8 movies and TV shows that showcase the Latine experience

Currently, it’s hard to think about Latine content that's readily available to watch. Don’t worry! Look no further for popular tv shows and movies worth bingeing on.

While it can be said that there is a lack of representation of the Latine community in the entertainment industry, there are a few shining lights that everybody should take the time to watch.

Here is a list of a few tv shows and movies with Latine representation that everyone should definitely watch.

The “Selena” movie starring Jennifer Lopez has to be a staple for most people who identify as Latine. The movie is a biographical drama telling the life story of Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla, who was murdered in 1995 at the young age of 23. The movie takes you from the start of her musical career with her family band Selena y Los Dinos to the height of her career before her untimely passing.

“One Day at a Time” was a Latine reboot of the 1970’s American sitcom of the same name and showcased a Cuban American family living in Los Angeles. The show presented many different issues with storylines such as mental illness, racism, homophobia and addiction. With popular Latine actors such as Justina Machado and Rita Moreno behind the project, it’s no wonder that the show was met with initial success with audiences. “One Day at a Time” ran for three seasons with Netflix before moving to Pop TV for its fourth and final season.

The “George Lopez” sitcom was created by Latino comedian George Lopez in which he portrayed a fictional version of himself living life in Los Angeles, California with his family. The show ran for six seasons between 2002 and 2007. While the sitcom has been off air for over a decade now, it still lived on with its consistent syndication on various channels. Lopez’s comedic talent made the show not only fun to watch but relatable for the Latine community.

Netflix TV series “Gentefied” is a comedy drama detailing the lives of a Mexican American family trying to get by and achieve their dreams. It’s certainly one of the most recent television series that represents a relatable sense of what it feels like to be Latine living in America. “Gentefied” premiered with raving reviews for its first season in 2020 and only just released its second season on Nov. 10 of this year.

“Jane the Virgin” was a comedy drama series produced by The CW that took an American spin on the telenovela genre that Latin America is famous for. While it was produced in America, “Jane the Virgin” still did a good job representing the Latine community. The show was about Venezuelan American Jane Villanueva as she tries to navigate her life after being artificially inseminated at a doctors visit. If you are looking for some crazy twists and turns, “Jane the Virgin” is the show for you.

A teen comedy drama about four friends that live in a neighborhood called Freeridge in Los Angeles as they navigate high school. “On My Block” has maintained steady positive reviews and is one of the few successful tv series produced by Netflix to showcase Latine stories.

“Instructions not Included” is a comedy drama starring, written and directed by Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez. The film centers around Valentín Bravo who finds work in the American entertainment industry as a stuntman after being surprised with a baby daughter he was not aware existed. The story follows him as he tries to navigate life as a single dad in a country he is initially not familiar with.

“Coco”, a Disney Pixar movie that presents a beautiful depiction of the Mexican holiday Día de los muertos (Day of the dead). The movie follows Miguel who dreams to be a musician despite his families mysterious aversion to the occupation. When he is discovered and reprimanded to be harboring his love for music, he runs away and finds himself in the Land of the Dead. With the help of families members that have since passed, Miguel tries to find his way home all the while trying to understand why exactly his love for music is hated within his family. “Coco” is one of the first major Disney Pixar movies to center around a Latine storyline and to feature an all Latine cast.

All these movies and tv shows gave the latine story a chance to be broadcasted on millions of screens across the world. From biographical films to animated Pixar movies, these Latine centered stories play a major part in making sure our culture is seen and understood beyond our own homes.