10 Best Movies to Learn Spanish In 2024

If you are looking for Movies to Learn Spanish, this article is perfect for you. Using movies to learn Spanish can be a fun and effective way to supplement your language-learning journey.

Learning through movies can be a more entertaining and interactive experience compared to traditional methods, keeping you motivated and making the process less tedious.

What are some Spanish TV shows to learn Spanish?

Some of the best Spanish TV shows to learn Spanish include:

1. La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)
2. Narcos
3. Vis a Vis
4. El Ministerio del Tiempo (The Ministry of Time)
5. Las Chicas del Cable (Cable Girls)
6. Gran Hotel (Grand Hotel)
7. El Internado (The Boarding School)

These shows are recommended for Spanish learners at different levels, and watching them can help improve vocabulary, listening skills, and comprehension of the Spanish language.

What are some Spanish TV shows with a focus on Latin American culture?

Some Spanish TV shows with a focus on Latin American culture include:

1. La Casa de las Flores (The House of Flowers): A Mexican series that satirizes the lives of the de la Mora family, addressing social issues and featuring a diverse cast.
2. La Reina del Sur (The Queen of the South): This series, available on Netflix, tells the story of Teresa Mendoza, a woman who becomes the most powerful drug trafficker in southern Spain.
3. The Queen of Flow: A Colombian telenovela that follows the life of a young woman who seeks revenge after being wrongfully imprisoned.

These shows offer insights into Latin American culture and are available for streaming on various platforms.

Where can I watch Spanish movies with English subtitles?

You can watch Spanish movies with English subtitles on various platforms. Here are some options:

1. Rakuten TV: Offers a selection of free-to-watch Spanish films with English subtitles. Requires account creation but offers a one-month free trial1.
2. Netflix: Has a vast library of Spanish movies with subtitle support. It is available in over 190 countries worldwide.
3. RepelisHD and Los Movies: These websites provide free streaming of Spanish movies with English subtitles.
4. Telemundo: Offers Spanish movies and series with full Spanish subtitles, which can be helpful for language learners.
5. Other sources: Platforms like Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Popcorn Time also offer Spanish movies with English subtitles.

When watching these movies, you can enable the English subtitles to aid in language learning and comprehension.

Are there any free streaming services for Spanish movies with English subtitles?

Yes, there are several free streaming services for Spanish movies with English subtitles. Some of the options include Rakuten TV, PelisTV, and Cliver.to, Movidy, and InkaPelis. These platforms offer a variety of Spanish movies with English subtitles, and some also provide the option to switch to Spanish audio with English subtitles. However, it’s important to note that some of these free streaming services may have ads or require users to create an account before accessing the content.

10 Best Movies to Learn Spanish In 2024

Check the list of 10 Best Movies to Learn Spanish In 2024

1. Amores Perros

Amores Perros is a 2000 Mexican drama thriller film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. It is the first installment in González Iñárritu’s “Trilogy of Death” and is an anthology film with three stories connected by a car accident in Mexico City.

Amores Perros can be a rewarding learning experience if you already know the basic concepts of Spanish.

Pros for Learning:

• Authentic Mexican Spanish: Immerse yourself in real-life accents and slang, offering exposure to everyday spoken language.
• Engaging Plot: The fast-paced and emotional narrative can keep you hooked, making learning more active and enjoyable.
• Diverse Characters: Each character represents a different social background, exposing you to various vocabulary and dialects.
• Dialogue-Driven: The movie relies heavily on dialogue, allowing you to practice listening comprehension and pick up common phrases.

2. Pan’s Labyrinth

This story set in Spain in the Summer of 1944, blends real and mythical worlds, focusing on an abandoned labyrinth and a mysterious faun creature, involving the protagonist, Ofelia.

It is a 2006 dark fantasy film set in Fascist Spain following the Spanish Civil War. It tells the story of Ofelia, a young girl who, while escaping the harsh realities of her life, discovers a magical world within an ancient labyrinth. There, she embarks on a quest to become an immortal princess but must navigate dangerous tasks and confront the monstrous realities of both worlds.

Pros For Learning:

• Exposure to spoken Spanish: The film primarily uses Spanish dialogue, immersing you in various accents and speech patterns.
• Engaging story: The captivating narrative can motivate you to learn and understand the dialogue to follow the plot.
• Rich vocabulary: The film utilizes diverse vocabulary, from everyday expressions to mythical and poetic language.
• Slower pace: Compared to Amores Perros, the dialogue tends to be slower and clearer, making it easier for beginners to follow.

3. Talk to Her

Talk to Her is a 2002 Spanish comedy-drama directed by Pedro Almodóvar, featuring Javier Cámara, Darío Grandinetti, Leonor Watling, Geraldine Chaplin, and Rosario Flores. The film explores themes of communication, loneliness, intimacy, and the persistence of love despite loss.

It tells the story of two men, Marco and Benigno, who fall in love with two women in comas – one a bullfighter and the other a ballet dancer.

Pros For Learning:

• Beautiful and engaging story: The film is a complex and moving exploration of love, loss, and human connection. This can make learning Spanish more enjoyable and motivating.
• Slower pace than Amores Perros: The dialogue is generally slower and easier to follow than in Almodóvar’s other films, making it more suitable for beginners.
• Rich vocabulary: The film covers a wide range of topics, from medical terminology to ballet and bullfighting, exposing you to diverse vocabulary.
• Focus on emotional expression: The characters often express their emotions through dialogue, which can help you learn vocabulary related to feelings and relationships.

4. The Secret in Their Eyes

It is a 2009 Argentinian crime drama film that tells the story of a retired legal counselor, Benjamin Esposito, reflecting on an unsolved murder case from his past. As he reminisces and writes a novel, he revisits the case that continues to haunt him, delving into themes of love, loss, justice, and memory.

Pros For Learning:

• Engaging and suspenseful story: The film’s captivating plot can keep you engaged, making learning more active and enjoyable.
• Wide range of vocabulary: The film covers legal terminology, everyday dialogues, and emotional expressions, exposing you to diverse vocabulary.
• Focus on dialogue: The movie relies heavily on dialogue, allowing you to practice listening comprehension and pick up common phrases.
• Multiple voices and accents: Different characters represent various social backgrounds, offering exposure to diverse dialects and speech patterns.

5. The Sea Inside 

The Sea Inside is a 2004 Spanish drama film directed by Alejandro Amenábar, based on the real-life story of Ramón Sampedro, a quadriplegic quadriplegic who campaigned for euthanasia and the right to end his life after a diving accident.

Pros For Learning:

• Authentic Spanish: Experience real-life Galician accents and vocabulary, providing exposure to everyday spoken language.
• Engaging story: The emotional and thought-provoking plot can keep you invested, making learning more active and enjoyable.
• Focus on dialogue: The movie relies heavily on conversations, allowing you to practice listening comprehension and pick up common phrases.
• Variety of characters: Diverse characters showcase different socio-economic backgrounds, exposing you to various dialects and speech patterns.

6. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004

It is a biographical drama film chronicling the transformative 1952 motorcycle journey of a young Ernesto “Che” Guevara across South America.

Story:

• 23-year-old Ernesto, a medical student, embarks on a four-month adventure with his older friend Alberto Granado.
• They travel on a rickety Norton motorbike, traversing Argentina, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia.
• The journey exposes them to the diverse landscapes, cultures, and realities of Latin America, particularly the plight of impoverished communities.
• As Ernesto witnesses hardship and social injustice, his initial carefree attitude evolves into a deeper understanding of social inequalities and a nascent revolutionary spirit.

7. Bad Education (2004)

Bad Education is a 2004 Spanish drama film written and directed by renowned filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. It’s a complex and layered story that weaves together sexual abuse, religious hypocrisy, and the blurred lines between memory and fiction. The authentic Spanish dialogue, rich vocabulary, and emotional performances offer valuable learning opportunities.

8. Broken Embraces

It is a 2009 Spanish film written, produced, and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. It’s a complex and layered story that blends mystery, romance, and cinematic homage, delving into themes of lost love, memory, and the power of storytelling.

Story:

• The film revolves around Harry Caine, a blind screenwriter living in Madrid, who recounts his past as a successful director known as Mateo Blanco.
• Through flashbacks, we unravel the story of Mateo’s tragic love affair with Lena, a beautiful actress, and the events that led to his blindness and career change.
• The narrative interweaves with the present, as Harry navigates his relationships with his assistant Judit and her son Diego, a writer working on adapting Harry’s unproduced screenplay.
• Layers of secrets, betrayals, and hidden intentions unravel, blurring the lines between reality and fiction as Harry and Diego grapple with the lingering shadows of the past.

9. Thesis (1996)

Thesis (Tesis) is a 1996 Spanish horror-thriller film that marks the feature debut of acclaimed director Alejandro Amenábar. It’s a gripping story that delves into themes of violence, voyeurism, and the ethics of film.

Story:

• Ángela, a film student researching audiovisual violence, stumbles upon a snuff tape during her fieldwork.
• The tape, featuring the torture and murder of a young woman, shakes Ángela to the core.
• Believing the victim might be a fellow student, she teams up with Chema, an obsessed fan of violent films, to investigate the source of the tape.
• As they delve deeper, they find themselves entangled in a web of danger and deception, blurring the lines between reality and the violence they seek to understand.

10. Biutiful

Biutiful is a 2010 Spanish-language psychological drama film written, produced, and co-directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, The Revenant). It’s a powerful and complex story that explores themes of mortality, redemption, and family bonds.

tory:

• Uxbal, a terminally ill ex-convict living in Barcelona, works as a low-level criminal to provide for his two young children.
• As he grapples with his impending death, Uxbal tries to settle unfinished business, seeking to connect with his estranged wife Marambra and secure a safe future for his children.
• The film intertwines Uxbal’s struggles with those of other marginalized individuals in the city, exploring themes of immigration, social injustice, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Conclusion

Movies can be a valuable tool in your Spanish learning journey, making the process more enjoyable and enriching. I have shared the 10 movies to learn Spanish.

Tips for Learning with Movies:

• Subtitles are your friend: Use subtitles to follow the dialogue and understand unfamiliar words.
• Pause and rewind: Don’t hesitate to rewind sections you didn’t catch.
• Shadow the dialogue: Repeat lines to practice pronunciation and intonation.
• Look up unfamiliar words: Use a dictionary or online translator for clarification.
• Combine with other resources: Supplement Amores Perros with textbooks, podcasts, or language courses.

Alternative Spanish learning resources:

• If you’re a beginner, consider movies like Y Tu Mama Tambien or Pan’s Labyrinth with slower dialogue and simpler vocabulary.
• For a more lighthearted Almodóvar experience, try Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown or Volver.

Ultimately, the best way to learn Spanish is to find methods you enjoy and that fit your learning pace. Choose resources that resonate with you and make the process engaging and enjoyable.

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