Most students who do not come from bilingual households typically have little to no exposure to Spanish outside of their Spanish classes. After school, a lot of children come home and watch movies in their free time.
Watching a kids’ movie in Spanish is a great way for children to improve their language skills while also enjoying a good story. The top streaming services, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, have great options to choose from.
There are countless movies available to your children out there to watch. Some movies you and your child may have already seen, they have just been dubbed over in English. Others are whole new stories for your child to discover!
Read on to see our list of recommended Spanish movies to watch from streaming services you most likely already subscribe to!
Netflix’s Spanish Movies For Kids
Netflix is the largest subscription-based streaming service for movies. You may not know that there are a number of options for your children to stream from Netflix.
Some movies require little to no Spanish language skills to follow along. You can even have Spanish or English subtitles while watching the Spanish movie to understand the dialogue better.
Here are our top picks for Netflix Spanish movies for children.
Casi Casi
This 2006 film follows the story of a student in Puerto Rico who decides to run for class president over a popular girl in his class. His name is Emilio, and he realizes throughout the time of the film that his true desire is to win over the affection of the girl he is running against.
Casi Casi has some more adult tones to it and is suggested for slightly older children and adults to enjoy. However, over recent years it really has become a classic story about friendship and youth.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
This 2000 live-action film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch starring Jim Carrey is a holiday classic. Whether or not your family celebrates Christmas, you’ve most likely seen some kind of adaptation of this great story.
Did you know in the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” Jim Carrey sang entirely on his own without another singer or any alterations to his voice. Who knew Jim Carrey could sing!
Netflix now offers the movie in entirely Spanish. You and your family can enjoy this classic film about the Grinch who tries to steal Christmas from the people of Whoville in a whole new language.
This movie is also partially credited for the introduction of Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch to the international stage. Twenty years after its release, this film is still a holiday treasure and tradition to watch for kids and their families worldwide.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas is, therefore, a great introductory movie to watch with your child as one of their first Spanish language movies, since the dialogue and poetry in the film is most likely something they’ve heard before.
Klaus
If you’re still in the Christmas spirit, Klaus is another new holiday classic that came out in 2019. The film is available for streaming on Netflix with a number of different languages, including Spanish.
The story follows a town called Smerrensburg’s new postman named Jesper, who becomes friends with a whimsical toymaker named Klaus. Together their unlikely friendship blossoms into a beautiful story about bridging age-old feuds and spreading Christmas cheer.
This oscar-nominated film is sure to become a lasting tradition in many households. Watching it in Spanish could be a fun and new experience for the whole family to enjoy.
Monster House
Monster House is another super popular American film, especially around Halloween, that is available to stream in Spanish on Netflix. It is a bit scary for younger children, so viewer discretion is advised.
The 2006 animated movie is about a group of friends who hope to explore the creepy abandoned house in their neighborhood. However, the house seems to have a mind and life of its own as the film progresses.
Monster House is a really creative and interesting film. There are some heavier subjects that are touched upon in between action and adventure scenes. There are also lots of homages to Stephen King’s stories and motifs. It’s even kind of similar to Stranger Things, another Netflix show available on their platform.
The movie is also particularly interesting because of the way the creators animated the characters of the story. Instead of animating from scratch, they filmed real-life physical performances of actors then transferred them using 3D motion capture techniques to their animated final form. How interesting!
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in The Hat
Another great story from Dr. Seus that was adapted into a live-action film in 2003 is the story of The Cat In the Hat. Not only is this story great for children to enjoy, but it is also packed with jokes that adults are sure to get a kick out of.
The movie is offered in Spanish as well as English on Netflix. Follow along with this wild story of two bored children befriending a giant Cat, played by the late Mike Myers. It truly is a whacky film that will have you laughing through the whole film!
The Little Prince
The Little Prince is a 2015 Netflix film adaptation of the international classic story written by French author and poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The film audio can be set to Spanish or English, with subtitles available in both languages as well.
This universally enjoyed story by both children and adults follows the story of a young aviator girl discovering a new friend, a boy alone on an asteroid. This story is packed with meaning and would be wonderful to enjoy in Spanish.
Pachamama
Pachamama is a 2018 Netflix original film that is a part of Netflix’s new ‘Representation Matters Collection.’ The story is about a village in the Andes that loses their sacred statue and a boy who wants to become the village shaman to retrieve the lost statue.
This movie is great not only for learning Spanish; it also includes a great representation of indigenous traditions in South America. There are few children’s movies out there that showcase Andes, and Incan society like this film does.
Pachamama even includes the invasion of the Spaniards, offering a great history lesson for children that is often sugar-coated or not even mentioned in traditional American curriculums.
Amazon Prime Spanish Movies For Kids
Amazon Prime Video offers you countless films in all different kinds of languages. Some movies are free with your Amazon Prime subscription, and others come at a price typically around a couple of dollars.
Based on our research, Amazon Prime Video seems to have all the Spanish language classic movies, from new to old.
Here are our top picks for Spanish children’s movies offered on Amazon Prime Video!
Anina
This film is one of the most popular and cherished Spanish kids’ movies of our time. This is in part due to its beautiful and unique art and sophisticated cartoons.
The animated story from 2013 follows the story of a young girl named Anina who receives a mysterious envelope she is forbidden to open for several days. Over this time span, many curious things happen to Anina, and she discovers tons about herself as well.
This Uruguayan film is great for children learning Spanish since it is an authentic story from a Spanish speaking country, not an English movie dubbed over in Spanish. The movie also covers a number of important topics for children and young teens, including lessons on self-esteem, conflict resolution, and learning from one’s mistakes.
The English subtitles are particularly easy to follow along to for beginner Spanish speakers! It was also the official Uruguayan submission to the 2014 Oscars, vying for the category of best foreign-language movie.
Alamar
This 2009 film follows the story of a young Mayan adult and his half-Italian son living together off a beautiful coral reef called Banco Chinchorro. This coral reef is the second largest in the world. The film is offered in Italian as well as Spanish.
Translated into English, the film means “to the sea or when love…”. This is a great way to describe this film because you truly will fall in love with the characters and their story.
Another interesting fact about the film is that the actors in it had no professional acting experience prior to this film, so you really get the sense that they are natural and relatable people.
This award-winning Mexican film is shot in a stunning natural environment, which will inspire you to consider you to book your next family vacation to Mexico to practice some of the Spanish you learn!
Canela
Canela is another great live-action Spanish film that is offered in Spanish on Amazon Prime. This film follows the heartwarming story of a grandmother and granddaughter’s relationship through cooking in the family restaurant.
Canela is a Mexican film set in Mexico City, so by watching it in Spanish, you not only get exposure to the language, but you also offer your child the opportunity to learn more about Mexican family and culture.
The film deals with the very heavy topic of grief and death. However, it is extremely sweet and well done, leaving viewers with a warmed heart and new appreciation for Mexican food and cooking.
Cantinflas
This film is about one of Mexico’s most popular comedians and actors, Mario Moreno y Reyes, also known as Cantinflas. The 2014 film named after the man himself shows his untold life story, from his humble beginnings to his rise to fame in Hollywood.
Cantinflas also highlights the great comedians’ relationship with an American filmmaker and how their project together changed their lives. This is a great film for the whole family since it reflects upon the nostalgia of ‘old Hollywood’ while also offering an entertaining history of film for the kids.
The movie is sure to leave people of all ages with a sense of warmth and appreciation for the Mexican actor. It is also another film that is free with an Amazon Prime Video Subscription!
Coco
Since its release in 2017, the Disney Pixar movie Coco has garnered a huge fandom all over the globe. Since it is a Pixar movie, it goes without saying that the graphics and visuals of the film are extremely detailed and beautiful.
The movie follows the story of a boy named Miguel, who dreams of becoming a famous musician. This is a problem for the boy, though, because his family has banned music for the past several generations.
Hoping to pursue his talent and passion for music, Miguel finds winds up in the Land of the Dead searching for his great great grandfather, another musician. Along the way, Miguel goes on quite the adventure and meets a number of characters in his quest to learn about his family’s history.
Not only is the animation incredible, but the music is also really fun and authentically Latino. There are also great themes across the story, touching upon love, dreams, family, and memory itself.
This new classic Latino film is available to rent in either Spanish or English on Amazon Prime Video!
El Libro De La Vida
El Libro de la Vida, or The Book of Life in English, is a story about a town in Mexico called San Angel and a group of friends named Maria, Joaquin and Manolo. After being friends since they were all kids, they grow up to live very different lives. However, both boys remain interested in winning Maria’s heart.
This 2014 animated film is packed with great music and eye-catching graphics. Manolo’s adventure through three different worlds showcases a great deal of Mexican culture and folklore.
El Libro de la Vida is available on Prime Video to rent in Spanish for only three bucks! It is a movie the whole family is sure to love.
Ferdinand
Ferdinand is another great Spanish film available on Amazon Prime Video that first premiered in 2017. The story takes place in Spain, where bullfighting is a very controversial tradition in the culture.
It follows the life of Ferdinand, a gentle giant of a bull. He is mistaken as a dangerous animal, so he is kidnapped and taken away from his family. To return back to his home, Ferdinand gets together a ragtag team of unlikely animals.
A fun and little known fact about the movie is that it is based in a village called Ronda in the South of Spain. Ronda is said to be home to the oldest bullring in the whole world, being constructed in 1785. That’s a lot of years of bullfighting!
Ferdinand is a must-see and is also available to rent in either Spanish or English on Amazon Prime Video!
La Leyenda De La Lorona
Another great 2011 Mexican based film in Spanish for kids on Amazon Prime is La Leyenda de la Lorona. This animated movie is about a group of kids trying to stop a ghost from abducting children she finds in the woods in the dark of night.
It is slightly scary for some younger children, so discretion is advised. However, the movie is truly packed with humor and adventure to enjoy!
It is also a great film representing Spanish-Mexican culture and ‘el Dia de Los Muertos’ or the Day of the Dead. It successfully intertwines the cultures of indigenous and Spanish peoples. For this reason, this movie is a favorite of Spanish language teachers teaching students about traditional Mexican holidays and traditions.
Closed captions are also available for La Leyenda de la Lorona on Prime in both English and Spanish to follow along for the beginner Spanish speaker. It is also free with an Amazon Prime subscription!
Rio & Rio 2
Rio is another American Pixar animated film about a domesticated bird, who is a pet to a woman in the American Midwest. Blu, the name of the domesticated pet, meets Jewel, another bird. Together they set out on an adventure to Rio in Brazil, where they were originally from before their capture into domestication.
The sequel was released only a few years after the original due to its great popularity. The story of Blu and Jewel continues with their adventures of raising their children in the jungle of Amazon.
Visually, both movies are quite stunning, with great colors and animation throughout. There are also tons of musical cameos from famous musicians such as Taio Cruz, Jamie Fox, and will.i.am.
Amazon Prime has both the original and the sequel to Rio on their streaming platform. It costs only four dollars to rent!
Under the Same Moon
Under the Same Moon is a 2007 Mexican movie in Spanish about a boy in Mexico and his mother who resides in the United States as an illegal immigrant. After the death of his guardian, the boy’s grandmother, he runs away to America in the hopes of reuniting with his mother.
This Spanish language movie is a great family film about a mother’s relationship with their son. It also showcases some of the struggles illegal immigrants from south of the United States border face.
This movie does not have super complicated dialogue, making it a great film for beginner Spanish language speakers. The only downside to this movie is that it is not included in the Amazon Prime Video subscription, so it requires a couple of dollars to rent.
Zipi Y Zape Y El Club De La Canica
This movie follows the story of Zipe and Zape, two cheeky characters from a famous Spanish comic book series that has been enjoyed by audiences for many years now.
Similar to the American holiday classic Home Alone, Zipi Y Zape Y El Club De La Canica follows the two boys’ family vacation, which goes horribly wrong, and are separated from their family.
The sequel to this film is available on Netflix. Be sure to check out the original movie on Prime Video, available to rent for only three bucks!
Hulu Spanish Movies for Kids
According to its website, Hulu offers a wide selection of on-demand and live Spanish movie and television content. You can find Hulu’s ‘Latino Hub’ which houses all of their Latin based film collection. There are also popular English movies that are available to be viewed with Spanish dubbed over the original versions.
This 2013 film is super cute and guaranteed to entertain children of most ages. Be sure to check out the parents’ guide to the film online first since some scenes may be a bit mature for your kids.
Here are our suggestions for Spanish language movies for kids on Hulu!
Hormiguitaz
Hormiguitas is a Spanish dubbed version of the 1998 American film Antz. This classic story follows the life of an ant trying to escape from his authoritarian ant colony while also trying to win the heart of the colony’s ant princess.
This animated movie is an American classic and is now available in a dubbed Spanish version, streaming on Hulu. Starring popular American comedian and actor Woody Allen, the film is a really interesting adaptation of ant colony life.
Not only is it entertaining to children, but it is also really good for adults and parents to watch alongside their kids. Many find the film to have intelligent and interesting comedic timing and subjects.
A movie entirely about ants and their colony, what an interesting thought! The creators executed the story quite well.
It is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video if you’re willing to spend a few dollars to stream this classic movie!
The Emperor’s New Groove & Kronk’s New Groove
Kronk’s New Groove is the sequel The Emperor’s New Groove, a fan favorite Disney film from 2000. Both the original and sequel are available in Spanish on Amazon Prime Video to rent for only a few dollars!
The first movie is about a vain and power-hungry Emperor of the Incan people named Kuzko. By some mysterious magic potion from his enemy, he is transformed into a llama and forced to seek help from a humble llama herder to get back his place on the throne.
This second movie is about Kronk, on a quest to impress his difficult father. In the end, he learns to live by his own code and not try and please anyone but himself. A great lesson for kids of all ages!
Both movies are packed with comedy for everyone to enjoy. It’s juvenile and entertaining, even though some of the jokes may go over your kids’ heads. They both are some of Disney’s funniest animated films!
El Príncipe De Egipto
El Príncipe De Egipto is the Spanish dubbed movie name for the 1998 American film The Prince of Egypt. This story is another American classic that is a must-see for American and international children alike.
The Prince of Egypt tells the internationally renowned story in animation form about the Egyptian Prince of Egypt. The Prince learns of his Hebrew identity and realizes his destiny to become the prophet of his true people, making him the ‘chosen one’ of the Jewish faith.
No matter if you and your child are Jewish, Christian, or any other religion, you all are sure to enjoy this film. The production team researched heavily before making the film. They interviewed several hundred religious experts to accurately portray the original story of Moses and the era he lived in.
One of the best scenes of the movie also happens to be one of the most well-known stories of the prophet Moses. In this film, when Moses parts the Red Sea, the graphics and visuals are truly spectacular. This is because the four-minute scene took over two years for animators to make! Now that’s dedication.
Ben 10 Contra El Universo: La Película
This movie is the Spanish language version of the 2020 animated movie Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie. This movie is one of the many spin-off films from the Ben 10 franchise.
In this movie, Ben’s enemies from the past return and threaten Team Tennyson and the whole of planet Earth.
The movie premiere was on the 15th anniversary of the Ben 10 series and franchise. But you or your kids don’t have to be Ben 10 fans before watching the movie. It is a great adventure and action animated movie that anyone and everyone can enjoy.
Other Spanish Series Available On Hulu
In addition to a number of Spanish language kids’ movies on Hulu, the streaming site is also one of the best places on the internet to stream Spanish language shows for kids.
You and your children can watch American Television shows in Spanish, which they most likely already watch in English. Dubbed shows in Spanish available on Hulu include Spongebob Squarepants En Espanol, Pokemon, Caillou, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Hulu also has a number of Spanish language original series on their site. Such titles include Mexican based show called El Chavo Animado. This show is an animated kids version of the live-action show El Chavo Del Ocho, which is very popular in Mexico.
