September 15 marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month- a month when people take some time to recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latin Americans to the United States and celebrate the group’s heritage and culture.
For this reason, we picked some of the most popular and remembered Hispanic movies whose stories tell not only the struggles of being a Latino in the United States, but also highlight the hopes, pride and achievements of Hispanic living in the United States.
El Norte (1983)
When a group of Mayan Indians decides to organize a labor union to improve conditions in their village, their community is violently destroyed by the Guatemalan army. Teenage siblings, Rosa and Enrique manage to escape the massacre and decide to start a new life in El Norte — the USA. The two trek through Mexico, meeting a variety of characters and facing trials and tribulations on their journey toward lives as illegal immigrants in Los Angeles.
Watch it on: iTunes
Stand and Deliver (1988)
The story of Jaime Escalante, a high school teacher who successfully inspired his dropout prone students to learn calculus.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, Google Play, iTunes
The Mambo Kings (1992)
Musician brothers Cesar and Nestor leave Cuba for America in the 1950s, hoping to hit the top of the Latin music scene.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play
My Family (1995)
An epic film that traces over three generations of an immigrant family’s trials, tribulations, tragedies and triumphs.
Watch it on: Amazon
Selena (1997)
The true story of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, a Texas-born Tejano singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart topping albums on the Latin music charts.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play
Tortilla Soup (2001)
A Mexican-American father and chef lost his ability to taste but his family still lives by one simple rule: be at home for Sunday dinner.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Tubi
Piñero (2001)
The true story of the explosive life of Puerto Rican icon and poet-playwright-actor Miguel Piñero, whose urban poetry is recognized as a pre-cursor to rap and hip-hop. Piñero’s prison experiences developed into the 1974 Tony-nominated play Short Eyes.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play
Real Women Have Curves (2002)
A coming of age story of a first generation Latina, her very traditional parents and the struggle to find a balance between mainstream ambitions and cultural heritage.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, HBO
Under the Same Moon (2007)
A young Mexican boy travels to the U.S. to find his mother-who has been working in the States to provide for him-after his grandmother passes away.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu
Cesar Chavez (2014)
A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Hulu
East Side Sushi (2014)
Against all odds, single Latina mum Juana aspires to become a sushi chef while working in a Japanese restaurant.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Kanopy
McFarland USA (2015)
The true story of a coach who turns seven Latino students with no hope into one of the best cross-country teams in the U.S.
Watch it on: Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play
Stolen Education (2017)
Stolen Education documents the untold story of Mexican-American school children who challenged discrimination in Texas schools in the 1950’s and changed the face of education in the Southwest.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime, Kanopy
Dolores (2017)
Raising 11 children while wrestling with gender bias, union defeat and victory, and nearly dying after a San Francisco Police beating, Dolores Huerta bucks 1950s gender conventions to co-found the country’s first farmworkers union.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu
On the Seventh Day (En el séptimo día) (2017)
José, the best player on his soccer team, is in a tough spot. He’s in the United States illegally, his pregnant wife in Mexico is planning on joining him, and he is supposed to be at work during the championship game.
Watch it on: YouTube, Google Play, HBO
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