The 7 Best Spainish Movies on Netflix, Prime, and YouTube

 The 7 Best Spainish Movies on Netflix, Prime, and YouTube

Introduction

Spaniards are passionate people, and that passion is reflected in their movies. While some Spanish movies are heavy on the drama, others are lively and full of humor. No matter what your mood, there’s a Spanish movie out there that’s perfect for you.

If you’re looking for the best Spanish movies on Netflix, Prime, and YouTube, look no further! Here are our top 7 picks:

Blancanieves

The Skin I Live In

The Orphanage

Pan’s Labyrinth

Volver

The Devil’s Backbone

The Sea Inside

1. "Blancanieves"

Based loosely on the classic Grimm fairy tale, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, “Blancanieves” is a Spanish romantic drama from director Pablo Berger. This visually stunning film contrasts the harshness of fairy tale life in rural Spain with the warmth of family and love. The film follows Carmen, a young girl sent to work on her father’s pig farm before eventually finding her destiny in the world of bullfighting. Carmen is portrayed by a budding young actress named Macarena García, who gives a powerful and heartfelt performance as the young girl forced to find her place in a world of beauty, cruelty and longing. With stunning visuals, strong performances and a creative twist on a classic story, “Blancanieves” is a must-watch for fans of Spanish cinema.

2. "The Skin I Live In"

This 2011 film from acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodovar tells the story of Dr. Robert Ledgard, a brilliant but emotionally distant surgeon who holds his patient, Vera, captive in his house. Ledgard’s obsession is to reinvent synthetic skin, making it indestructible and impermeable – and as he works to perfect his invention, Vera’s emotions and identity only deepen the mystery. Like many of Almodovar’s films, “The Skin I Live In” is an intense and provocative work which questions the morality of allowing obsession to drive scientific progress. It’s a gripping, poignant and beautiful story with a masterful performance by Antonio Banderas as the emotionally-battle-scarred Ledgard.

3. "The Orphanage"

This 2007 Spanish horror film from director J.A. Bayona is one of the scariest films of the 21st century. It follows the story of Lara, a mother who returns to the orphanage where she grew up, determined to turn it into a home for disabled children. But her plans are derailed when her young son, Simon, claims that he can hear ghosts – and soon, the terrifying truth behind the orphanage’s checkered past begins to reveal itself. Bayona’s film is well-crafted, creepy and full of unexpected twists. The performances from the children (particularly from young lead Belén Rueda) are outstanding, and the overall atmosphere of dread is masterfully created. If you’re looking for a haunting Spanish horror film, “The Orphanage” is a must-watch.

4. "Pan’s Labyrinth"

Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 dark fantasy film demonstrates just what genre-defying brilliance Spanish cinema is capable of. “Pan’s Labyrinth” follows the story of Ofelia, a young girl who encounters the mysterious faun Pan and is set various tasks in a magical but dangerous underground realm. But the events of the fantasy realm are paralleled in the film’s modern-day narrative, in which Ofelia’s family is under the control of her stepfather, a sadistic captain in Francisco Franco’s fascist army. Take away the fantasy elements of the story, and “Pan’s Labyrinth” is a bleakly realistic portrait of a fascist dictatorship – but the fantasy elements make it a twisted and unique piece of Spanish cinema. Del Toro’s film won three Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Achievement in Art Direction and Best Achievement in Makeup.

5. "Volver"

This light-hearted 2006 film from director Pedro Almodovar is the perfect Spanish movie for viewers who like their movies with a zesty blend of comedy, drama and tragedy. “Volver” follows the story of Raimunda, a single mother living in Madrid with her teenage daughter, Paula. When Raimunda’s estranged aunt arrives in town shortly before her death, the two women must confront the past and its secrets in order to find closure and come to terms with their future. Actress Penelope Cruz gives a heartbreakingly powerful performance as Raimunda, and the rest of the cast is equally strong. “Volver” is a warm, heartfelt and ultimately uplifting film about family, love and the power of forgiveness.

6. "The Devil’s Backbone"

From acclaimed Spanish director Guillermo del Toro, this 2001 horror-drama is set in a remote orphanage in the midst of the Spanish Civil War. It follows the story of Carlos, a young orphan who finds himself thrown into a nightmare of ghosts, danger and intrigue, while unravelling the secrets behind the orphanage and its mysterious inhabitant – the ghostly Santi. Similar to “Pan’s Labyrinth”, del Toro’s film balances horror and the supernatural with realistic drama, and creates a unique and unsettling atmosphere. It’s a beautifully crafted film with a powerful emotional core, and it’s a must-watch for fans of Spanish cinema.

7. "The Sea Inside"

This 2004 drama from director Alejandro Amenabar has become a classic of Spanish cinema. Set in Galicia, it follows the story of Ramón Sampedro, a disabled man trapped in a body which he has no control over and which he wants to voluntarily end his life. Sampedro’s journey becomes an insights into the power of humanity, and a profound exploration of the right to choose. The performances in “The Sea Inside” are simply stunning, particularly from Javier Bardem as Sampedro. Amenabar’s film won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but even if it hadn’t, it would still be an essential piece of Spanish cinema.

Conclusion

: Spain has a long and proud history of filmmaking, and the movies we’ve highlighted here are just a few of the many excellent Spanish films available to