When you’re learning Spanish, watching Spanish romance movies (or Spanish shows or tv series) is a great way to expedite the process.
Why? Spanish romance movies are dramatic which means there will be a lot of emphatically stated lines and dramatic and repetitive language which is great if you are a Spanish language learner trying to pick up more vocabulary and become more accustomed to the way words are pronounced. Forbidden love, epic love stories, murder, family dynasty drama, you’ll find it all watching romantic Spanish films.
You can watch these romantic Spanish films through various platforms, including streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. You can also purchase them on DVD or as digital copies.
Follow along with English subtitles so you don’t miss a beat. Or challenge yourself even further by watching and reading with Spanish subtitles. Either way, you’ll enjoy improving your Spanish while glued to your screen with these amazing Spanish romance movies.
Keep an eye out for iconic Latin American, South American, and Spanish movie and tv actors like Penelope Cruz, Javier Rey (que guapo!), and Blanca Suarez (just to name a few of my faves) who you will recognize in many different Spanish language films and television series if you continue your Spanish immersion journey.
1-Broken Embraces or Los Abrazos Rotos
One of the more internationally-renowned Spanish romance movies, Broken Embraces, features an all-star cast led by Penelope Cruz. The story is about a middle-aged woman, Lena, who’s grown tired of her office job and light prostitution and wants to be a renowned actor. It’s told from the perspective of Harry, a blind film director, via a series of flashbacks.
Lena is “dating” an older guy who’s wealthy and doubles as her boss (Martel). She finally gets the opportunity to become a movie star when she snags a role in Harry’s film thanks to bringing in Martel as a financier.
You can stream this Spanish romance movie on Netflix.
2- Orbiter 9 or Orbita 9
One of the best Spanish romance movies, this flick follows a 20-something young woman named Helena, making her way to a new planet in a space pod. She faces the prospect of solitude on the planet and has been devoid of human contact her entire life. That is, of course, until she meets Alex, an engineer who docks his ship to hers to fix the oxygen levels.
They fall for each other and can’t seem to forget about one another after an eventful night when Alex goes back to Earth. Unable to ignore their feelings, Alex goes back to her to continue their romance.
What ensues is a heartwarming love story that unravels the mirage that Helena had been living through.
When she falls for Harry, they have to hide their intense feelings for each other to both realize their dreams. Lena has to give in to the demands of her lover/boss, while Harry begrudgingly keeps his feelings at bay.
Stream this Spanish romance movie or stream it on Amazon to find out how their romance ends.
Image by Aneta Pawlik from Unsplash
3- Heart of A Lion or Corazon de Leon
This Argentinian romantic comedy flick looks to challenge all that’s considered conventional by telling a heart-warming story that challenges society’s stereotypes. Leon discovers a lost cell phone and calls the owner looking to return it. When he hears Ivana’s voice on the side, he’s enamored with her and asks her out, which she accepts.
There’s only one problem, he’s 4’4 feet tall, and Ivana is a relatively “tall” lawyer who’s shocked when they finally meet (Tinder before Tinder). Still, she finds herself attracted to her knight in shining armor thanks to his dazzling personality.
Can their attraction triumph over the stares and questions that come with dating outside of societal norms?
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video.
4- Like Water for Chocolate or Como Agua Para Chocolate
This intriguing tale explores various themes and showcases Mexico’s finest foods all through a romantic story. It follows the journey of Tita, a young woman who’s held back by family traditions and societal norms. She’s an exceptional cook who infuses her emotions into every dish she makes.
Due to family traditions, her attempt to marry the man she loves is thwarted by her mother, and she’s made the designated family cook, destined to remain in this role for the rest of her life. As the movie progresses, lies unravel and threaten many relationships in this Mexican classic – but it all starts Tita’s tears that find their way into a wedding cake.
Purchase or stream it on Amazon.
5- Mirage
This is a really cool, suspenseful, thriller-type drama that makes time travel completely believable. It involves a kid in the attic of an old house, a television set that takes people (only certain people) back in time to help prevent a crime, and the rekindling of a lost love. The main female protagonist is played by Adriana Ugarte, one of my all-time favorite Spanish actresses.
Without giving away the entire story, this movie focuses on the story of a crime that happened in the past (murder) and the people who were touched by the crime or could have made a difference if they had made different decisions. Throughout the movie, the main characters have to make difficult, bordering on impossible decisions and sacrifices in order to set things right and save a life. They also get a second chance at love with someone from their past–which ends up changing their lives.
While IMDB didn’t rate this series highly (I think the person doing the rating there must not have any patience and cannot appreciate a movie that takes time to tell a story, builds suspense, and doesn’t include a ton of explosions and sexually explicit or violent content) it’s one of the best Spanish series on Netflix in my opinion!
6- Spanish Affair or Ocho Apellidos Vascos
This flick, the title of which translates to 8 Basque last names, is easily one of the best romantic movies in Spanish and it’s full of comedic twists in addition to plenty of romance. A Sevillian man falls for a Basque girl, and despite never having left Seville, he chases after her when she forgets her purse at his place.
A comedic series of events unfold that navigate Spanish culture and finds the man pretending to be a Basque person with several surnames. When she rejects his advances, he finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into the lie just to get her affection.
Purchase or stream it on Amazon or Netflix.
Image by JESHOOTS.COM from Unsplash
7- Elvira, I would give you my life but I’m using it or Elvira, te daría mi vida pero la estoy usando
This romantic dramedy has several twists and turns that make for a thrilling watch. It follows the story of Elvira, whose husband leaves one night to buy cigars but never returns home.
Concerned with his disappearance, she ventures on a one-woman search party to find him. What she discovers leaves her reeling with shock and will leave you bursting with tears of laughter and sadness.
Stream it or purchase it on Amazon.
8- Love at First Kiss
Set in Madrid, this Spanish romance movie starts out more like a comedy. The main character, Javier runs an indy publishing house, and his business, as well as his love life, is struggling. At work, he is stubborn and limited in his vision, and unwilling to accept help. When it comes to his love life, he keeps dating women and then breaking up with them shortly after their first kiss. Why? Because Javier can see his future (or not) with each woman and decides it’s better not to waste time with anyone if his visions don’t show him that they’ll end up together.
His best friend Roberto has turned into a stick in the mud and no longer wants to go out and have fun. Roberto’s girlfriend Lucia and Javier don’t get along and annoy and pick at each other whenever the group goes out together. Javier thinks they both despise each other equally until one night when they’re thrown together into an intimate situation by a drunk stranger and realize they have more in common than they thought. A friendship starts to blossom but there’s one big problem….
You’ll have to watch the movie to find out the rest or I’ll spoil it for you. I like these actors. Silvia Alonso and Alvaro Cervantes, a lot. The movie is currently available to stream on Netflix.
9- You Will Know What to Do With Me or Sabrás qué hacer conmigo
Artistic Nicolas and enigmatic Isabel fall for each other and shortly begin a passionate affair. However, they both have issues in the real world that may derail their relationship wonderland. Isabel has to care for her suicidal mother, and Nicolas has epilepsy, in addition to other complicated problems.
Can their passion for one another overcome these issues and confirm their initial belief that this was love at first sight?
You can purchase it on Amazon.
10- Being or Not Being or Estar o No Estar
This romantic drama follows the journey of Augusto, a man in his 40s, and his relationship trials after his mother’s death. He moves from his hometown to a small Mexican town where he meets two beautiful women. He falls head over heels for one of the women, hoping that she can help to mend his shattered heart but which woman is the right one? Will they just send him spiraling further into depression and grief?
While not globally available, you can use a VPN to stream this movie on Netflix. It is available in Norway, Finland, Denmark, Austria, and Australia.
11- Our Lovers or Nuestros Amantes
This romantic dramedy is great for two reasons, it follows a fresh narrative and encompasses all that’s great with relationships and their pitfalls. It follows a man and a woman that meet at a coffee shop on a whim. They then establish a rule for their friendship: they exchange no personal information.
While this goes on well for better parts of the flick, they eventually have to confront the realities of the world. How will they deal with these obstacles and their feelings when their idealistic friendship is put to the test?
Stream it on Netflix or purchase it on Amazon.
12- Three Steps Above Heaven or Tres Metros Sobre El Cielo
This is another great teenage drama slash Spanish romance movie. It follows the story of two young lovers from two different societal backgrounds, the girl belonging to an affluent family and the boy a lower class.
Despite their differences, they go on a passionate journey where they discover love for the first time together. Can the two lovebirds’ passion overcome the improbable nature of a relationship that just seems so inevitable?
Find out on Amazon Prime Video.
13- Viola
This Argentinian rom-com follows the titular character and is centered around a story that incorporates Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the plot. While delivering pirated movie copies around the city of Buenos Aires, she meets a group of young people who’re acting in the play.
As the story progresses, life imitates art as themes and lines from Twelfth Night find their way into reality. It all builds up into an exciting finale. Love and romance win!
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video, or purchase it on Amazon.
Make Spanish Learning Fun with Spanish Romance Movies
Learning a new language is made easier when you can improve your comprehension, listening, and conversation skills in a fun way. While there are various options available to you, including online language courses, a guided course in Spain, and more, movies are a clear winner.
These Spanish romance movies will not only move you, but they’ll also teach you conversational skills, while also keeping you entertained. The above are just a few, but many options are available across various formats.
If you’re looking for more ways to make learning Spanish fun, check out some of the related content on the language:
7 Spanish Courses in Spain for Adults
8 of The Best Spanish TV Shows on Netflix
