From fantastic adventures to gorgeous animations, Spanish family movies make for a great movie night.
They’re appropriate for kids but also fun for the parents to watch.
And, they pack a language learning punch!
Whether you’re learning Spanish as a family or just want to watch a wholesome Spanish-language film, these Spanish family movies will hit the spot.
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“Capitán Avispa” (Captain Wasp)
Year: 2024
Genre: Action/Adventure
Length: 1h 28m
Where to watch: Not available for streaming (yet!)
“Capitán Avispa” is a Dominican animated film directed by Jean Guerra and Jonathan Meléndez. In it, Captain Wasp, the hero of Avispatropolis and the Honey Kingdom, faces off against his evil arch-nemesis Jacques Poison and his henchmen.
The movie features music by the renowned Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, who also voices one of the characters. It also boasts a star-studded Latin American voice cast, including Luis Fonsi as the titular character, Joy Huerta (from Jesse & Joy) and Juanes. “Captain Wasp” hits theaters in April 2024.
“Inspector Sun”
Year: 2022
Genre: Mystery
Length: 1h 28m
Where to watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Hulu, YouTube
This period piece mixes anthropomorphic characters with a noir-style 1930s animation. Renowned spider detective Inspector Sun is looking forward to his vacation. However, his relaxation is interrupted when a millionaire passenger on his plane, Dr. Spindlethorp, receives a death threat. Inspector Sun is pulled back into action to solve the case before it’s too late and finds himself once again at odds against his nemesis, the Red Locust.
“Llenos de gracia” (Full of Grace)
Year: 2022
Genre: Comedy/Sport
Length: 1h 49m
Where to watch: Amazon, Roku, Sling TV, YouTube, Vix
The free-spirited nun Sister Marina is sent to El Parral, a troubled boys’ orphanage facing closure in 1994 Spain. Despite initial pranks from the boys, Sister Marina’s warmth and resourcefulness shine through. She helps them form a football team, building a sense of community and purpose. “Llenos de gracia” is a heartwarming comedy that blends humor with touching moments, exploring themes of hope, overcoming adversity and finding family in unexpected places.
Note that this movie has a slightly higher rating (PG-13) than the others in this list, and is more appropriate for older kids and teens.
“El camino de Xico” (Xico’s Journey)
Year: 2020
Genre: Adventure
Length: 1h 26m
Where to watch: Netflix
In this beautifully animated film, a young girl named Copi and her loyal dog Xico team up to save their mountain home. A greedy corporation threatens to destroy the mountain in search of gold, putting their town and the environment at risk. Copi and Xico embark on a daring adventure into the mountain’s heart, encountering fantastical creatures and facing plenty of challenges along the way.
“La leyenda del Charro Negro” (The Legend of Charro Negro)
Year: 2018
Genre: Horror
Length: 1h 25m
Where to watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Pluto, Vix, YouTube
“La leyenda del Charro Negro” is a stylized Mexican animated film that reimagines the classic folktale. It follows Leo San Juan, a brave boy searching for his missing father. On his journey, he encounters the chilling Charro Negro, a ghostly figure known for dark bargains. Charro Negro offers Leo a chance to find his father, but only if he completes three impossible tasks. Thrown into a moral dilemma, Leo must decide if his father’s return is worth risking his soul.
This movie is part of a series of Mexican folkloric legend retellings, which currently has seven movies.
“Coco”
Year: 2017
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Length: 1h 45m
Where to watch: Disney+
Miguel, a 12-year-old boy in Santa Cecilia, Mexico, dreams of becoming a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. However, his family has a generations-old ban on music stemming from a mysterious ancestor. During the vibrant Day of the Dead celebration, Miguel accidentally ends up in the Land of the Dead. There, he seeks his deceased musician great-great-grandfather’s blessing to return home and pursue music. His journey becomes a heartwarming exploration of family traditions and the enduring power of music to connect generations.
Pixar’s “Coco,” though originally made in English, has a special place in the hearts of Spanish speakers. Unlike most Hollywood films dubbed in Spain, the Spanish version of “Coco” uses the Mexican Spanish dialect to honor the film’s cultural setting. This decision was praised for its authenticity, allowing the characters’ emotions and the film’s themes of family and tradition to resonate even more deeply with Mexican and Latino audiences worldwide.
“Un gallo con muchos huevos” (A Rooster with Many Eggs)
Year: 2015
Genre: Comedy
Length: 1h 38m
Where to watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Hulu, YouTube
Known in English as “Huevos: Little Rooster’s Egg-cellent Adventure,” this Mexican animated film stars Willy, a scrawny little rooster with a big dream: to compete in the prestigious National Cockfighting Championship. Despite his limitations and the mockery of others, Willy embarks on a hilarious and heartwarming journey. With the help of his friends, a wise old hen and a fighting spirit that won’t be crushed, Willy trains relentlessly to prove himself and defy the odds.
And if you like this family movie, you’re in luck: This is actually the third movie in a trilogy. Also check out “A Movie with Eggs” (2006) and “Another Movie with Eggs and a Chicken” (2009). Also worth noting that this film has a PG-13 rating and a couple of double-entendre scenes, so it’s best for older kids.
“Zipi y Zape y el club de la canica” (Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang)
Year: 2013
Genre: Adventure/Comedy
Length: 1h 46m
Where to watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
In this live-action Spanish family film, mischievous twins Zip and Zap are sent to a boarding school called Esperanza (Hope) with extremely strict rules. Even games are forbidden! Refusing to give up their playful spirit, Zip and Zap form a secret club, the Club de la Canica (The Marble Gang), where they and their friends can play and have fun. Their adventures take an exciting turn when they discover a mysterious secret hidden within the school walls.
The movie is an adaptation of the long-running “Zipi y Zape” comic strip created by Spanish cartoonist José Escobar. First appearing in the 1940s, the comics continue to be popular with readers of all ages in Spain and Latin America. A sequel titled “Zipi y Zape y la Isla del Capitán” (Zip & Zap and the Captain’s Island) was released in 2016.
“Anina”
Year: 2013
Genre: Adventure/Comedy
Length: 1h 20m
Where to watch: Amazon, Tubi
“Anina” is a beautifully illustrated Uruguayan film that tells the story of a 10-year-old girl named Anina Yatay Salas. Anina dislikes her name because all its parts are palindromes (words that read the same backward and forward), making her a target for teasing, especially from her classmate Yisel.
One day, a playground fight between Anina and Yisel lands them in the principal’s office. Their unusual punishment involves each receiving a sealed envelope they’re forbidden to open for a week. The mystery of the unknown contents adds to the tension between the girls, forcing them to confront each other and their own anxieties. Anina’s quest to understand what’s in the envelope becomes a journey of self-discovery and a chance for her and Yisel to form an unexpected connection.
“Las aventuras de Tadeo Jones” (Tad, the Lost Explorer)
Year: 2012
Genre: Adventure/Comedy
Length: 1h 32m
Watch it on: Amazon, Pluto, Roku, Tubi
Tadeo Jones is a charming 3D-animated film that follows Tad Jones, a bricklayer who dreams of becoming an archaeologist. One day, he’s mistaken for a professor and takes his place on a flight to Peru in search of the Lost City of Paititi. Along the way, Tad must overcome his own clumsiness and the machinations of a villainous rival archaeologist to find the city and save the day.
“Tad, the Lost Explorer” was the highest-grossing Spanish film of all time until it was surpassed by “Ocho apellidos vascos” (“Spanish Affair”) in 2014. The film was praised for its animation, humor and action sequences, and was nominated for a Goya Award for Best Animated Film. There are two more movies in the series, if you can’t get enough of the titular Tad.
“Nocturna”
Year: 2007
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 1h 20m
Where to watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Tubi, YouTube
Tim, a young orphan, discovers a magical rooftop portal leading to Nocturna, a hidden world inhabited by fantastical creatures who control the night. Hairdressers specialize in bedhead, dream writers craft nightly visions and giant cats patrol the darkness. However, Nocturna is in danger. The stars are disappearing, causing restless nights for children, and a mysterious shadow creature threatens to extinguish all light. With the help of the Cat Shepherd, Tim embarks on a quest to overcome his fear of the dark and defeat the shadowy villain, ultimately saving Nocturna and restoring nighttime magic.
These Spanish family movies will make a great addition to your roster for family movie night!
