the Mexican drug cartel’s boss before they inflict further harm.

Sicario is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Stunning cinematography and a compelling story combine to create a film that’s tense and exciting throughout. Emily Blunt, Benecio del Toro, and Josh Brolin star in the Sicario cast, which is likewise star-studded, creating a satisfying thriller.