August 7, 2021 by Carmen Rizzo Our Top Picks 0 comments

6 Penelope Cruz Movies You Don’t Want to Miss

Penelope Cruz is a versatile Spanish movie star with major roles in both Spanish and American movies. She acts in an amazingly diverse range of movies, but no matter what character she’s playing, the quality of her acting is top-notch.

Over her 20+ year acting career, she has changed and adapted to appeal to younger audiences without losing her essence. If you are a superfan of Penelope Cruz, or you are just interested in what kind of works she has been part of, this blog post is for you!

Let’s learn a little bit about her biography, why she is so important as a Latino icon in the film industry, and what her best works are to enjoy during your next movie night.

Let’s begin!

Who is Penelope Cruz?

Born on April 28, 1974 in Alcobendas near Madrid, Spain, Penelope Cruz began her studies in ballet and theater at a young age. She decided to pursue a career in movie acting when she was a teenager after watching a film directed by Pedro Almódovar, a renowned director from Spain with whom she would later collaborate.

In 1991, Penelope Cruz made her feature film debut in a movie called Jamón, Jamón (Ham, Ham). Since then, she’s been involved in dozens of movie projects. Her name is widely recognized both within and outside of the filmmaking industry.

Viewing Tips for Spanish Learners

Watching movies in Spanish is an excellent exercise to practice your fluency, attune your ears to Spanish, and learn new expressions and vocabulary and new applications for those!

While this list of movies are originally in English, I recommend you watch them in Spanish to train your comprehension!

Pop some popcorn, turn on your Penelope Cruz movie of choice, go to the settings, change the language to Spanish, and you’re ready to begin! Turn on the subtitles (preferably in Spanish!) to support your understanding.

6 películas de Penélope Cruz que no te puedes perder

This Penelope Cruz movies list provides you with a great variety of movies to watch in Spanish. Practice your fluency while you enjoy Penelope Cruz’s best films for the whole family!

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strangers Tides (Piratas del Caribe: en mareas misteriosas)

Director: Rob Marshal
Genres: Action, Adventure, and Fantasy
Rated: PG-13
Popularity: 6.6/10
Where to watch it: Starz Streaming Service

Released in 2011, this is the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and a standalone sequel to the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. It’s loosely inspired by the book “On Stranger Tides” by Tim Powers.

Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on the dangerous and elusive quest of finding the Fountain of Youth, only to discover that the dangerous pirate Blackbeard, and his daughter Angélica are after it, too.

Angelica, Penelope Cruz’s character, is the daughter of Blackbeard and romantic interest of Jack Sparrow. She is a dangerous pirate with amazing skills and cunning abilities. She is the first mate of Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s boat. This movie is full of adventure, mystery, humor, and even a bit of romance.

2. G-Force (Fuerza G: licencia para espiar)

Director: Hoyt Yeatman
Genres: Animation, Action, and Adventure
Rated: PG
Popularity: 5.1/10
Where to watch it: Disney+

This animated spy adventure gives the genre a furry twist, and it’s perfect to enjoy with the whole family.

The G-Force is a special trained team of secret agent animals equipped with state of the art tools that allow them to talk to humans. They’re the last line of defense against chaos and destruction.

When the government shuts down their operation and ships them to a pet shop, the fluffy and cute G-Force gang has to find a way to break out, prevent a mad billionaire from taking over the world, and save the day.

In this film, Penelope Cruz voices Juarez, a female agouti guinea pig who is a special FBI agent. She is not only intelligent and capable but also the muscle of the G-Force.

Hand-picked for you: 15 Good Family Movies to Watch in Spanish on Netflix

3. All the Pretty Horses (Todos los caballos hermosos)

Director: Billy Bob Thornton
Genres: Drama, Romance, and Western
Rated: PG-13
Popularity: 5.8/10
Where to watch it: Starz Streaming Service

All the Pretty Horses is a romantic western movie that came out in December of 2000. It was inspired by Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name.

This is one of Penelope’s movies with more mixed reviews. While some people loved her performance in this movie, others didn’t think she had much chemistry with her co-star, Matt Damon.

The story revolves around a young cowboy named John Grady Cole, who finds himself without a place to live after his late grandfather’s ranch is sold. He convinces one of his friends to travel with him horseback to Mexico to find a job and that’s where all their adventures and misadventures begin.

Cruz gives life to Alejandra Villareal, a young aristocrat’s daughter who the young cowboy falls in love with. Even if it wasn’t critically acclaimed across the board, this movie is worth watching, as the Spanish dub is high quality and easy to understand.

4. Sahara

Director: Breck Esiner
Genres: Action, Adventure, and Comedy
Rated: PG-13
Popularity: 6/10
Where to watch it: FuboTV Streaming Service

This 2005 action and adventure film is based on the 1992 best-selling novel of the same name by Clive Clusser. It stars Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, and Penelope Cruz.

Dirk Pitt is an ex-navy SEAL turned underwater treasure hunter who finds himself involved in a search for a lost Civil War battleship in the West African desert. His partner is Eva Rojas, played by Penelope Cruz, a WHO doctor who is investigating a dangerous and mysterious disease affecting Mali.

Cruz plays a compassionate, adventurous, and intelligent young woman who puts the well-being of others before her own.

The movie is perfect to watch on a lazy weekend, with an easy-to-follow plot, and a quality Spanish dub, where Penelope Cruz’s wit is as enjoyable as it is in the English version.

5. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Director: Woody Allen
Genres: Comedy, Drama, and Romance
Rated: PG-13
Popularity: 7.1/10
Where to watch it: Starz Streaming Service

Written and directed by Woody Allen, and released in 2008, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is one of Penelope Cruz’s best Spanish movies of all time.

The plot revolves around two American friends, Vicky (Scarlett Johanson) and Cristina (Rebeca Hall), who decide to spend their summer in the romantic city of Barcelona. There, they meet an artist named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem).

Both friends fall in love with him, but, unbeknownst to them, Juan Antonio’s ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) is still in the picture.

Maria Elena is a multidimensional character, full of flaws and unstable, but still loved by Juan Antonio. Cruz won both an Oscar and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

6. Murder on the Orient Express (Asesinato en el Orient Express)

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genres: Crime, Drama, and Mystery
Rated: PG-13
Popularity: 6.5/10
Where to watch it: FuboTV Streaming Service

This 2017 mystery thriller film is inspired by the 1934 novel of the same name and is the fourth cinematic adaptation of the book.

A famous detective named Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), who is involved in a murder case that happened on the train he was traveling on. Things get complicated when he begins to unveil the reason for the murder.

Many suspects are seeking revenge, money, or glory. One of these colorful characters is Pilar Estravados, played by Penelope Cruz.

This is an engaging movie to watch, especially if you like mystery classics that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Become a Spanish-Speaking Star

Even if you aren’t destined to be a movie star like Penelope Cruz, you can still become a Spanish-speaking star by learning the language! Plus, did you know that learning Spanish improves your cognition and decision-making abilities? It can also help you to get a better job and communicate with more people around you. Knowing Spanish can open you some great paths in life, with incredible benefits for you and your family.

Learning Spanish doesn’t have to be boring or a chore, and we understand that in Homeschool Spanish Academy. To benefit from our effective technique and learn Spanish quickly and efficiently, sign up for a free 1-on-1 class with one of our certified, native-speaking teachers from Guatemala.

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Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.