spanish movies for kids

Spanish Movies for Kids: G and PG Rated Titles

Inside: A list of family-friendly Spanish movies for kids (these are great movies for Spanish class as well!).

A lot of my recent Spanish movies and shows lists have been for parents and teachers. Today I’m focusing on more kid-friendly movie options!

Obviously, you can change the audio for most movies on Disney+ or Netflix, but this list focuses on authentic films– movies originally produced in Spanish, or based in a Spanish speaking location.

Lucky for us, each year we’re seeing more Spanish movies for kids hit the theaters and streaming services!

Here’s what you can find in this post:

Contents:

1. Top 5 Spanish Movies for Kids on Netflix

2. Spanish Moves for Kids on Disney+

3. More Spanish Films for Kids

A few are rated NR, but fall within the family-friendly category. Of course, please preview or check parent content advisories if you’re watching with young kids.

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Ready? Let’s get started.

SPANISH MOVIES FOR KIDS On Netflix

1.  Vivo

Featuring voice and songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this movie is a celebration of Cuban music and culture. The star is a kinkajou (a “honey bear” from the rainforest), who must travel from Havana to Miama to deliver a special message via song. Kids will love the adventure that befalls the two main characters, and adults will enjoy the storyline with Gloria Estefan and Andrés from the Buena Vista Social Club.

Info: PG | Spanish Audio | 1hr 38min | Comedy/Musical

2.  Pachamama

An original Netflix production, Pachamama is a film deeply entrenched in the indigenous traditions of Andes culture in South America, while also introducing Incan culture and the invasion of the Spaniards. A young boy living in a remote village takes it upon himself to rescue a cherished relic, on a dangerous journey to the capital Incan city of Cusco.

Info: PG | Spanish Audio | 1hr 12min | Family/Adventure

3.  El Camino de Xico (Xico’s Journey)

Based in Mexico, El Camino de Xico stars a Copi, young girl and her guardian dog. A corporation is trying to use the mountain to mine for gold, and Copi must undertake a journey into a mountain to save her town. Her dog turns out to have magical powers, to help her save the day.

Info: PG | Spanish Audio | 1hr 25min | Family/Adventure

4.  Chupa

Though Chupa was written in English, it’s rooted in the Latin American legend of a blood-sucking mythical creature called a chupacabra and set in Mexico.

In it, teenage Alex finds a small chupacabra in his grandpa’s shed and they become companions. To save the baby creature, Alex and his cousins embark on an adventurous journey. They face obstacles, including scientists trying to capture Chupa for personal gain.

Info: PG | Spanish Audio Available | 95min | Legends/Adeventure

5. Maya y los Tres

This is technically a series, but it’s going to occupy space 5 for us until another movie comes out. It’s full of mesoamerican culture and produced by a Spanish-speaking team. Maya is a brave princess who must follow an ancient prophecy to save her people. (One of the main voices is by Diego Luna!)

Info: PG | Spanish Audio |  | Food/Reality

SPANISH MOVIES FOR KIDS On Disney+

1. COCO 

A young Mexican boy, Miguel, has dreams of being a musician. Unfortunately, music is the one thing that’s forbidden in his family. Miguel ends up visiting the Land of the Dead, where he uncovers old family secrets. This has to be one of the most beautiful Latino movies made, with good music, stunning visuals, and a heart-warming tale of family, love, and memory. Keep the tissues nearby. Coco was meticulously researched, and is an excellent introduction to Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico.
Available on Netflix. 

Info: PG | Spanish/English Audio, Subtitles | 1hr 45min | Musical/Adventure

2. Encanto

Encanto, set in Colombia, is the first Disney (not Pixar) movie to star a Latina character. Mirabel is the only member of the magical Madrigal family who was born without a magical power. Still, she seems to be the only who can save the day when their enchanted town is in danger.

Info: PG | Spanish/English Audio, Subtitles | 1hr 39min | Comedy/Adventure

3. MCFARLAND, USA

McFarland USA has all the makings of a classic sports Disney story: this time about a cross-country team in California. It explores cultural tensions and life in a predominantly Latino and agricultural community. This one isn’t in Spanish. 

Info: PG | English Audio, Subtitles | 2hr 22min

More Movies for Spanish Class

1. EL LIBRO DE LA VIDA (THE BOOK OF LIFE)

Manolo is a young Mexican man with big dreams. Unfortunately, his father’s are completely different: he wants Manuel to continue the family tradition of bullfighting. Torn between the two, he travels to three fantastical worlds (the underworld, the Land of the Forgotten, and the Land of the Remembered). Told in semi-musical style, with surrealist graphics, El libro de la vida is a beautiful movie. 

Info: PG | Spanish/English Audio, Subtitles | 1hr 29min | Musical/Adventure

2. CANELA (CINNAMON)

A story about a grandmother and her granddaughter, Maria. Maria tries to convince her grandmother to her return to her former love of cooking and the family restaurant El Molcajete– which has been straying from its original traditional recipes.

Info: NR | Spanish Audio | 1hr 41min

3. FERDINAND

Ferdinand is a calm bull who likes to sit and smell flowers. Due to a run-in with a bee, he gets mistaken for a fierce fighter, and selected to fight the infamous matador, El Primero. This has a great, happy ending and introduces watchers to Spain and bullfighting without the gore. 

Info: PG | Spanish/English Audio, Subtitles (DVD, I think) | 1hr 48min

4. Dora y La Ciudad Perdida (Dora and the Lost City of Gold)

Dora is now a teen and about to leave her jungle life behind for the next adventure: high school. However, she finds herself entangled back into the jungle to save her kidnapped parents and to solve an old Incan mystery.

Info: NR | Spanish Audio, English Subtitles | 1hr 42min

5. ZIPI Y ZAPE Y LA ISLA DEL CAPITÁN (ZIP AND ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND)

**Currently not on Netflix– I did find it on Amazon Prime**

Zipe and Zape– the main characters in the film, are based on two popular, mischievous Spanish comic book characters that have been read for decades. In this movie (the sequel is also on Netflix!), a family vacation goes wrong and they end up at a mysterious home with missing parents. 

Info: PG | Spanish Audio | 1hr 45min | Comedy/Adventure

6. ATLÉTICO SAN PANCHO (NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DREAM)

A rag-tag soccer team in Mexico get help from the school janitor to reach their dream of playing a championship game. 

Info: NR | Spanish Audio, English Subtitles | 1hr 3min

7. ANINA

Anina, a ten-year-old girl in Uruguay, gets into a fight on the playground at school. The punishment from the principal is strange: each student gets a black envelope they’re not allowed to open for a whole week. During that anxious week, all sorts of adventures happen that help Anina understand herself better. 

Info: PG | Spanish Audio, English Subtitles | 1hr 18min

8. THE ROAD TO EL DORADO

Two swindlers get waylaid in their search for gold in the famous city El Dorado. This one has some cultural connections, but be sure to preview or read through the parent content advisory. 

Available on Netflix. 

Info: PG | English Audio, Subtitles | 1hr 29min

9. KRONK’S NEW GROOVE

At last, a G-rated movie! This sequel to The Emperor’s New Groove has Kronk wanting to impress his hard-to-please father, only to find in the end that he just has to do his own thing.

Available on Netflix. 

Info: G | Spanish/English Audio, Subtitles | 1hr 14min

10.CASI CASI

Emilio, a teenager is Puerto Rico, ends up running for school president against the most popular girl in school– who also happens to be his crush. Will he choose winning, or her– or is there a third option? This is a fun story about friendship and loyalty. (Rated PG for language and innuendo.)

Info: PG | Spanish Audio, English Subtitles | 1hr 33min

11. RIO AND RIO 2

Though Rio and Rio 2 are set in Brazil and not technically Spanish-language films, both DVDs have Spanish-language options and deal with many Latin American themes (environmentalism, deforestation of the Amazon rainforest). 

Rio: A pet Macaw in Minnesota, Blu, travels to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to learn about his home. 

Rio 2: Blu and Jewel now have 3 kids. When they see their kids are too used to life in the city, they decide to take them into the Amazon jungle to experience real life. 

Info: G | Spanish/English Audio, Subtitles | 1hr 35min, 1hr 

12. SELENA

Selena introduces the life of Mexican-American singer Selena Quintalla-Perez, from her early life, to her rise to to the top of Latin and U.S. music charts, and untimely death. Jennifer Lopez stars as Selena in this emotional film. (I’m including this on the list as a PG film, but I don’t recommend it for young kids.)

Info: PG | English Audio, Subtitles | 2hr 7min

13. PERU: TESORO ESCONDIDO (PERU: HIDDEN TREASURE)

Explore the culture, geography, and history of Peru with this documentary. 

Available on Netflix. 

Info: PG | Spanish Audio, Spanish/English Subtitles | 115min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HodJ1g1XFcs&feature=emb_logo

14. COLOMBIA: WILD MAGIC

Available on Netflix. 

Info: PG | Spanish Audio, Spanish/English Subtitles | 135min

15. LIVING ON ONE DOLLAR

Four friends leave the U.S. and plan to live on $1 per day in Guatemala. Although this film can reinforce the storyline of interpreting poverty and Latin America only through the eyes of foreigners, it can be a powerful way for students and families to see outside their everyday lives. 

Available on Netflix. 

Info: PG | English Audio | 53min

16. GHOSTS OF MACHU PICCHU

Discover the mysteries and marvels of Machu Pichu in this doucmentary from PBS. (Be aware that skulls are shown in places.)

Available on Netflix. 

Info: PG | English Audio | 53min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd_vaMDf80g&feature=emb_logo

SPANISH MOVIES FOR KIDS

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14 Comments

  1. Have you seen “Cartas a Elena” on Amazon Prime?

    1. Amazon Prime won’t work for us in Peru right now (booo). I’ll have to check it out on our next visit to the US!

  2. Christina says:

    Thank you so much! This is a phenominal list of Spanish movies!!!

  3. Katerina Chiponda says:

    Gracias!!! I always struggle to find appropriate films for my students to watch and only knew of a couple in this list! I will also now have more options for my own young girls!

  4. Thank you for taking the time to post these. This requires much time and dedication.
    I’ve seen most of them and you are correct in that they are appropriate for young children to high school age students. Offering the students choices is a great way for students to choose the movie based on their level of proficiency. I am asking my students to generate a list of vocabulary words they understood as they watched the movie. Then, I have them choose from the list 10 words and ask they write a sentence with the word or verb using the preterit tense. The students are now learning to tell about past events. I give them a writing section for them to give me feedback about their opinion of the movie and of the impact on their language skills. At the end of their writing section, they recommend the movie with thumbs up or down. 🙂
    Again, thank you.

  5. Angelica Fuentes says:

    Thank you so much! This is exactly what I what I needed!

  6. Just a quick note, Selena was Tejana, Mexican-American. She was born in the US and never lived in Mexico. Thanks ☺️

  7. McFarland, USA is not currently available on Netflix. Thank you for the info, though!

  8. Kate McGovern says:

    Hole. I’m looking for the full version of Atletico San Pancho with English subtitles. Do you happen to know where I can find this? Many thanks.

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