If speaking or learning the Spanish language has been a mighty problem for you then watching Spanish movies can be one of the best ways to start and are quite effective in refining your Spanish language skills.
Have you ever wanted to improve your Spanish? There is nothing better than immersing yourself in a language and the culture of the speakers. Watching movies in Spanish is one such way of doing so. Here, we will look at some of our favorite movies for learning Spanish!
The language learning process is undoubtedly a tiring one but once you get a hang of it, things become easier and you begin to love the language and the whole process beyond it. But, before you move on to binge-watch movies, you must have fine listening skills that will further help you learn in a more beneficial way.
If you are not sure where to begin, here is a list of movies to learn Spanish.
Best Movies To Learn Spanish
1) Coco (2017)
This Disney/Pixar animated film is a must-see for anyone interested in immersing themselves in the beautiful language, music, and culture of Mexico. This story about a boy who wants to be a musician explores cultural themes in addition to the value of family. There are many Spanish songs, opportunities to learn common phrases and vocabulary, and some great cultural analyses.
2) The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
The Motorcycle Diaries is an adventure film based on Ernesto Guevera’s journals about his trip around South America with his friend Alberto Granado. The two set out on a motorcycle in search of new experiences and the film follows them throughout their journey.
We love this movie because we can learn about other Latin American countries in addition to Argentina, Chile, and Peru through both the actors’ and characters’ native accents and by studying Guevara’s journals in Spanish. There are also many opportunities to learn common phrases and vocabulary.
3) Casablanca (1943)
This classic film is one of our all-time favorites! Not only is the story incredibly captivating, but there are tons of Spanish expressions used throughout the dialogue. We recommend this for intermediate or advanced learners because it dives into some complicated phraseology.
4) Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Pan’s Labyrinth is a dark and fantastical story that takes place during the Spanish Civil War. There are many opportunities to learn not only typical storytelling expressions but also some difficult phrases as well. This film makes for a great introduction to advanced language material because it dives into literary elements of language such as metaphors, symbolism, and allegory.
Story of Ramón Sampedro, a man who fought to die with dignity after an accident left him paralyzed, and whose quest was ultimately victorious in 2010. We recommend this for advanced learners because there are deeper themes at play in the dialogue that require a good understanding of the language.
5) Amelie (2001)
This French film tells the story of a young girl who wants to bring happiness into other people’s lives through small acts of kindness. We love it because once again there are many Spanish expressions used throughout the dialogue that helps us to improve our listening comprehension. This is a great choice for intermediate learners who have a good base of vocabulary and grammar.
6) Mar Adentro (2004)
This film tells the true story of a man fighting for the right to die with dignity as he battles an illness that leaves him unable to breathe on his own. We love us learn common phrases and vocabulary. Plus it because it dives into some deep philosophical ideas and there are many opportunities to practice professional vocabulary in a medical context. We recommend this for advanced learners who have a good base in the language and want to push themselves to a higher level.
7) The Hunt (2013)
The Hunt is a Danish film that tells the story of a small-town teacher whose life is turned upside down after being accused of sexual abuse. The film explores the difficulty of proving innocence and the impact false accusations have on communities.
The subtitles are in English, but there are many opportunities to learn common phrases and vocabulary throughout the dialogue. This film also represents a challenge for advanced learners who want to push themselves to a higher level.
8) Bajo Belgrano (2012)
This Argentinian comedy tells the story of a young man who has to return to his hometown after being exiled from the big city and features many situations that we can learn from and relate to in our own lives. This movie is packed with interesting idiomatic expressions and there are many opportunities to learn common phrases and vocabulary.
9) El laberinto del fauno (2006)
This Spanish movie is a dark fantasy that tells the story of a young girl who rescues a fairy from being captured by the army. We love this film because it provides full native dialogue and much of it focuses on storytelling so there are many opportunities to learn common phrases and vocabulary. This film makes for a great introduction to an advanced language level and we recommend it for advanced learners who want to be challenged.
11) Mar Adentro (2004)
This film tells the true story of a man fighting for the right to die with dignity as he battles an illness that leaves him unable to breathe on his own. We love this movie because it provides full native dialogue and much of it focuses on storytelling so there are many opportunities to learn common phrases and vocabulary. This film makes for a great introduction to an advanced language level and we recommend it for advanced learners who want to be challenged.
12) Guillermo Del Toro Collection (Tales of Arcadia)
This collection includes three movies by director Guillermo Del Toro and is based on the series \”Tales of Arcadia.\” The three movies in this collection are El Orfanato, Cronos, and Hombre Lobo. We recommend these for a beginner level because there is a lot of dialogue and the vocabulary can be difficult to understand. The stories are engaging, however, so we still recommend them for beginners who want to push themselves.
13) Diarios De Motocicleta (2004)
This film tells the story of two friends who decide to travel South America on motorcycles in spite of not having much experience. We recommend this for advanced learners because it provides an insight into Argentinian culture. There are several opportunities to learn common phrases and vocabulary, but you will mostly find yourself immersed in native dialogue throughout the movie which makes this a fantastic learning opportunity.
14) Pedro Almodo’var Collection (Labyrinth of Passion)
This collection includes four movies written and directed by Pedro Almodovar and is based on the \”Labyrinth of Passion\” series. The four movies in this collection are Laberinto de pasiones (1982), Matador (1986), Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988), and Hable con ella (2002). We recommend these for a beginner level because there is a lot of dialogue and the vocabulary can be difficult to understand. The stories are engaging, however, so we still recommend them for beginners who want to push themselves.
15) Penelope Cruz Collection
This collection includes four movies featuring Spanish actress Penelope Cruz and is based on the \”Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown\” series. The four movies in this collection are Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988), La ley del deseo (1987), Vanilla sky (2002), and Volver (2006). We recommend these for a beginner level because there is a lot of dialogue and the vocabulary can be difficult to understand. The stories are engaging, however, so we still recommend them for beginners who want to push themselves.
16) Che Guevara Biography Collection
This collection includes three movies that tell the story of the world’s most iconic revolutionary, Ernesto \”Che\” Guevara. We recommend these for a beginner level because there is a lot of dialogue and the vocabulary can be difficult to understand. The stories are engaging, however, so we still recommend them for beginners who want to push themselves. They are Motorcycle Diaries, Evita Peron (1996), and Che (2008).
17) De La Cosa A La Luna (2004)
This film tells the story of Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon’s expedition to Florida in search of gold. We recommend this for advanced learners because there is a lot of dialogue, although most of it is fairly simple. This film provides an opportunity to learn about historical events and will give you insight into the Spanish language from a historical perspective.
What Movies Genre To Watch?
What movies are you interested in watching? The genres of movies that generally provide more dialogue for learners include dramas, comedies, biopics, and documentaries.
How difficult is the movie to understand/watch? As a general rule of thumb, the less dialogue there is in a movie, the better it is for learning Spanish. For example, science fiction movies are not recommended because there is very little dialogue. On the other hand, comedies often provide more opportunities to practice Spanish with natural-sounding phrases and vocabulary.
How old is the movie? Older movies may have more dated language which can make it difficult to understand what’s being said. For example, slang words or an older word for an object might be used, but you may not understand what the word means. Modern movies are usually recommended because they provide language that is spoken more often today.
Can I Learn Spanish By Watching Movies?
Most definitely! Watching movies is a great way to learn Spanish and can be used as a supplement to your learning. The added context that you get from the movie adds depth to the language you will learn, and the idiomatic expressions and storylines make for wonderful learning opportunities. Some movies we recommend for language learners are:
- El laberinto del fauno (2005)
- El Orfanato (2007)
- Diarios de motocicleta (2004)
- Pedro Almodovar Collection (Labyrinth of Passion)
- Penelope Cruz Collection
Can you learn Spanish just from watching Spanish movies?
No, it can’t be done solely but needs to be combined with other methods to learn Spanish. However, movies are a great way to practice your comprehension and watch native speakers in context for correct pronunciation. If you want to take the next step with movie learning tools, FluentU offers both authentic video content and interactive subtitles which can help you learn faster than ever.
Learning Spanish Through Movies
No, watching movies is not a complete method of learning Spanish. You need to combine it with other methods like taking classes or private tutoring. However, watching movies is a great way to practice your comprehension and vocab, as well as to acquire correct pronunciation.
The online world is filled with authentic video content alongside interactive subtitles that can help you learn faster than ever. You can also try our free trial today!
Best Foreign Language Film Winners
The highest honor for a foreign language film is the Academy Award. Here are some of the best winners in this category that have Spanish subtitles available on Netflix!
Amores Perros (2000)
Nocturna (2006)
El secreto de sus ojos (2009)
La vita e bella (1997)
What to watch when you’re learning Spanish?
We’ve given you a few ideas for the best movies to watch in Spanish, but you’ll need to decide what’s right for you. Drama tends to provide more opportunities to practice Spanish with natural-sounding phrases and vocabulary.
Are there any movie recommendations?
Yes! Here are a few of our favorite Spanish language movies that we recommend when learning Spanish:
- El laberinto del fauno (2005)
- Gravity (2013)
- Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
What about comedies? What are some good ones to watch in Spanish? Comedy movies provide more opportunities to practice Spanish with natural-sounding phrases and vocabulary. Here are a few of our favorite comedies in Spanish:
- El Chavo del Ocho (2016)
- La Familia de Toche y Tache (2011)
- Solo con Tu Pareja (1991)
- Pedro Almodovar Collection (Labyrinth of Passion)
For beginner and intermediate language learners, it’s best to watch movies at around 70% of the speed. If you’re watching a movie with Spanish subtitles, set them to that speed as well to help you follow along and practice reading.
How can I watch movies in Spanish?
Here are a few options:
Subtitled
Subtitles underneath or on top of a movie can be helpful for beginner learners to understand what’s being said. However, once you feel confident with the language and you’re ready to learn from a movie, we recommend watching movies in Spanish without subtitles. This will help you get used to hearing words pronounced a certain way so that when it comes time for you to start speaking the words out loud, your pronunciation is more accurate.
Dubbed
Watching a movie dubbed into Spanish is great for practicing your listening and comprehension skills and beginning to pick up some basic vocabulary and phrases but can be somewhat distracting as you’ll need to pay attention to two sources of information.
Movies with Spanish subtitles
This is the most convenient way to practice your Spanish language skills.
Movies in Spanish are great for practicing comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar, but they should only be one part of your learning regimen. To learn even faster, combine watching movies in Spanish with taking classes or finding a tutor through iTalki.
What can I do next?
You’ll find FluentU teaches you Spanish through movie trailers, commercials, news, and inspiring talks. This is perfect for getting in some practice before watching the actual movie on Netflix or wherever.
Final Words
Watching movies in Spanish is a great way to practice your comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. There are many options available for how you watch these movies so choose the option that works best for you. You can also combine watching movies with taking classes or finding a tutor through iTalki.