Watching Spanish language movies and TV shows on Netflix is one of the best ways to learn the language — and a little about the culture. Sure, you could just turn the subtitles on and watch your favorite English-language movies and TV shows, but it’s just not the same as watching ones that allow the language to shine.
Comedy Spanish Language Specials on Netflix
Netflix has been cashing in on the comedy stand-up special game (previously dominated by Comedy Central and HBO). These shows are a great way to learn common Spanish phrases. In addition to comedy specials featuring your favorite English-speaking comics, you can also find these Spanish-language comedians’ specials:
- Jani Dueñas
- Malena Pichot
- Alex Fernández
- Many more!
Drama Spanish Language Movies on Netflix
Latin America really knows how to do drama! From Isabel Allende to Guillermo del Toro, many of the world’s most dramatic stories have been told in Spanish. Learn how to use basic Spanish phrases, how to say hello in other languages, and more.
The Son
This psychological thriller feels a little like “Rosemary’s Baby” without the whole devil part. And it features the husband as the terrified/paranoid parent — not the mother.
After Lorenzo has a baby, he starts thinking that his wife is trying to keep the baby from him. It’s hard to tell who the bad guy is in this creepy movie. Plug phrases you into to translation apps to answer that burning age-old question: is Google Translate accurate?
Roma
If you haven’t heard of “Roma,” we can only guess that you don’t own a TV. Or, a Netflix account.
The surprise break-out film of 2018 takes place in the Colonia of Roma in Mexico City. It’s a somewhat fictionalized account of the events that took place over one summer in the 1970s in the director’s household. In addition to appreciating the beautiful cinematography, you’ll also learn a little about the history of Mexico in this film.
Comedy Spanish Language Movies
Laughter truly is the best medicine — and the best way to learn a foreign language.
Soltera Codiciada (How to Get Over a Breakup)
In “Soltera Codiciada,” a young marketing professional is dumped by her long-distance boyfriend. To get over the breakup, she starts a blog. She also gets by with a little help from her friends. This adorable comedy is the remedy for just about any bad breakup — or bad day, really.
Toc Toc
What happens when a therapist’s flight is delayed, and his patients need to sit with each other in a room unsupervised? This dark comedy highlights the quirks of a group of people and twists them back around on themselves.
In Family I Trust
Latin America knows how to do heartbreak. In this dark comedy, a woman discovers her fiancé is cheating on her with a local celebrity. She heads home to deal with heartbreak and loss — and just might end up falling in love with a local hottie.
Kids Spanish Language Movies
Why not encourage your kids to learn Spanish alongside the adults? Kids are great at picking up new words and phrases. In fact, the sooner you can get your kids learning a new language, the better.
The good news about kids’ cartoons is that you can change the audio on them to Spanish and you probably won’t even notice the mouths aren’t moving along with the characters. Yet, these three cartoons take place in Latin American countries, so it’s like they were practically made to watch in Spanish.
Coco
The breakout Disney movie of 2017 was “Coco!” While most Americans watched it in English, there is a Spanish-language version. Since the movie takes place in Vera Cruz, Mexico, we recommend watching it in the language that is spoken in that region of Mexico — Spanish.
Las Leyendas
If you just hit ‘play’ after searching for “Las Leyendas,” you’ll end up watching this kids’ cartoon show in English. Yet, it’s a famous Mexican TV show, so we recommend switching to Spanish to learn all about a teenage boy named Leo San Juan, who can communicate with spirits.
Ferdinand
“Ferdinand” isn’t as famous as “Coco,” but it’s definitely got the same amount of heart. The titular character is a bull who wants out of his life of fighting bullfighters. He escapes to another ranch in rural Spain — but inevitably must face a fighter eventually.
Best Spanish Language TV Shows on Netflix
These days, it’s hard to tell the difference between TV and movies. Most TV shows are just 10-hour movies. If you want to become immersed in Spanish-language TV shows, we recommend these four.
- “La Casa de Flores,” a drama about family secrets
- “Made in Mexico,” a reality TV show about Mexico city’s wealthy residents
- “High Seas,” a film-noir-style crime story that takes place on an ocean liner
- “Narcos,” the famous fictionalized account of Pablo Escobar, a Columbian drug lord
