Netflix has done a lot for the tv and movie industry. But the biggest impact it has had is introducing the world to the best Spanish shows and films.
In what probably came as a huge shock to everybody, non-English series make up 50% of the most viewed shows on Netflix in the world.
From Money Heist to Squid Game, we have embraced content that we wouldn't normally see on tv.
As I write this, All Quiet On The Western Front, the German war drama, is currently riding high in the Top 10 most watched films in the UK this week.
And once people realise how good non-English shows and movies are, they start searching them out and watching them in their millions.
So just what are the best Spanish shows and movies on Netflix? We have compiled a list of our 12 favourites crossing genres from crime, drama, comedy, family and romcom. There is definitely something for everyone on this list.
So sit back, relax and enjoy the best Spanish shows and films streaming on Netflix right now.
OUR LIST OF THE BEST SPANISH SHOWS & MOVIES
Bitter Daisies
The Spanish crime thriller series Bitter Daisies is a superbly balanced and tight scripted whodunit. Perfectly paced and well acted, this is a gem of a show and well worth watching.
Despite Everything
Four somewhat estranged sisters reunite after their mother's death. Upon which they are told that they each have different biological fathers and must find them to receive their inheritance. A quirky and sweet Spanish comedy that passes the time nice...[Read More]
Elite
Elite follows three working-class teens enrolled at an exclusive private school in Spain, but the clash between them and the wealthy students leads to murder in this Spanish teen drama.
If I Hadn’t Met You
Eduard suffers a sudden and devastating tragedy. In his grief, he meets a strange woman who offers him a unique opportunity to jump through universes and time to change the past and the future. If I Hadn't Met You is a solid, engaging Spanish show.
Money Heist
Attempting the greatest heist in Spanish history, the Professor and his 8 thieves decide to rob the National Mint in the hugely successful Money Heist.
Ready To Mingle
Ana suddenly finds herself single and getting increasingly desperate joins a class on how to find a husband. Ready To Mingle is a really authentic and relatable Mexican comedy that is as sweet as it is funny. Kudos to Cassandra Ciangherotti who carri...[Read More]
The Innocent
Mateo Vidal is rebuilding his life, but when his wife goes missing and he's implicated in a double murder, he must figure out why his life is being turned upside down in Harlan Coben's The Innocent.
The Girls At The Back
Five friends plan their annual holiday but this year things are different in The Girls at the Back. One of them has been diagnosed with cancer and so begins a once in a lifetime adventure in this Spanish series.
If Only
30-year-old Emma lives an unfilled life until a glitch in time gives her the chance to go back ten years and make completely different decisions in If Only, a Spanish rom-com series.
The Platform
Trapped in a cell with only two minutes to eat each day, the food descends floor by floor in The Platform. A dark and disturbing Spanish thriller/horror that will stay with you long after the movie is over.
Unknown Origins
If serial killers and superheroes are your thing, then Unknown Origins will be right up your street. With bonkers characters, a heady mix of gruesome crime and dark comedy, this Spanish movie ticks a lot of boxes. Just watch it with subtitles and enj...[Read More]
In Family I Trust
When successful architect Bea discovers her fiance has cheated on her she returns home to get over the break-up. A really funny and beautiful movie about how great a family can be when your life gets turned upside down.
Where To Watch Spanish TV Shows?
As you already know, this is an article about the Spanish shows you can watch on Netflix. To be fair, they are the market leaders when it comes to providing a huge amount of tv content from Spain.
Apple TV+ only create their own productions so without the ability to import the best that Spain has to offer, they are lagging behind. Likewise with Disney Plus.
Amazon Instant Video fairs a lot better with a lot of Spanish movies available on Prime, if you have a subscription. So if you love legendary director Pedro Almodovar films, you'll find a decent selection on Amazon.
For now though, the best place to get your fix of drama from Spain is Netflix.
Pedro Almodovar Films
Pedro Almodóvar Caballero is a Spanish film director, screenwriter, producer, and former actor. His films are world famous and marked by melodrama and complex narratives. Family and identity are among Almodóvar's most prevalent subjects in his films.
Almodóvar achieved international recognition for his dark comedy-drama film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
His two films, All About My Mother (1999) and Talk to Her (2002), earned him an Academy Award each for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay, respectively.
He followed this with the drama Volver (2006) and his most recent drama, Parallel Mothers (2021), was nominated for two Academy Awards.
Pedro Almodóvar is one of the most internationally successful Spanish filmmakers, and his films have gained a worldwide cult following. He has won two Academy Awards, five BAFTA's, two Emmys, six European Film Awards, two Golden Globes, nine Goya Awards, and four prizes at the Cannes Film Festival.
Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas are two of his biggest collaborators, with Cruz starring in seven of his films, two of which earned her Academy Award nominations – Volver and Parallel Mothers.
Banderas has appeared in eight Almodovar films and, like Cruz, has also been internationally recognised with an Academy Award nomination for Pain and Glory.
