# The most memorable telenovelas of all time

Los ricos también lloran, Cuna de lobos, Thalía's Marías, Ugly Betty's original Yo soy Betty, la fea, Pasión de gavilanes, Rebelde and Avenida Brasil: the Latin American telenovelas that defined an era, according to AARP en Español.

- 688 votes · 17 items
- Jun 18, 2024 · Marina
- https://even.best/en/l/5031/the-most-memorable-telenovelas-of-all-time

## Top 17

1. **El derecho de nacer** (64 · ▲66 ▼2) — Cuba, 1948; Mexico, 1952 and 1981. A radio serial brought to TV: the pioneering melodrama of an aristocratic family, touching on race and class.
2. **Papá corazón** (54 · ▲57 ▼3) — Argentina, 1973. The orphan girl who talks to her late mother's ghost; remade in Mexico as "Mundo de juguete".
3. **Los ricos también lloran** (48 · ▲52 ▼4) — Mexico, 1979. A woman searches for the son she abandoned; it made Verónica Castro a star.
4. **Por estas calles** (43 · ▲47 ▼4) — Venezuela, 1992. Venezuela's economic crisis and social reality, in prime time.
5. **Cuna de lobos** (39 · ▲45 ▼6) — Mexico, 1986. The one with Catalina Creel, for many the best villain in TV history.
6. **Rebelde** (31 · ▲35 ▼4) — Mexico, 2004. The teen phenomenon that gave birth to the band RBD.
7. **María la del barrio** (28 · ▲31 ▼3) — Mexico, 1995. A modern take on "Los ricos también lloran" that launched Thalía worldwide.
8. **Marimar** (26 · ▲31 ▼5) — Mexico, 1994. The second of Thalía's Marías, a hit across half the world.
9. **María Mercedes** (24 · ▲32 ▼8) — Mexico, 1992. The first of Thalía's "María trilogy".
10. **El privilegio de amar** (24 · ▲31 ▼7) — Mexico, 1998. Inspired by Venezuela's "Cristal": forbidden love and redemption.
11. **Corazón salvaje** (23 · ▲29 ▼6) — Mexico, 1993. A period adventure set in the early 1900s, based on Caridad Bravo Adams' novel.
12. **Floricienta** (22 · ▲27 ▼5) — Argentina, 2004. The teen Cinderella story whose finale was performed live before 3,000 people in Buenos Aires.
13. **El Señor de los Cielos** (21 · ▲26 ▼5) — United States, 2013-2023. Inspired by Amado Carrillo; it won the first Emmy for Spanish-language primetime programming.
14. **Yo soy Betty, la fea** (17 · ▲25 ▼8) — Colombia, 1999-2001. The most successful telenovela ever according to Guinness, with more than 25 adaptations.
15. **Avenida Brasil** (17 · ▲23 ▼6) — Brazil, 2012. Sold to 130 countries: the second most successful telenovela ever.
16. **La reina del sur** (11 · ▲15 ▼4) — United States (Telemundo), 2011. Kate del Castillo in Pérez-Reverte's novel, with a $10 million budget.
17. **Pasión de gavilanes** (6 · ▲21 ▼15) — Colombia, 2003. Three brothers seek revenge by seducing three sisters; it got a second season almost 20 years later.

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.