FYI, These Spanish-Language Movies on Netflix Are Worth the Subtitles
Hate to break it to you, but if you've been skipping foreign-language movies on Netflix just because you don't feel like reading subtitles, you've been missing out, my friend. Parasite director Bong Joon-ho said it best during his Oscars acceptance speech for Best Picture: "Once you overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films." But before we go on a rant about how great Korean-made movies are, let's focus our attention on another amazing foreign film genre: Spanish movies. There are sooo many incredible options to watch, most of which you can easily stream.
While you've probs heard of the (many) popular Spanish TV shows on Netflix (Money Heist! Cable Girls! Élite!), it's time to turn your attention to the best Spanish movies on Netflix. Whether you're into trippy sci-fi flicks, cheesy rom-coms, or heartbreaking dramas, the wide selection of Spanish-language films on Netflix has something for legit everyone. So, if you're ready to overcome your fear of subtitles, we've got all the best movies from Spain to South America that are available to stream right now. BTW, it's a great distraction as you're waiting for the final season of Élite to drop.
Society of the Snow (2024)
Inspired by a true story, this Oscar-nominated film takes place in 1972 when a rugby team on a Uruguayan flight finds themselves fighting for survival when their plane crashes in a remote area of the Andes—one of the world's toughest environments.
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Through My Window (2022)
In the first installment of this must-watch Spanish romantic trilogy, Raquel is head over heels for her neighbor Ares, who she secretly watches through the window. She is determined to win his affection, but his family is not exactly on board. FYI, this one is also available to watch in English on Netflix.
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Veronica (2017)
During a solar eclipse, a teen girl tries to summon the spirit of her father on an Ouija board with her friends. But during their seance, the girl loses consciousness, and it becomes clear that they didn't summon a father but evil demons.
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Nowhere (2023)
After fleeing her country, a pregnant woman must fight to survive when a violent storm knocks the shipping container she's been hiding in overboard. Trapped in the confined space, she is forced to give birth and save her baby.
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The Chalk Line (2022)
After a couple discovers a traumatized child on her own, the two are determined to decipher the girl's strange behaviors to discover her true identity and dark past.
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The Paramedic (2020)
After surviving a horrific accident, a man's life begins to unravel as he faces a new reality in a wheelchair. He soon develops a deadly obsession with the woman who broke up with him and creates a sinister revenge plot.
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The Vault (2021)
When an engineer learns about a mysterious fortress hidden under the Bank of Spain, he gathers a crew of master thieves with the intention to steal a legendary lost treasure while the country is distracted by the World Cup. With fans cheering in the streets and guards down, they have a very small window to score the treasure of a lifetime.
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The Occupant (2020)
When a once successful executive loses his job, he's forced to leave the lavish home that his family can no longer afford, but begins stalking the new tenants with motives that soon turn sinister.
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Roma (2018)
Chances are you've heard of this Oscar-winner already—and if you haven't seen it yet, there's no time like the present. Set in the early 1970s in Mexico City, Roma is a semibiographical take on the life of director Alfonso Cuarón, following a formative year in the life of a middle-class family and their live-in housekeeper.
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The Platform (2020)
This terrifying sci-fi flick from Spain revolves around a tower-style prison, where the inmates are fed according to their rank in the tower. That is, until one man decides to take matters into his own hands and make sure all the prisoners get their fair share, no matter their floor level.
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The Photographer of Mauthausen (2018)
It may not be light and fluffy, but this biographical drama is def worth the watch. The Photographer of Mauthausen tells the story of Spanish photographer Francisco Boix, who was exiled from France in 1939 and brought to the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp complex, where his photographs later played a pivotal role in the conviction of Nazi war criminals.
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Elisa and Marcela (2019)
Not all critics got behind this biographical romance, but there's no denying that it's a steamy watch. Elisa and Marcela recounts the real-life story of Elisa Sánchez Loriga and Marcela Gracia Ibeas, two women who tied the knot in 1901 in the first same-sex marriage recorded in Spain—though they were only able to pull it off by having Elisa adopt a male identity.
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Mirage (2018)
In this trippy sci-fi thriller from Spain, a happily married mother named Vera learns there's a possibility of saving the life of a boy who lived in her home 25 years earlier. What she doesn't realize: This good deed will provoke a chain reaction, causing Vera to wake up in a new reality where her daughter was never born and her husband doesn't know who she is.
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A Twelve-Year Night (2018)
Again, this one definitely isn't a light watch, but it's so, so good. A Twelve-Year Night takes place in 1970s Uruguay, telling the story of three imprisoned members of the left-wing urban guerrilla group known as the Tupamaro (including Pepe Mujica, the future president of Uruguay) who are taken from their jail cells in a secret military operation and put into solitary confinement...for 12 whole years.
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Below Zero (2021)
There's a reason why Below Zero shot to number one on Netflix after making its debut in early 2021: It's really damn good. In this thriller, a police officer is put into quite a predicament after his prisoner transfer van is attacked, and he's forced to fight for his life...while also defending himself from the dangerously cold temps outside.
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Sounds Like Love (2021)
Based on Elísabet Benavent's novel series, this rom-com revolves around Maca, a young woman who must turn to her friends for support when the ex who broke her heart suddenly shows up back in Madrid. It's romantic, it's relatable, and it's the perfect escape if you're in need of a fun watch.
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Eye for an Eye (2019)
In this chilling drama, a charming nurse and expectant father named Mario finds himself caring for a well-known narco, whose illness is making him totally dependent on Mario (and totally dependent on his children to control the cartel). What that cartel boss doesn't realize: He previously wronged his new nurse, and now Mario is ready for revenge.
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The Endless Trench (2020)
Based on a true story, this historical drama takes place during the Spanish Civil War, telling the tale of newlyweds who spend 33 years hidden away in their home to avoid possible retaliation. Admittedly, it doesn't sound too thrilling, but it's a seriously compelling watch, promise.
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Who Would You Take to a Deserted Island? (2019)
In this sweet dramedy, four friends (including María Pedraza and Jaime Lorente from Élite) celebrate their last night together in the Madrid apartment they've shared for years. Unfortunately, the fun night takes an unexpected turn when a MAJOR secret is revealed, which could change their relationships forever.
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