15 Spanish Christmas Movies for This Holiday Season
Watching Christmas movies is a universal tradition loved among various cultures and parts of the world. Many English-language classics have been dubbed in Spanish, and there are even some original Spanish films made just for the holidays.
In this post, you’ll get 15 excellent Spanish Christmas movies you can add to your watchlist. These films are heartwarming, action-packed and will add something special to your holiday season.
Contents
- 1. “Klaus”
- 2. “Plácido”
- 3. “El Día de la bestia” (“The Day of the Beast”)
- 4. “Operación regalo” (“Arthur Christmas”)
- 5. “Las crónicas de Navidad” (“The Christmas Chronicles”)
- 6. “El expreso polar” (“The Polar Express”)
- 7. “El Grinch” (“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”)
- 8. “Feliz Christmas, Merry Navidad”
- 9. “El aprendiz de Papá Noel y el copo de nieve mágico” (“The Magic Snowflake”)
- 10. “A mil kilómetros de la Navidad” (“1000 Miles from Christmas”)
- 11. “Los Reyes Magos” (“The Three Wise Men”)
- 12. “Los Reyes Magos: La verdad” (“The Three Wise Men: The Truth”)
- 13. “Reyes contra Santa” (“The Three Wise Kings vs. Santa”)
- 14. “Navidad, S.A.” (“X-mas, Inc.”)
- 15. “Noche de Reyes” (“The Twelfth Night”)
- Tips for Learning from Spanish Christmas Movies
- And One More Thing…
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1. “Klaus”
Year: 2019
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
This animated film is originally in English, but you can watch the Spanish-dubbed version by changing the language settings on Netflix. The movie follows the journey of a young, selfish postman named Jesper who’s exiled to the Arctic Circle in the town of Smeerensburg. There, he encounters a mysterious carpenter named Klaus who makes toys for children.
The film beautifully illustrates the power of selflessness, kindness and the joy of giving. With its stunning animation, clever humor and touching message, “Klaus” has become a beloved addition to the pantheon of festive family films.
2. “Plácido”
Watch it on The Criterion Channel
Year: 1961
Genre: Comedy/Drama
“Plácido” is a Spanish satire comedy film that takes place on Christmas Eve. It tells the story of wealthy townsfolk who reluctantly take on a charity initiative to bring a homeless person home to dinner.
Meanwhile, a truck driver named Plácido is working for the charity organization as a means of paying an overdue payment on his truck. He gains a new perspective on his life as he encounters the less fortunate. “Plácido” offers a classic film experience with a glimpse at social mobility and classism in 1950s Spain.
3. “El Día de la bestia” (“The Day of the Beast”)
Watch it (for free!) on Prime Video
Year: 1995
Genre: Dark Comedy
“El Día de la Bestia” is not your average Christmas movie. The story revolves around a priest, Ángel, who believes that the Antichrist will be born on Christmas Day in Madrid. In a desperate quest to prevent this, Ángel teams up with a heavy metal store clerk and a TV psychic.
They engage in a series of bizarre and sacrilegious acts to summon the Devil and find the location of the Antichrist’s birth. The film offers a unique blend of black humor, religious satire and a thrilling storyline, making it a cult classic in Spanish cinema.
4. “Operación regalo” (“Arthur Christmas”)
Year: 2011
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
“Operación Regalo” (“Arthur Christmas”) is a British-American animated film that offers a delightful take on the traditional Santa Claus story. Santa’s clumsy but kind-hearted son Arthur discovers that Santa’s high-tech delivery system failed to deliver one child’s present. On a mission to save her Christmas, Arthur sets off to deliver her missed present in just two short hours.
Filled with humor and adventure, the film is a joyous tale that captures the magic of the holiday season. You can watch it in Spanish on Netflix by changing the audio settings (a VPN might be needed to access the film).
5. “Las crónicas de Navidad” (“The Christmas Chronicles”)
Year: 2018
Genre: Comedy/Drama
This is another Christmas movie that was originally in English but has been dubbed in Spanish. The story follows two siblings who embark on an unexpected adventure to capture footage of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. However, their plans go awry, and they end up causing Santa to crash his sleigh.
To save Christmas, they team up with Santa himself in a race against time to deliver presents and thwart a mischievous elf’s antics. Filled with humor, heartwarming moments and spectacular visuals, it’s a must-watch holiday movie for the whole family. If you enjoy it, you can watch the sequel next.
6. “El expreso polar” (“The Polar Express”)
Year: 2004
Genre: Animated Musical
“El Expreso Polar” is the Spanish-dubbed version of the well-known film “The Polar Express.” It’s a heartwarming tale of a young boy’s journey to rediscover his belief in Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, a mysterious train called the Polar Express arrives at his doorstep, bound for the North Pole.
The boy boards the train, and together with other children, embarks on an extraordinary adventure. The film’s visually stunning animation and the theme of preserving the magic of childhood make it a beloved holiday classic. The film is based on a book of the same title, so you can read and watch the story.
7. “El Grinch” (“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”)
Year: 2000
Genre: Comedy/Family/Fantasy
This well-known Christmas film is a live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s classic tale. The Grinch, a grumpy and reclusive creature with a strong dislike for Christmas, decides to steal the holiday from the joyful Whos of Whoville.
But as he witnesses the Whos’ unshakeable holiday spirit, his icy heart begins to thaw and his desire to ruin their Christmas transforms into a feeling of connection.
You can head over to our YouTube channel for scene breakdowns and language lessons based on the movie:
8. “Feliz Christmas, Merry Navidad”
Year: 1999
Genre: Family
“Feliz Christmas, Merry Navidad” is a Mexican Christmas film originally released in Mexico and the USA. As the title suggests, it’s filled with Spanglish. After her husband’s death, a woman and her son leave their Miami home to spend Christmas with their family in her hometown in Mexico. In doing so, they both discover the true meaning of family, friendship and Christmas.
This kid-friendly and cross-cultural holiday film provides viewers with an enhanced perspective on Mexican culture and holiday traditions. You can watch the entire movie for free on YouTube.
9. “El aprendiz de Papá Noel y el copo de nieve mágico” (“The Magic Snowflake”)
Year: 2013
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
This animated film was originally released in French but has since become beloved worldwide in multiple languages. In this moving holiday tale, Nicholas, the apprentice to Santa Claus, faces a crisis when one of Santa’s magic snowflakes, responsible for ensuring a white Christmas, goes missing.
Alongside his loyal companions, Nicholas embarks on a delightful adventure to retrieve the snowflake before Christmas Eve. The film is filled with the spirit of Christmas, highlighting the values of teamwork and friendship. It’s a family-friendly movie that captures the joy and wonder of the holiday season.
10. “A mil kilómetros de la Navidad” (“1000 Miles from Christmas”)
Year: 2021
Genre: Romantic Comedy
“A mil kilómetros de la Navidad” is a Spanish Christmas film directed by Álvaro Fernández Armero and starring Tamar Novas and Andrea Ros. It’s a Netflix original film about Raúl, a man who hates Christmas. Over the holiday season, he must audit a factory in a remote village where the people love Christmas and the local teacher wants to create the world’s largest living nativity scene.
Filled with touching moments, humor and some romance, this film captures the joys and struggles of the holiday season.
11. “Los Reyes Magos” (“The Three Wise Men”)
Year: 2003
Genre: Animation
This is a Spanish animated film about the Three Kings who deliver the gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh to baby Jesus. To make the three wise men’s quest even more difficult, wicked King Herod plans to stop them and his evil counselor, Belial, is among them in disguise, trying to sabotage their mission.
This modern-day take on the biblical legend is fun and family-friendly. Director Antonio Navarro was nominated for a Goya Award for this film, which features the voices of José Coronado, Juan Echanove and Imanol Arias.
12. “Los Reyes Magos: La verdad” (“The Three Wise Men: The Truth”)
Year: 2022
Genre: Comedy
This Spanish comedy is a mock documentary about the Three Wise Men who allow a film crew into their palace for the first time. They hope to share their daily lives with the world in order to hold onto their relevancy and popularity, as they see that Santa is getting all the love and attention.
The clash of these ancient characters with the modern world creates absolute absurdity and will have you laughing out loud. It’s a great option for a holiday movie night with friends or family.
13. “Reyes contra Santa” (“The Three Wise Kings vs. Santa”)
Year: 2022
Genre: Comedy
Another funny take on the biblical story of the Three Wise Men, this Spanish movie depicts the struggle for attention between Santa and the Wise Men. When the trio gets fed up with Santa getting more and more attention and adoration, they plan to confront him.
This struggle between them awakens the dangerous Krampus from its centuries-long sleep, and the Wise Men and Santa will have to come together to fight against their common enemy. This film will add both festivity and laughs to your Spanish Christmas watchlist.
14. “Navidad, S.A.” (“X-mas, Inc.”)
Year: 2008
Genre: Comedy/Fantasy
This Mexican film combines the classic story of Santa Claus with the modern-day problems of global warming. The North Pole is melting, and the capitalist nature of the holiday has caused waste and destruction.
Santa must find a way to contend with these challenges and bring back the true spirit of Christmas beyond consumption and greed while dealing with a rogue elf who’s trying to turn Santa’s workshop into a profitable business. The film offers plenty of action, humor and relevant issues.
15. “Noche de Reyes” (“The Twelfth Night”)
Year: 2001
Genre: Comedy
“Noche de Reyes” follows the Cuspineda family, who hopes to celebrate the Twelfth Night after the father signs a lucrative contract with a Japanese company. Things don’t go according to plan, and a series of incidents follows including tough business decisions, marital affairs and misunderstandings.
The humorous film provides you with an up close and personal look at family life in 21st-century Spain. Though much of the film is a stretch on reality, the emotion is believable and the jokes are funny.
Tips for Learning from Spanish Christmas Movies
If you’re learning Spanish, watching movies is a great learning tool. Here are some ways to make your watching time even more effective:
- Skip the subtitles. Watching a movie without subtitles provides a natural listening scenario, which will challenge your brain and help you get better at listening to native speakers. If you’re not ready to ditch the subtitles just yet, choose Spanish subtitles rather than your native language. That way, you can listen to the words as you read them.
- Photograph the subtitles. If you’re watching with Spanish subtitles, take photos or screenshots of the words and phrases you aren’t familiar with. You can then use them to make flashcards so you can practice regularly. Not only will you have the text, but you’ll have visual imagery as well, which can provide added context to help you remember the word.
- Choose one topic as your focus. Before watching, choose one topic to focus on while you watch the movie commensurate with your level and what you’ve been working on lately. For example, you could listen for Christmas vocabulary, Christmas cultural traditions, adjectives or the subjunctive. Make a list as you hear words or phrases on your topic while watching.
- Rewind and rewatch parts you didn’t understand. If you come across something you just didn’t understand, don’t hesitate to rewind the film and watch it again. Pay close attention when you rewatch. Use the words you do know and combine them with the context and visual imagery to help you infer meanings.
- Watch with a language-learning friend. Enhance your movie experience by watching with a friend who’s also learning Spanish. The two of you will likely notice and understand different things. You can ask each other clarifying questions during the film and discuss it afterward (preferably in Spanish).
If you have a friend who’s a native speaker, invite them over to watch a favorite holiday film. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something. Most people are excited that you’re interested in their language, so they’ll be more than happy to help you.
- Write a movie review in Spanish. After watching, write a movie review of the film in Spanish to gauge your memory and understanding while practicing your Spanish writing skills. Write a first draft without using a dictionary or your notes. Then go back and check your accuracy and make appropriate changes. Try to use the new words you wrote down while watching or the grammar topic you were focusing on!
What are you waiting for? Grab some popcorn and holiday-themed treats and queue up one of these Spanish Christmas movies!
And for more Spanish-language content (holiday-themed and otherwise), the FluentU program can help.
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Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And One More Thing…
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