Author – Allison Wienhold
May 2, 2024
Inside: Good Cinco de mayo movies for Spanish class. Mexican movies for cinco de mayo. Family movies for cinco de mayo that celebrate Mexican-Americans and Mexico.
History of Cinco de Mayo
First of all, 5 de mayo is NOT Mexico’s Independence Day. Cinco de mayo is celebrated in the United States to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. The holiday usually has parades, music, dancing, and traditional Mexican food. Hopefully with 0 stereotypical or inappropriate uses of Mexican culture.
Historically, 5 de mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, in Puebla, Mexico. This was while the US was in the middle of fighting the Civil War. Cinco de Mayo has become a symbol of Mexican identity and resistance against foreign domination. It is celebrated in Puebla, Mexico, and many parts of the United States.
5 de mayo in Spanish class without stereotypes
Cinco de mayo is a good chance to learn about Mexico positively in your Spanish class or with your family. This is best done with authentic Mexican resources. For example, Mexican films for cinco de mayo that were created by Mexican-Americans or in Mexico. This post will focus on cinco de mayo movies for students and family movies for cinco de mayo.
This list of good cinco de mayo movies is based on my experience as a secondary Spanish teacher. I also am a mom of 7 & 10 year old sons. These top cinco de mayo movies are PG-level appropriate and below. I would use them with both Spanish classes and family movies for cinco de mayo.
To clarify these movies will not teach about what 5 de mayo is and is not. That you can quickly do before watching a film. Rather this is a list of Mexican movies for cinco de mayo that celebrate Mexico in a positive light.
>> If you want more ideas beyond movies, read Cinco de mayo in Spanish class
Mexican movies for cinco de mayo
- Chupa
- A Million Miles Away
- The Casagrandes Movie
- El camino de Xico
- Selena
- Canela
- The Book of Life
- Coco
- McFarland USA
- Going Varsity in Mariachi
- Mexico Untamed
Chupa
PG, 2023, 1h 35m, Netflix film, live-action movie, adventure
Chupa is a perfect Mexican movie for cinco de mayo. It has a Mexican director and actors. Chupa also includes the theme of being proud of your Mexican heritage. It is a family-friendly version of the legend Chupacabras. Chupa includes lucha libre, authentic Mexican food & many more ideas for cultural expansion. If your group of students has not yet seen Chupa, it is my number 1 suggestion for 5 de mayo.
- Chupa in Spanish Class blog post for many ideas on how to use this film in Spanish class.
- Ready-to-go Chupa guide in my website store
- Chupa movie guide on TPT – the same guide offered in a different place
A Million Miles Away
PG, 2024, 2h 1m, Prime Video film, live-action, based on a true story, drama
A Million Miles Away is one of my top cinco de mayo movies. It is based on the real story of the 1st Mexican-American in space with NASA. There is a positive representation of what it means to be Mexican-American. If you want to tie in science, discrimination, and a real-life story, this movie is for you. It is included with Prime Video if you have Amazon Prime.
- A Million Miles Away blog post with resources
- A Million Miles Away Movie Questions Worksheet
- Million Miles Away guide on TPT too.
The Casagrandes Movie – cinco de mayo movie cartoon
PG, 2024, 1h 25m, Netflix film, animated, fantasy/comedy
The newest film about Mexico on this list is The Casagrandes Movie. This brand new 2024 Netflix film follows the family from the Nickelodeon show with the same name. This large multigenerational Mexican-American family travels to Mexico to visit Great Grandma for the summer. The Latinx creator and actors make The Casagrandes enjoyable and not stereotypical. There is a ton of Spanish in this entertaining and funny adventure with a lot of culture of Mexico and Indigenous peoples.
- The Casagrandes Movie blog post
- The Casagrandes Movie Guide in my website store
- Casagrandes Questions on TPT.
El Camino de Xico
2020, 1h 26m, Authentic Mexican film, adventure, animated
Another movie that was created in Spanish in Mexico is El camino de Xico. It is authentic, animated, and family-friendly. Xico’s Journey would work for upper elementary to high school seniors. My Spanish 3/4 class watched it as a part of an environmental unit and they enjoyed it.
Selena
PG, 1997, 2h 7m, Musical/Drama, based on a real story
Learning about Selena would be a great option if you want to celebrate Mexican-American heritage. This older movie is still a hit with high school students today. I owned Selena on DVD far before I became a Spanish teacher! Selena is one of my top cinco de mayo movies.
Canela – cinco de mayo movie for students
PG, 2012, 1h 40m, Authentic Mexican film, Family/Comedy, live-action movie
Another great authentic film set in Mexico and created in Spanish is Canela. It is an appropriate movie that ties in many common Spanish 1 themes such as family, food, and the house while centering around the culture of Mexico and mole. It can be trickier to find, but currently, it can be purchased to stream. I own the DVD and used it every year in late Spanish 1.
- The Movie Canela for Spanish 1 blog post – includes intro slides for novice Spanish
- Basic Canela movie guide in English
El Libro de Vida – cinco de mayo movie animated
PG, 2014, 1h 35m, Family/Fantasy, Animated
Another movie to teach about Mexico that is a little more lighthearted is The Book of Life. It is set during Día de Muertos. This is the film I used in my Exploratory Spanish. In the fall we tied it to Day of the Dead. We learned about Mexico and cinco de mayo when I used it in the spring.
- The Book of Life in Spanish class blog post – includes intro slides for novice Spanish
- Basic Libro de Vida novice guide in English
Coco
PG, 2017, 1h 45m, Fantasy/Adventure, Animated
If your students or family has not seen Coco, it is time. This film is a beautiful celebration of Mexican culture. If you are looking for a cinco de mayo movie on Disney plus, this is a perfect one.
- Coco blog post
- Editable Spanish Coco Movie Guide Worksheet
- Coco TPT Movie Questions
- Grab Free Coco Intro Slides & post viewing assessments at the bottom of this post.
Mexico Untamed
TV-PG, 2018, documentary series, 3 45-minute episodes, available on Disney Plus
Mexico Untamed is a National Geographic nature documentary series. It is not technically a movie, but has 3 45-minute episodes. You could pick one episode as a sub-plan depending on your goals. It is a different option if you want to learn about the country, land, and animals of Mexico.
- Learn more about this film & get a freebie to use with any documentary – Spanish Class Documentaries
Going Varsity in Mariachi
TV-PG, 2023, 1h 45m, Documentary, Netflix
Finally, a brand new addition to this list in 2024 is the culture-filled documentary Going Varisty in Mariachi. This documentary about the competitive world of high school mariachi is set in South Texas. It has an almost all-Latino cast, a ton of culture, and is a relatable & appropriate documentary. This film only has English audio, but there is a lot of Spanglish used, and provides a lot of opportunities to talk about Mexican-American culture.
- Going Varsity in Mariachi blog post
- Going Varsity in Mariachi Worksheets – my store
- TPT Going Varsity in Mariachi
Cinco de mayo movies cartoon
If you are looking for family movies for cinco de mayo with very young kids. These fit the request if you want a cinco de mayo movie animated.
Cinco de mayo movies on Disney Plus
- The Book of Life
- Coco
- Mexico Untamed
- Spanish Class Documentaries on Disney+ – Buried Truth of the Maya
- Top 7 Short Spanish Movies on Disney+ – in particular The Last of the Chupacabras (13 min)
Mexican movies on Netflix – family-friendly
- Chupa
- The Casagrandes Movie
- El camino de Xico
- Going Varsity in Mariachi
- Maya y los tres – show with 30 minute episodes
- more >> Appropriate Spanish Language Movies on Netflix
More Resources to Learn about Mexico
- Novice-level Mexico reading
- Piñata Mini-Unit
- Día de Muertos Songs for Spanish class
- The Best Movies to Teach the Day of the Dead
- Indigenous Peoples in Spanish class
Coco Slides Freebie – cinco de mayo movie animated
How many of these movies have you seen or used with your students? Which one if your favorite?
