List

Perspectives of Hispanic Heritage on Screen for Family Viewing

By Sharon Weinberg

Enjoy this list of movies and TV series. Age recommendations provided by commonsensemedia.org.

Wish
2024
An animated musical film to celebrate Disney’s 100 anniversary. It follows 17-year-old Asha, who makes a wish upon a star and is surprised when a small magical star comes down from the sky to be friends and then helps to challenge the evil king. Asha is Afro-Latina and voiced by Ariana DeBose, who won an Oscar in 2022 for her role as Anita in West Side Story. Recommended for age 6+.

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Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
2023
The long-awaited sequel to the 2011 Puss in Boots, this delivers wholehearted imaginative storytelling and is sure to delight viewers of all ages. The animation is gorgeous, and the knockout voice cast includes Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinaultfor, and Harvey Guillén. It rightfully received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. Recommended for age 8+.

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Vivo
2022
It's an animated musical comedy with awfully cute characters. The lively songs are written by the multitalented Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also voices Vivo, a kinkajou who goes on an epic journey to deliver a love song. Along the way he meets Gabi (voiced by newcomer Ynairaly Simo), and she becomes his new friend and fellow adventurer. Recommended for age 6+.

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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
2023
Everything about this movie is next level. It’s the highly anticipated sequel to Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse. Here, Miles Morales ventures into the Multiverse, joining Gwen Stacy and other Spider-People as a threat to their existence looms large. The first won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in 2019. This was nominated in the same category. Recommended for age 9+.

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Encanto
2022
With vivid characters, great music, and a marvelous Latine voice cast, the story follows a Colombian teenage girl, who seems to be the only member of her family without a magical gift, as she confronts an existential threat. This won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. Recommended for age 6+.

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The Casagrandes: The Complete First Season
2021
Eleven-year-old Ronnie Anne Santiago just moved with her mom and older brother to Great Lakes City to live with her extended Mexican-American family, the Casagrandes. You’ll surely be amused by her independent spirit, vibrant neighborhood, and new friends.

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Dora and the Lost City of Gold
2019
Based on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon TV series Dora the Explorer, this live action version, starring Isabela Merced, makes Dora Márquez a high school student who recently moved to Los Angeles from the Peruvian jungle. Plenty of adventure ensues when she and her classmates are unexpectedly flown to Peru and must race against time to unlock the mystery surrounding a hidden Inca city. Recommended for age 8+.

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Coco
2018
A fantasy/adventure/ghost story based on Mexican folklore and culture. The characters are awesome, the animation is gorgeous, and this has one of the best music soundtracks ever. Have you seen it already? Watch it again. You'll notice some cool details that you didn't catch before. Recommended for age 7+.

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Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
2009
For spellbinding entertainment, see this 2009 Disney movie where wizard-in-training siblings get into all sorts of trouble during a family vacation in the Caribbean. Plus, watching Selena Gomez as the rebellious middle child is so much fun. Recommended for age 7+.

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The Book of Life

This not-so-ordinary fairytale begins on The Day of the Dead, when spirits travel between three worlds (the Living, the Remembered, and the Forgotten) and anything can happen. Stunningly animated, the movie follows Manolo who goes on an epic journey to reunite with his love, Maria. Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this definitely has his brand of creativity. Plus, the voice work from Diego Luna and Zoe Saldana is wonderful. Recommended for age 7+.

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