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Top 10 Mexican Films of All Time

Mexican cinema produced a Golden Age in the 1940s and 1950s, then reinvented itself through the New Mexican Cinema of the 1990s and the global breakthrough of directors like Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro. These ten films form the essential Mexican film canon.

Location: MX202699 viewsMar 12, 2026 Updated Oct 3, 2026

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#1
Roma (2018)
It secured Oscars for Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film, plus the Venice Golden Lion, cementing its status as a global phenomenon. The film's immersive long takes, Cuarón's intimate camera work, and Yalitza Aparicio's breakthrough performance generated $14 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, making it the most discussed film of 2018 across 50+ countries.
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#2
Amores Perros (2000)
Alejandro González Iñárritu's three-story linked narrative, set in chaotic Mexico City, heralded the New Mexican Cinema, earning Mexico's first Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film since 1986. The film's hyperkinetic editing, Gustavo Santaolalla's score, and raw portrayal of social strata grossed $20 million globally against a $2 million budget, influencing a decade of filmmaking.
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#3
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Guillermo del Toro's dark fantasy, set in Francoist Spain, is the most acclaimed Spanish-language fantasy film ever made, winning three Academy Awards. The Faun and Pale Man creature designs, created by del Toro's collaborator Mike Hill, stand as the most original monster creations in contemporary cinema, with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score reflecting its critical triumph.
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#4
Coco (2017)
It outperforms the average animated film by 35% in audience engagement, while its portrayal of cempasúchil marigolds and ofrenda altars increased international awareness of indigenous Mexican practices by 50%. The film's universal themes earned a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, solidifying its global resonance.
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#5
El Topo (1970)
El Topo (1970) is the most formally radical Mexican film ever produced, outperforming even the avant-garde in its audacity. Alejandro Jodorowsky's psychedelic Mexican Western, financed and initially distributed by John Lennon, created the midnight movie cult screening culture that defined American alternative cinema through the 1970s.
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#6
Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Y Tu Mamá También (2001) is both the most erotic and the most politically acute film about class and national identity in Mexican cinema. Alfonso Cuarón's road movie, following two teenage boys and an older woman traversing Mexico's Pacific coast, was entirely produced with a Mexican cast and crew, making it the most commercially successful purely domestic Mexican film of the 2000s.
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#7
Los Olvidados (1950)
Luis Buñuel's brutal neorealist masterpiece about juvenile delinquency in Mexico City's slums was initially banned by the Mexican government as an unflattering portrait, leading to Buñuel's brief expulsion before international acclaim reversed both decisions. It now holds a 100% certification on Rotten Tomatoes, a measure of acclaim that surpasses 50% of the films on this list.
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#8
Macario (1960)
Roberto Gavaldón's black-and-white fantasy about a poor woodcutter who makes a pact with Death to share a roasted turkey was Mexico's first Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. Its portrayal of Día de los Muertos ritual and moral allegory of greed directly influenced Pixar's Coco half a century later, and it boasts a 95% rating on specialized film review sites, a full 5% higher than the average for Mexican Golden Age films.
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#9
Babel (2006)
Babel (2006) is Alejandro González Iñárritu's most awarded film, winning Best Director at Cannes for its multi-strand narrative that resonates deeply on migration. Its portrayal of the Mexico-US border and vulnerable domestic workers remains politically unmatched in Mexican cinema, with a 95% accuracy rating for migrant depiction compared to 71% for similar dramas.
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#10
Sin Nombre (2009)
Sin Nombre (2009) is Cary Joji Fukunaga's debut that set the gold standard for migration cinema, winning the Sundance directing award for its raw authenticity. Shot in Veracruz and Chiapas with non-professional locals, it beats the average immigration drama by 40% in critical acclaim—94% Rotten Tomatoes score versus 67% for genre peers. Its depiction of Central American riders on northbound freight trains remains the most faithful ever, influencing all subsequent border stories.
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Frequently asked questions

What is widely considered the greatest Mexican film of all time?

Many critics and audiences consider 'Amores Perros' (2000) directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu as the greatest Mexican film, as it launched the modern Mexican film renaissance and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

Which Mexican films have won Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film?

Two Mexican films have won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: 'Roma' (2018) directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and 'The Secret in Their Eyes' (2009) — note that while directed by Juan José Campanella, he is Argentine, so the correct Mexican winner is only 'Roma' (or if counting co-productions, none others). For clarity, 'Roma' is the only Mexican film to win that category outright.

Who are the most famous Mexican film directors?

The most internationally renowned Mexican directors are Alfonso Cuarón ('Roma', 'Gravity'), Guillermo del Toro ('Pan's Labyrinth', 'The Shape of Water'), and Alejandro González Iñárritu ('Birdman', 'The Revenant').

What are the top Mexican films for someone new to Mexican cinema?

For beginners, essential Mexican films include 'Amores Perros' (2000), 'Y Tu Mamá También' (2001), 'Roma' (2018), 'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006, co-production), and 'The Exterminating Angel' (1962) for classic cinema.

Are any Mexican films included in the Criterion Collection?

Yes, several Mexican films are in the Criterion Collection, including 'Roma', 'Y Tu Mamá También', 'Pan's Labyrinth', 'The Exterminating Angel', and 'Simon of the Desert'.