This 16 of September, celebrate the rich history of Mexican cinema with Angel Cardenas’ list of top MUST WATCH Mexican Films.

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LOS CAIFANES (1967)

Rarely does a film manage to tackle the socio-economic landscape of the 1960s and completely revamp what a Mexican movie can look like all while being (in my opinion) the most inherently Mexican story ever put to screen.

Let me get this out of the way. By no means will you get through the movie without asking “what the hell is going on?” at least once. You probably wouldn’t think so if I told you the film is about a preppy upper-class Mexican couple being taken out on a reluctant and unapologetic joy ride in Mexico City by a group of “low class thugs”. Now take what you just imagined in your head and pretend you’re on acid. That’s pretty close to explaining what goes on in this film without actually watching it yourself.

I myself did not grow up in Mexico let alone Mexico in the 1960’s but the dialogue and the way the characters behave feel oddly familiar and true to life. It walks a fine line between naturalistic and stylistic that honestly not a lot of films can pull off. What’s really incredible and pretty inspiring is that it’s closely aligned to the Mexican films of the time in terms of characters, aesthetic, and culture but it takes an experimental approach.

I know for some it’s challenging to watch older movies but even with a TikTok attention span you’ll stay engaged. In lots of ways, the film feels very modern in its ideas and content at least within the context of the time. I recommend Los Caifanes to anybody just getting into Mexican cinema, a hidden gem if ever there was one.

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LA FÓRMULA SECRETA (1965)

If you recognize this title or any of these artists it’s likely because this film is already well known among certain artistic circles though it hasn’t really hit the mainstream like other European art house shorts. So, in a bid to combat this, I’ll give you just a taste of this artistically insane and ambitious film that these artists achieved.

Described as a “video essay”, this short pieces together a series of segments that range from disturbing, confusing, enthralling, and abstract. All essentially pointing back towards what can be considered as “the Mexican character”. What’s so interesting is that there isn’t just one way of interpreting the segments. Even after multiple watches, I’ve gained a new perspective and have come away with a more complete understanding.

But to be honest I feel it’s almost impossible to fully grasp everything the film presents and that’s the fun part. You get the sense that it doesn’t all have to make sense, it’s more about how it makes you feel. It’s pretty easy to throw out the term “ahead of its time” but watching this again in 2026, it really does feel timeless in its ideas and visuals despite obviously taking place in the 1960’s. I’ve seen all the widely available work from the director, Rubén Gámez, and it goes without saying he’s a genius of his craft and really needs more attention and worldwide acclaim for his work. La Formula Secreta is the perfect introduction into his heavily stylized and philosophical cinematic world. 

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MISTERIO (1980)

Now I’m will admit my reasons for including this film are entirely selfish simply because I just love it that much and it’s, for lack of a better word, fucking awesome and terribly underrated. Take a moment and imagine what it would look like if Videodrome and The Truman Show had a love child, and you’d basically get this film.

I won’t say much about the plot because it’s truly best to go in blind. From start to finish it’s impossible to know what’s real and what is not and in this day and age where everything is spoon fed to you, this is so refreshing. You actually don’t think of “mysterious” or “psychological” or even “abstract” when you hear “Mexican film” but this is exactly THAT. This is almost a one off film because after watching nearly 300 Mexican films myself I can confirm there is no other film like it. Not to mention it is also directed by one of the few women directors who had some semblance of backing within a male dominated industry.

Violante herself is criminally underrated even among other Mexicans cinephiles who would have no idea what you’re talking about if you mention her work. When you see how unpredictable and exciting Misterio is, you’ll realize how big of a shame it is that it is not more well known today.

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PRINCIPIO Y FIN (1993)

This wouldn’t be a proper Mexican cinema list without at least one Arturo Ripstein film so here we are. The fact that I met him in person at a retrospective of his work at Los Feliz 3 in Los Angeles and that this was one of the most memorable moments in my movie going experiences doesn’t hurt either.

Now that the shameless bragging is out of the way, if you have no idea what this movie is and wonder what it feels like watching this 3 hour emotional trip, it’s like a sucker punch. Reminiscent of Ari Aster or Abbas Kiarostami styles, this film in particular is very much in the vein of their work. We follow a young ambitious and dirt poor student named Gabriel who is desperate to make it into a prestigious school and maintain a respectable and posh reputation to get his family and himself out of poverty. His mother leads his entire family to sacrifice living their own lives to help Gabriel achieve this high-class status and they stop at nothing to do so (often in disturbing and emotionally troubling fashion).

Despite all of this, it’s hard not to root for the family and relate to Gabriel in some strange way. We all have that one desire, that one dream we would do anything in the world to turn into a reality. We all say this but this family does exactly that and it’s nothing short of insanity. While you’ll definitely need some thick skin to get through this, it is definitely a must watch.

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LOS INSÓLITOS PECES GATO (2013)

Written and Directed by Claudia Sainte-Luce 

There are few Mexican films as heartfelt and genuine as this family drama is. Unfortunately, modern Mexican films are often made to make a profit through simple laughs or mindless entertainment. But that’s not the case here. You can tell there was care and an important purpose behind making this. At the heart of the story is a woman who experiences loneliness and mental health struggles while in search of a family to call her own. These are themes and ideas that really aren’t addressed in Mexican cinema or really even Mexican society.

For anyone who grew up like this, it’s almost therapeutic to watch and experience this through the main character Claudia. The rest of the characters and family members are charming and unproblematic so all the drama really just comes from everyday life, something rarely shown anymore. This won’t be everybody’s cup of tea and it is not the most digestible movie but for the sentimental value and mental health depiction it gets my vote. I’m a pretty emotional watcher, so for anyone who needs that extra kick in their life right now, this one is for you.