While networks like Freeform dedicate entire weeks worth of programming to celebrating holidays like Christmas and Halloween, we'd like to direct your attention to the amazing movies celebrating the Day of the Dead. In case you need a little background, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos or Día de Muertos in Spanish) is a holiday celebrated primarily in Mexico, but also all around the world by people of Mexican heritage. During the Day of the Dead (which takes place every year on November 1 and 2), lost loved ones are remembered and celebrated. More than that, some believe that the spirits of the dead return to earth during the holiday to celebrate with their families and loved ones.
When celebrating Día de Muertos, families traditionally create altars (known as ofrendas) where they place offerings including food, flowers, candles, photographs, and other significant items—including sugar skulls, which are widely associated with the holiday—to honor the dead.
While binge-watching Day of the Dead-themed movies is not a traditional part of the festivities, that doesn't mean they're not worth watching. Actually, some of these films give smart, pensive reflections on death, family, and memory...and then some of them are just movies that feature cool Día de los Muertos set pieces. Some delve into the exact details of the holidays...and some just kinda graze the surface. But if you can't get enough or want to learn more about the Mexican tradition, here are 27 films to get you started.
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La Leyenda de la Nahuala
This animated movie is equal parts cute, silly, and adventure-packed. It takes you way back to the Day of the Dead in 1807 in what was then called New Spain. Leo, a scaredy-cat introvert (can relate) has to muster up the courage to rescue his brother from the haunted Nahuala house. If you like this movie, you can also check out its four sequels: La Leyenda de la Llorona, La leyenda de las Momias, La Leyenda del Chupacabras, and La Leyenda del Charro Negro.
Sugar Skull Girls
This horror film incorporates the Day of the Dead into its supernatural plot as three demonic sisters are accidentally conjured up from the other side during an attempt to raise a little girl from the dead that goes horribly wrong.
Día de Muertos
If time is of the essence, this lil' four-and-a-half-minute short will get you ready for the holiday in a snappy manner. The animation is simplistic but beautiful in telling the story of a child who travels to the world of those who have left us, and it has an ending that'll leave you feeling emotional.
Coco
This Pixar instant-classic is a gorgeous, colorful celebration of Mexican culture and traditions. The story is uplifting and will make your soul feel as good as the animation will make your eyes feel. And if you didn't realize the power of looking at beautiful things, then you clearly have not seen Coco yet and should rectify that immediately.
The Book of Life
Another animated movie that draws on the rich culture and tradition of the holiday, but with a distinctly beautiful animation style and carefree tone that set it apart.
Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life
If you're up for a documentary (and you want to learn more—which, why wouldn't you?), check out this comprehensive, stunning, educational but also riveting film. Warning: It'll make you want to experience the festivities immediately.
The Aztec Mummy
This 1957 cult classic is appropriately dated (see also the special effects), but is the first of three movies featuring the fascinating Popoca the Aztec Mummy. Great news, you can watch the whole movie for free below.
Assassins
Hi Antonio!! Along with Sylvester Stallone, the two actors star in this fairly silly film that (you guessed it—there's a pattern forming) has a pivotal scene take place during a Day of the Dead parade.
The Big Wish
Mexican orphan Salma has been told her parents abandoned her, so she takes the holiday as an opportunity to maybe meet them for the first time. (Appropriately child-age) adventures ensue.
A Night in Old Mexico
This movie stars Robert Duvall as a guy hoping to connect with his grandson. Amidst the celebrations in Mexico, there's some plot shenanigans about stolen money, a romance, and so on.
3 From Hell
Lol, but also, this sequel to The Devil's Rejects features a lot of Rob Zombie-gore—oh yes, and a whole action set piece around Day of the Dead. Do not watch this one if you don't do on-screen violence.
El Muerto
This adaptation of a comic book series stars Wilmer Valderrama as a young Mexican-American sacrificed and returned to Earth by Aztec gods. Also—a local Día de los Muertos festival features.
De Un Jalón Hasta el Panteón
This sweet hand-drawn short is all about appreciating life (and truly remembering those we lost)—also, it's all of seven minutes long, and you can watch the whole YouTube clip above.
Hasta Los Huesos/Down to the Bone
Another short that you can literally watch right now, this has gorge stop-motion animation and has kind of a Nightmare Before Christmas but Day of the Dead feel to it. Which I can appreciate!
Día de los Muertos
Don't sleep on this 3-minute short, which is all about a little girl who (sniff) lost her mom and (sniffff) is briefly reunited with her in the afterlife. Again—watch the whole thing right now if you want, but be absolutely ready to cry!
Macario
This amazing movie is a bit of everything—fantasy, drama, supernatural. The film, which takes place on the eve of the Day of the Dead, was also the first Mexican movie to be nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
The Halloween Tree
Based on the Ray Bradbury novel of the same name, The Halloween Tree follows four friends as they embark on a magical journey on Halloween to save their friend, Pip. Their adventure includes stops in different times and places throughout history that explain the cultural origins and significance of the costumes each child is wearing—including a stop in Mexico to learn about the significance of skeletons in the Day of the Dead festival.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
The final movie in Robert Rodriguez's Mexico Trilogy, this modern western stars Antonio Banderas as the iconic El Mariachi and also stars Salma Hayek and Johnny Depp. The movie, although not amazing in and of itself, features an amazing Day of the Dead sequence.
All Souls Day
Also known by the alternate title All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos, this 2005 zombie flick focuses on a small town in Mexico where locals present a human sacrifice to the spirits of the original inhabitants of the town every year on the Day of the Dead—and what happens when a couple of outsiders end up interrupting said yearly sacrifice.
Under the Volcano
This drama, based on English writer Malcolm Lowry's semi-autobiographical 1947 novel, follows the last 24 hours in the life of an alcoholic British former consul named Geoffrey Firmin. Its setting: A small Mexican town called Quauhnahuac on the Day of the Dead in 1938.
Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters
If you're looking for another family-friendly Day of the Dead watch option, there's always Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters on Netflix. In it, the Super Monsters visit Vida's hometown to celebrate Día de los Muertos with her fam.
The Night Crew
This 2015 action/horror movie doesn't have a full plot revolving around Día de Muertos, but it does includes a pivotal scene set during a Day of the Dead Parade that will help set your mood for the holiday.
The Crow: City of Angels
This objectively terrible sequel to the cult classic has a measly 11 percent on Rotten Tomatoes...but again, some of it takes place during the holiday, so it goes on the list. Listen, we need more Day of the Dead movies, obviously. You listening, Hollywood?
Katherine J Igoe (she/her) was a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan and is a freelancer covering style, lifestyle, culture, and beauty (she's obsessed with gift guides, best-of movie lists, and beauty products). She's been a freelance writer and editor for over a decade, previously working for Marie Claire (2018 to 2021) and Bustle (2021), with bylines in the The New York Times, Parents magazine, and elsewhere. She lives in Boston with her family, and you can follow her on Instagram or Twitte. It's "I go to dinner," not "Her huge ego," but she responds to both.
