Jaci SAnother one of the best ways to full capture the Spanish language is to watch Spanish movies. Now, if you’re just starting out and learning, it will be helpful to put the subtitles on. When you watch Spanish films with subtitles it will reinforce your learning visually as well as help you practice your listening skills.
Netflix has a wonderful selection of Spanish movies that will allow you to identify the different sounds of the letters in the words and the words in the sentences.
So without further ado, below are the best Spanish movies to learn Spanish, so prepare your popcorn, take some notes and enjoy!
THE 15 BEST SPANISH MOVIES TO LEARN SPANISH
Relatos salvajes (Wild Tales)
Editor’s TOP Pick!
This is an Argentinian movie – a black comedy combined with drama that has been nominated and won several prestigious awards in the cinematographic industry. Damián Szifron has written and directed this incredible movie in collaboration with Agustín and Pedro Almodóvar.
The movie was released in 2014 and it is about six completely unrelated stories that explore the passion and human nature of daily behavior. You will see how some situations can get out of control if we allow ourselves to be influenced by our impulsiveness and revenge.
This film is filled with humor and gives you a taste of the famous Argentine accent and vocabulary, which makes it great to learn Spanish. So, so good!
Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries)
The film is based on the true story of the journey lived by Ernesto “Che” Guevara and Alberto Granado. Both decided to cross the entire South American continent on a motorcycle, on a voyage which changed their lives forever.
This 2004 movie combines beautiful landscapes, masterful performances and real facts of a notorious character of Latin American history.
Directed by the Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, this film shows the audience a part of the vast Latin American culture. They talk in an excellent and fluent Spanish, which is excellent for learners.
Biutiful (Spain)
Biutiful is a 2010 drama film directed, produced and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Javier Bardem. This film was González Iñárritu’s first feature since Babel (2006) and fourth overall, and his first film in his native Spanish language since his debut feature Amores perros (2000).
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards in 2011: Best Foreign Language and Best Actor for Javier Bardem; his nomination was the first entirely Spanish-language performance to be nominated for the award. Bardem also received the Best Actor Award at Cannes for his work on the film.
Carancho
In Argentina over 8,000 people die in traffic accidents every year. Behind each of these tragedies is a flourishing industry founded on insurance payouts and legal loopholes. Sosa is a lawyer who tours the A&E Departments of the public hospitals and the police stations in search of potential clients.
Luján is a young doctor recently arrived from the provinces. Their love story kicks off one night when Luján and Sosa meet in the street. She’s trying to save a man’s life; he wants him on his client portfolio. One of our personal favorites!
Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens)
Nueve reinas is a 2000 Argentine crime drama film written and directed by Fabián Bielinskyand starring Ricardo Darín, Gastón Pauls, Leticia Brédice, Tomás Fonzi and Alejandro Awada.[3]
The story centers on two con artists who meet and decide to cooperate in a major scam. The film was nominated for 28 awards and won 21 of them, and is now considered a classic in Argentine film history.
Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate)
This story is based on the book of the same name, written by Laura Esquivel, and which has broken best-seller records since its release. This movie will give you an insight of the cultural richness and traditions that embodies Mexico.
With easy-to-understand Spanish language, this movie is great for those who are just starting out and want to learn Spanish. Directed and produced by Alfonso Arau, this story takes you through conflicts such as life, death, love, family and tradition. While it’s narrated in the style of Mexican magical realism, is a cult film for Mexicans and Spanish learners.
El carro (The Car)
Filled with tons of humor and Colombian slang, this movie from 2003 is about family and how to resolve conflicts due to external factors. These conflict evolve into a source of adventures and wild new experiences.
In this film, directed by Luis Orjuela, you can see how every character evolves through the story and leaves a lesson for you. Even when sometimes you might miss some details of the movie because the vocabulary, it totally will be worth watching.
Amores perros (Love’s a Bitch)
This Mexican film of 2009 was the first in the repertoire of Alejandro González Iñárritu. The movie combines elements of drama and violence with mature adult content. Ear muffs for the younger ones!
The film narrates three different stories of human beings who are capable of sacrifices and terrible acts for the ones who they love, while also telling us about real problems of poverty in Latin American society with the characteristic Mexican accent.
Ocho apellidos vascos (Spanish Affair)
The “Ocho apellidos vascos” film was directed by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro and released in 2014, belonging to the romance comedy genre. It is considered as one of the best Spanish movies to learn Spanish.
Some Spanish traditions about family and marriage are exposed in this movie, with a notable Spanish accent. At the same time and with a touch of humor, this story teaches about prejudice, stereotypes and xenophobia. Also, it makes us reflect and laugh at these factors that can separate families and prevent love stories. You can’t miss it!
El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes)
This film is a classic! This is a dramatic film directed by Juan José Campanella with a great deal of suspense. The movie has phenomenal flow and captivates the audience with a rollercoaster of emotions.
Based on the story “The Question of Their Eyes” by the author Eduardo Sacheri, this film was released in 2009. It is about a crime story, full of mystery and a persecution that leaves no one untouched. You will totally enjoy this masterpiece which uses the peculiar Argentine accent, while you are improving your Spanish skills.
También la lluvia (Even the Rain)
In this film directed by Icíar Bollaín, you will be able to listen to different accents of Spanish, such as Bolivian and Mexican, while learning some important things about Latin American history.
Released in 2010, this movie promises to transform your beliefs and make you question what is right or wrong. Besides touching other topics such as civilian rights, abuses and exploitation; this film will test your ears referring to Spanish pronunciation and vocabulary.
Rabia (Rage)
This is a suspense thriller of 2009, in which you can listen to different Spanish accents too. From the hand of the director Sebastián Cordero, this movie talks about relationships, workplace harassment and discrimination in Europe.
Also, this film explores the dreams of Latin American immigrants, the secrets of a disturbed man and how relationships can be transformed because of different elements, including employment relationship.
María, llena eres de gracia (Maria Full of Grace)
A drama that was written and directed by the American filmmaker Joshua Marston. This movie explores human conflicts in an environment of certain realities existent in Latin America: the billionaire business of drug-dealing.
In collaboration with the United States, this film released in 2004 explores innocence and ambition, while making you wonder about facing consequences of human acts. It contains Colombian vocabulary, which will help you listen to the pronunciation of plenty of words you might not know.
REC (REC)
“REC” is a Spaniard movie belonging to the terror genre; it is packed full of suspense and will have you on the edge of your seat in each scene.
Furthermore, making use of a lot of simple Spanish words and phrases, this 2007 film directed by Jaime Balagueró y Paco Plaza follows the style of the popular “found footage” technique.
This way, the beginners learning this vast language will have the chance to prove themselves on how much they know, while enjoying an unexpected story.
El hijo de la novia (Son of the Bride)
This film is from 2001 and is part of the work of the director Juan José Campanella. Also, this movie has been nominated for several relevant cinematographic awards and won some of them.
It combines drama and a little of the Argentinian sense of humor, bringing a fresh but realistic proposal which anyone can feel related to.
It will make you think, laugh and even cry in certain moments of the story; all to make you ask yourself what you would do if you were in the same situation. Moreover, you will be improving your Spanish skills while enjoying this great movie.
CONCLUSION
Using Spanish movies for learning is one of the best methods to improve your skills and you will assuredly realize that once you watch these masterpieces.
Spanish movies to learn Spanish offers so much more than entertainment, but it clearly doesn’t hurt to have a little fun while you’re doing it! You’re going to be able to correctly identify the proper pronunciation of every word and power of learning through context to better interpret everything else you come across.
Last but not least, don’t forget that you can learn Spanish from anywhere in the world. Check out how learning online is better than a traditional classroom.
Marc M
