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1960s – today

Spanish Cinema

Filmmakers who worked under and after the Franco dictatorship, from allegory to colourful melodrama.

Spanish film under Franco worked under censorship, so its directors learned to speak indirectly. Juan Antonio Bardem and Luis García Berlanga made satires in the 1950s that criticised the regime through comedy, Carlos Saura used childhood memory and symbols in films like Cría cuervos, and Víctor Erice's The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) became one of the great films about silence and fear. After the dictator's death in 1975 came a burst of freedom, led by Pedro Almodóvar's colourful melodramas and followed by Julio Medem, Carla Simón and others who mix personal and political themes.

Where
Spain
When
1950s to the present
Key figures
Luis García Berlanga, Juan Antonio Bardem, Carlos Saura, Víctor Erice, Pedro Almodóvar, Julio Medem, Carla Simón
Landmark films
Welcome Mr. Marshall! (1953), The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), Cría cuervos (1976), All About My Mother (1999)
Legacy
A rich tradition of coded political cinema and, after 1975, of bold personal filmmaking

What to look for

  • Meaning hidden behind symbols and childhood views
  • Satire and dark humour under censorship
  • After 1975, colour, melodrama and open treatment of sexuality

Famous Directors

Luis BuñuelSpain / MexicoVíctor EriceSpainPedro AlmodóvarSpainCarlos SauraSpainLuis García BerlangaSpainJuan Antonio BardemSpainJulio MedemSpainCarla SimónSpainMario CamusSpainEmilio Martínez-LázaroSpainJosé Luis García SánchezSpainEva LibertadSpainCésar Fernández ArdavínSpainTomás MuñozSpain

Top films · 81 films

  1. Los Olvidados 1950 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 8.2
  2. The Holy Innocents 1984 · Mario Camus · IMDb 8.1
  3. Viridiana 1961 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 8.0
  4. El 1953 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.9
  5. The Exterminating Angel 1962 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.9
  6. Cría cuervos 1976 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.9
  7. Welcome Mr. Marshall! 1953 · Luis García Berlanga · IMDb 7.9
  8. The Executioner 1963 · Luis García Berlanga · IMDb 7.9
  9. Talk to Her 2002 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.9
  10. Simon of the Desert 1965 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.8
  11. That Obscure Object of Desire 1977 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.8
  12. El Sur 1983 · Víctor Erice · IMDb 7.8
  13. Plácido 1961 · Luis García Berlanga · IMDb 7.8
  14. All About My Mother 1999 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.8
  15. Nazarín 1959 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.7
  16. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie 1972 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.7
  17. The Phantom of Liberty 1974 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.7
  18. The Spirit of the Beehive 1973 · Víctor Erice · IMDb 7.7
  19. Death of a Cyclist 1955 · Juan Antonio Bardem · IMDb 7.7
  20. Main Street 1956 · Juan Antonio Bardem · IMDb 7.7
  21. Un chien andalou 1929 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.6
  22. Belle de Jour 1967 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.6
  23. Volver 2006 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.6
  24. The Skin I Live In 2011 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.6
  25. Lovers of the Arctic Circle 1998 · Julio Medem · IMDb 7.6
  26. The Hunt 1966 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.5
  27. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown 1988 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.5
  28. Pain and Glory 2019 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.5
  29. Tristana 1970 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.4
  30. Blood Wedding 1981 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.4
  31. Carmen 1983 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.4
  32. Flamenco 1995 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.4
  33. The Heifer 1985 · Luis García Berlanga · IMDb 7.4
  34. Bad Education 2004 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.4
  35. Land Without Bread 1933 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.3
  36. Cousin Angelica 1974 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.3
  37. Elisa, My Life 1977 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.3
  38. Calabuch 1956 · Luis García Berlanga · IMDb 7.3
  39. Live Flesh 1997 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.3
  40. Deaf 2025 · Eva Libertad · IMDb 7.3
  41. Close Your Eyes 2023 · Víctor Erice · IMDb 7.2
  42. Los jueves, milagro 1957 · Luis García Berlanga · IMDb 7.2
  43. Broken Embraces 2009 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.2
  44. Tierra 1996 · Julio Medem · IMDb 7.2
  45. L'Âge d'Or 1930 · Luis Buñuel · IMDb 7.1
  46. ¡Ay, Carmela! 1990 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.1
  47. Law of Desire 1987 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.1
  48. Julieta 2016 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.1
  49. Parallel Mothers 2021 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.1
  50. Vacas 1992 · Julio Medem · IMDb 7.1
  51. The Red Squirrel 1993 · Julio Medem · IMDb 7.1
  52. Summer 1993 2017 · Carla Simón · IMDb 7.1
  53. Deprisa, Deprisa 1981 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 7.0
  54. Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! 1989 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.0
  55. High Heels 1991 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.0
  56. The Flower of My Secret 1995 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 7.0
  57. Sex and Lucia 2001 · Julio Medem · IMDb 7.0
  58. Alcarràs 2022 · Carla Simón · IMDb 7.0
  59. Tango 1998 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 6.9
  60. Vengeance 1958 · Juan Antonio Bardem · IMDb 6.9
  61. Matador 1986 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 6.9
  62. The Garden of Delights 1970 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 6.7
  63. Esa pareja feliz 1951 · Luis García Berlanga · IMDb 6.7
  64. The Room Next Door 2024 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 6.7
  65. Goya in Bordeaux 1999 · Carlos Saura · IMDb 6.6
  66. Las verdes praderas 1979 · José Luis García Sánchez · IMDb 6.6
  67. The Other Side of the Bed 2002 · Emilio Martínez-Lázaro · IMDb 6.4
  68. Divinas palabras 1987 · José Luis García Sánchez · IMDb 6.3
  69. El Lazarillo de Tormes 1959 · César Fernández Ardavín · IMDb 6.2
  70. Labyrinth of Passion 1982 · Pedro Almodóvar · IMDb 6.1
  71. Amo tu cama rica 1992 · Emilio Martínez-Lázaro · IMDb 6.0
  72. Room in Rome 2010 · Julio Medem · IMDb 6.0
  73. The Trout 1978 · José Luis García Sánchez · IMDb 5.7
  74. Ascensor 1978 · Tomás Muñoz · IMDb 5.6
  75. National Shotgun 1978 · Luis García Berlanga
  76. The Beehive 1982 · Mario Camus
  77. Comedians 1954 · Juan Antonio Bardem
  78. Eight Basque Surnames 2014 · Emilio Martínez-Lázaro
  79. The Quince Tree Sun 1992 · Víctor Erice
  80. Pepi, Luci, Bom 1980 · Pedro Almodóvar
  81. Life Size 1974 · Luis García Berlanga