National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, is a time to recognize the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States.
Movies offer plenty of ways to join the celebration. From stories rooted in Latin America to films exploring Latino experiences in the United States, these movies span generations, genres and cultures — and make a great Hispanic Heritage Month watch list.
Here are 10 Latino movies to add to the queue.
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Movies based on real people and stories
Frida (2002)
Salma Hayek stars as iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in this visually striking biographical drama.
Frida traces Kahlo’s life, art, complicated relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera and refusal to conform to the expectations placed upon her. The result is a portrait of one of Mexico’s most recognizable artists and the experiences that helped shape her singular body of work.
Selena (1997)
Jennifer Lopez stars as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in the biographical drama that helped introduce the Queen of Tejano Music to an even wider audience.
The film follows Selena from her early performances with her family through her rise to stardom, capturing her talent, charisma and close relationship with her family along the way. Decades after its release, Selena remains an essential celebration of a Mexican American music icon whose influence continues to be felt.
Action
‘Blue Beetle’ (2023)
Superhero movies get a Latino family twist in Blue Beetle, starring Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes.
After an alien artifact known as the Scarab chooses Jaime as its host, he suddenly finds himself equipped with an incredibly powerful suit of armor. But this isn’t a lone-hero story: Jaime’s Mexican American family is central to the action, bringing plenty of heart and humor to all the superhero spectacle.
El Mariachi (1992)
Long before Robert Rodriguez was making Hollywood blockbusters, he made El Mariachi on a famously tiny budget — and launched his filmmaking career in the process.
The Spanish-language action movie follows a traveling musician who arrives in a Mexican town and is mistaken for a ruthless criminal carrying a similar guitar case. What follows is a fast-moving mix of mistaken identity, shootouts and inventive low-budget filmmaking that helped put Rodriguez on the map.
Coming-of-age movies
Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Before America Ferrera became a household name, she starred as Ana García, a Mexican American teenager growing up in East Los Angeles and trying to decide what comes next.
Caught between her family’s expectations and her ambitions for college, Ana begins finding confidence in her body, her abilities and her own voice. Funny, warm and refreshingly candid, Real Women Have Curves remains a standout coming-of-age story.
‘Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe’ (2023)
Set in El Paso, Texas, in 1987, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe follows Mexican American teenagers Aristotle Mendoza and Dante Quintana as an unexpected friendship changes both of their lives.
Adapted from Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s acclaimed novel, the coming-of-age drama explores friendship, family, identity and the sometimes complicated process of figuring out who you are.
Animated movies
Coco (2017)
Few movies put family, music and Mexican culture together quite like Coco. Miguel dreams of becoming a musician despite his family’s generations-old ban on music, setting off a journey through the Land of the Dead that reveals some long-held family secrets.
Inspired by Día de los Muertos traditions, the Pixar favorite is as much about remembering where you came from as it is about finding your own path. Just try getting through “Remember Me” with dry eyes.
Encanto (2021)
Welcome to the magical home of the Madrigal family in Colombia, where nearly everyone has been blessed with an extraordinary gift. Everyone, that is, except Mirabel.
When the family’s magic begins to fade, Mirabel sets out to discover why and finds that being the one without a magical power may be exactly what her family needs. With Colombian influences woven throughout its setting, characters and music, Encanto is a colorful celebration of family, identity and belonging.
The Book of Life (2014)
Before Coco took audiences to the Land of the Dead, The Book of Life offered its own colorful, imaginative journey inspired by Mexican culture and folklore.
Manolo is caught between the expectations of his family, his love of music and his feelings for his childhood friend María. His adventure takes him through fantastical worlds as he learns that honoring tradition doesn’t necessarily mean letting someone else write your story.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with DIRECTV
Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to discover new stories and revisit favorites that celebrate Hispanic and Latino cultures, communities and experiences.
And the celebration doesn’t have to stop when the credits roll. DIRECTV offers Spanish-language channels and programming across entertainment, sports, news and more.
Check out all the Spanish-language programming DIRECTV has to offer!
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