The best Mexican telenovelas of all time
The top 3 according to 548 votes from people: Cuna de lobos · The Rich Also Cry · Corazón salvaje. (Updated Jan 9, 2026.)
The Mexican telenovelas with the best IMDb ratings, biggest audiences and most exports, according to El Siglo de Torreón, El Informador and fan rankings.
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 15
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1
Cuna de lobos
1986. Catalina Creel and her eye patch; Mexico's most-watched telenovela, averaging 53 rating points.
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2
The Rich Also Cry
1979. Verónica Castro as Mariana; exported to over a hundred countries and dubbed into 25 languages.
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3
Corazón salvaje
1993. Eduardo Palomo and Edith González in the best-remembered version of Caridad Bravo Adams' novel.
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4
De pura sangre
1985. Christian Bach and Humberto Zurita; rated 9 on IMDb, the highest on the list.
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5
El privilegio de amar
1998. Helena Rojo and Adela Noriega; a 34.8-point average rating.
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6
María la del barrio
1995. Thalía, in the telenovela that made her famous around the world.
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7
Mirada de mujer
TV Azteca, 1997. Angélica Aragón as a mature woman who falls for a younger man; it broke the mould.
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8
Rosa salvaje
1987. Verónica Castro and Guillermo Capetillo.
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9
Simplemente María
1989. Victoria Ruffo as a seamstress who succeeds in Mexico City.
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10
Rebelde
2004. The students of Elite Way School and the birth of the band RBD.
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11
Marimar
1994. Thalía as a young woman from the coast; a phenomenon in the Philippines and elsewhere.
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12
Amor real
2003. Adela Noriega in 19th-century Mexico.
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13
La usurpadora
1998. Gabriela Spanic in the dual role of Paola and Paulina.
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14
Carrusel
1989. A teacher and her primary school pupils; it marked a whole generation.
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15
Pasión y poder
1988. Diana Bracho, Enrique Rocha and Claudia Islas; 8.9 on IMDb.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 15… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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16
Teresa
Televisa soap opera (2010), remake of the 1959 one, starring Angelique Boyer.
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17
The most beautiful ugly
Mexican adaptation of Ugly Betty (2006), with Angélica Vale and Jaime Camil.
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18
Quinceanera
Youth soap opera from 1987 with Adela Noriega and Thalía, a pioneer in dealing with adolescent themes.
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 (9)
La usurpadora con las dos Gabrielas Spanic, la veía con mi abuela.
Marimar y el perro Pulgoso jajaja
Cuna de lobos primera, Catalina Creel con su parche, la mejor villana de la historia.
Rebelde marcó a toda una generación, yo tenía todos los discos de RBD.
Carrusel, mi infancia entera 🥹
María la del barrio, «¡Maldita lisiada!» 😂 Soraya Montenegro es icónica.
Corazón salvaje de 1993 es la mejor versión.
Los ricos también lloran fue un éxito hasta en Rusia.
Faltan Teresa, La fea más bella y Quinceañera.