The best Spanish films of all time
The top 3 according to 28 votes from people: Viridiana · Plácido · The South. (Updated Jan 13, 2024.)
The top ten of Caimán Cuadernos de Cine's big poll of 350 experts (critics, historians, programmers) and the titles that come up most in other rankings and among FilmAffinity viewers.
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 25
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1
Viridiana
Luis Buñuel, 1961. A novice, some beggars and a blasphemous Last Supper; Palme d'Or and banned in Spain. Number one in the Caimán poll.
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2
Plácido
Luis García Berlanga, 1961. The 'Sit a Poor Man at Your Table' campaign one Christmas Eve; Oscar-nominated.
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3
The South
Víctor Erice, 1983. Estrella and the mystery of her father; an unfinished masterpiece.
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4
The Executioner
Luis García Berlanga, 1963. An undertaker's assistant ends up inheriting his father-in-law's job as executioner.
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5
Rapture
Iván Zulueta, 1979. A filmmaker in crisis, heroin and a camera that absorbs whoever it films.
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6
The Hunt
Carlos Saura, 1966. Three Civil War veterans on a rabbit hunt; Silver Bear in Berlin.
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7
The Spirit of the Beehive
Víctor Erice, 1973. Ana Torrent and the Frankenstein of a travelling cinema in post-war Castile.
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8
Strange Voyage
Fernando Fernán-Gómez, 1964. A crime in a village near Madrid inspired by a real case.
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9
The Disenchantment
Jaime Chávarri, 1976. The family of Francoist poet Leopoldo Panero settles scores on camera.
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10
Tristana
Luis Buñuel, 1970. Catherine Deneuve and Fernando Rey in Toledo, from Galdós.
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11
The Quince Tree Sun
Víctor Erice, 1992. The painter Antonio López tries to paint a quince tree; Jury Prize at Cannes.
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12
Mondays in the Sun
Fernando León de Aranoa, 2002. Javier Bardem and laid-off Vigo shipyard workers; five Goyas.
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13
The Sea Inside
Alejandro Amenábar, 2004. Javier Bardem as Ramón Sampedro; Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
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14
Life Goes On
Fernando Fernán-Gómez, 1963. Two sisters at odds in the poorest Madrid; censored and rediscovered decades later.
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15
Welcome Mr. Marshall!
Luis García Berlanga, 1953. Villar del Río dresses up as an Andalusian village to welcome the Americans.
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16
The Holy Innocents
Mario Camus, 1984. Paco Rabal and Alfredo Landa shared Best Actor at Cannes; Delibes' novel.
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17
Raise Ravens
Carlos Saura, 1976. Ana Torrent again, and Jeanette's 'Porque te vas'; Special Jury Prize at Cannes.
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18
Death of a Cyclist
Juan Antonio Bardem, 1955. Two lovers run over a cyclist and flee; FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes.
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19
Main Street
Juan Antonio Bardem, 1956. Betsy Blair and a cruel joke in a provincial town.
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20
The Little Coach
Marco Ferreri, 1960. José Isbert wants a motorised wheelchair like his friends'; written by Rafael Azcona.
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21
The National Shotgun
Luis García Berlanga, 1978. A hunting party of ministers and aristocrats in the final years of Francoism.
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22
Pan's Labyrinth
Guillermo del Toro, 2006. A Spanish-Mexican co-production set in post-war Spain; three Oscars and seven Goyas.
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23
Amanece, que no es poco
José Luis Cuerda, 1989. A cult absurdist comedy in a village in the mountains of Albacete.
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24
All About My Mother
Pedro Almodóvar, 1999. Cecilia Roth in Barcelona; Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
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25
Poachers
José Luis Borau, 1975. A poacher and his mother in a Castilian forest; Golden Shell at San Sebastián.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (4)
Amanece, que no es poco en la lista, ¡alguien con buen gusto! 😄
Viridiana primera, la única Palma de Oro de una película española.
El espíritu de la colmena es la película más bonita del cine español. Ana Torrent mirando a cámara...
El verdugo es una comedia negrísima perfecta, Berlanga en estado puro.