The 10 Top Spanish Movies on Netflix from Spain

The same as watching Spanish series, watching movies is another good and easy way to learn and practice Spanish. For this reason, I made this post about the top Spanish movies from Spain that are currently available on Netflix.

When watching a movie, you especially practice your listening and pronunciation skills and learn new vocabulary, expressions, slang, and culture. In addition, you learn and practice the language in a more fun way compared to attending classes or using textbooks.

I would recommend turning the subtitles on if you are a beginner. However, once you get to a certain level of Spanish, turn them off. Try to understand the plot and scenes through the context, images and the few words or sentences you can comprehend.

Below, you will find the 10 top Spanish movies on Netflix to learn and practice Castilian Spanish.

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The 10 Top Spanish Movies on Netflix from Spain

PAN’S LABYRINTH

What you need to know

Pan’s Labyrinth (El laberinto del fauno) is a drama fantasy war movie from 2006. It was nominated for and won several awards, including seven Goya awards and three Oscar awards.

Fun fact: The English subtitles were translated by the director of the movie, Guillermo del Toro, because he didn’t like the subtitles of his previous Spanish movie.

Plot

The movie takes place in Spain in 1944 during the Francoist dictatorship, and tells the story of a sadistic army officer’s stepdaughter who escapes to a magical and fantasy world.

What you will learn

You will pick up some war and fantasy vocabulary.

Also, you will see a piece of Spanish history: the dictatorship years.

THE INVISIBLE GUEST

What you need to know

The Invisible Guest (Contratiempo) is a crime mystery thriller movie that first aired in 2017. It became the most watched Spanish movie in China and the largest ticket selling Spanish movie abroad in 2017.

Personally, my favorite movie in this top Spanish movies list.

Plot

A successful businessman, who wakes up in a room of a hotel, is accused of murder. With the aid of the best defense attorney, he has less than three hours to come up with a good defense.

What you will learn

Beside learning general vocabulary, you will pick up some police and crime vocabulary.

In addition, the movie mainly takes place in Barcelona and the Catalan Pyrenees. Therefore, be ready to enjoy the beautiful views of Barcelona and a part of the Catalan Pyrenees, Vall de Nuria.

EVEN THE RAIN

What you need to know

Even the Rain (También la lluvia) is a 2010 drama movie. It was nominated for and won several awards, including three Goya awards. In addition, it was chosen as Spain’s foreign-language Oscar entry.

Plot

The movie follows a filmmaker and his crew who go to Bolivia to film a historical movie about the arrival of Columbus and the Spaniards to the New World. During the shooting they will get involved in controversy when protests start due to the privatization of the water supply. As the riots escalate, they face the tension that rises among each other.

What you will learn

Beside practicing Castilian Spanish, you will get familiar with Spanish from Bolivia, Mexico and Argentina. Also, you will hear other languages, such as Quechua and English.

In addition, you will learn about a piece of Spanish history: Spanish colonization.

100 METERS

What you need to know

100 Meters (100 metros) is a 2016 comedy and drama movie based on a true story. The movie and its actors were nominated for and received various awards, including a nomination for the Goya awards.

Plot

The movie is based on a Spanish man who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and decides to participate in an Iron-man. Also, it follows the relationship between him and his father-in-law.

What you will learn

First, you will learn some colloquial Spanish and a few cuss words. In addition, you will also pick up some medical and sport words. Finally, you will hear how the Basque accent sounds thanks to the character who plays the father-in-law.

Additionally, the movie takes place in Barcelona, so you will get a little familiar with the Catalan city and its surroundings.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF MAUTHAUSEN

What you need to know

The photographer of Mauthausen (El fotógrafo de Mauthausen) is a 2018 drama historical movie based on real events. It was nominated for and won several awards, including four nominations for the Goya awards

Plot

The movie takes place in Austria at the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp complex. It tells the story of a prisoner of the camp (Francisco Boix, a Spaniard), who wants to save the evidence of the atrocities committed there.

What you will learn

Mostly, you will practice your Spanish while learning about a piece of Spanish history. The Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp complex was the camp complex that held the most Spaniards during World war II. Most of these people were sent here after they were detained in France when fleeing from Spain after the Civil War.

MIRAGE

What you need to know

Mirage (Durante la tormenta) is a 2018 science fiction thriller. It became seventh biggest box-office draw in the world during its premiere weekend in China.

Plot

A time warp interference between the past and the present, which was produced during a storm, causes the main character to save a child who lived in her house 25 years ago. But this act produces changes which gives rise to a new reality.

What you will learn

You will pick up general vocabulary.

In addition, part of the movie takes place in the eighties. Therefore, you will learn about how the customs and lifestyle were at this time in Spain.

THE ENDLESS TRENCH

What you need to know

The endless trench (La trinchera infinita) is a historical drama from 2019. It was nominated for and won several awards, including two Goyas.

Plot

The movie is set during Franco´s dictatorship in Spain. A man, who is a Republican, hides in his house from the regime for 30 years with the help of his wife.

What you will learn

You will learn some war vocabulary and you will hear the Andalusian accent, since the movie takes place in the South of Spain.

Additionally, you will learn a part of Spanish history: the dictatorship years.

SEVENTEEN

What you need to know

Seventeen (Diecisiete) is a Spanish comedy-drama from 2019. It won one award for best movie at Toulouse Cinespaña. Also, it was nominated for a few awards, including one Goya nomination for best new actor (Nacho Sánchez who plays Ismael in the movie).

Plot

The movie follows a 17 year old boy who is imprisoned at a juvenile center. As part of the rehabilitation program, he helps train dogs. He will form an unbreakable bond with one dog under his care. However, the dog stops showing up and he will start an unexpected journey along with his brother and grandmother to find it.

What you will learn

Besides learning general vocabulary, you will also learn some slang and even a fake word: “tarapara”. This is the only word the grandmother says. This is not a real word. It seems the director has the habit of using invented words for his movies.

Additionally, the movie takes place in Cantabria, so you will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of this area.

LIVE TWICE, LOVE ONCE

What you need to know

Live twice, love once (Vivir dos veces) is a 2019 Spanish comedy. It was nominated for and won a few awards, such as six Premios del Audiovisual Valenciano awards.

Plot

After a retired professor is diagnosed with Alzheirmer’s, he decides to find the love of his life from his childhood with his family´s help.

What you will learn

You will learn general vocabulary and you will easily practice your listening skills, since everybody speaks clearly and slowly.

In addition, the movie mostly takes place in Valencia. Thus, you will be able to “visit” the third biggest city in Spain from the couch of your home.

EYE FOR EYE

What you need to know

Eye for Eye (Quien a hierro mata) is a 2019 drama thriller movie. The movie and its actors were nominated for and received various awards, including three nominations and won an award for the Goyas.

Plot

The movie is based on a drug dealer and a man who works as a nurse at a nursing home. One is looking for a place to spend his last days of his life, but the other is looking for revenge.

What you will learn

Beside practicing Castilian Spanish, you will also get familiar with a couple different accents.

The movie takes place in Galicia and some of the characters, such as the drug dealers, have Galician accents. Consequently, you will get familiar with how this accent sounds, and you may even learn a couple words in Galician too.

Also, you will also hear some Colombian accents, such as from one of the characters who plays a nurse at the nursing home. Additionally, you will also be able to enjoy some of the landscapes of this area.

Final Thoughts

I hope I have made it easier for you to learn and practice Castilian Spanish with this list of the top Spanish movies.

A great activity I suggest after watching a movie, is to discuss the plot and details with someone else. By doing so, you can comprehend better the story and work with the vocabulary and expressions you have heard.

Along with other activities, this is one that we usually use during our online Spanish conversation classes.

Have you watched any of these movies? Which one did you like the most?

Let us know other movies you consider as top Spanish movies at the comment section below.

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