The history of Mexican cinema goes back to the beginning of the 20th century, when several enthusiasts of the new medium documented historical events – most particularly the Mexican Revolution – and produced some movies that have been only recently been rediscovered.
During the 1920s very few movies were produced, specially given the political climate that was still very unsettled.
In the 1930s, once peace and a degree of political stability were achieved, cinematography took off in Mexico and several movies still experimenting with the nascent medium were done. It is important to notice how early Mexican cinematographers wers influenced and encouraged by Sergei Eisenstein's visit to the country.
During the 1940s the full potential of the industry developed. Actors, actresses, and directors became popular icons and even figures with political influence on diverse spheres of Mexican life. The industry received a boost as a consequence of Hollywood redirecting its efforts towards propagandistic films, which left an open field for other industries. Mexico dominated the film market in Latin America for most of the 1940s without competition from the United States film industry.
The golden era of Mexican cinema took place during the 1940s. Actors like Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, Cantinflas, Joaquín Pardave, María Félix, and Dolores del Río gained recognition. Gabriel Figueroa became an internationally-acclaimed cinematographer and Emilio Fernández and Luis Buñuel directed some of Mexico's most important movies.
The themes during those years although mostly conventional comedies or dramas touched all aspects of Mexican society, from the 19th century dictator Porfirio Díaz and his court, to love stories always tainted by drama.
During the 1960s and 1970s many cult horror and action movies were produced with professional wrestler El Santo and Hugo Stiglitz being the biggest stars. During 1990s the era of the Nuevo Cine Mexicano took place with high quality films by Arturo Ripstein, Alfonso Arau, Alfonso Cuarón and María Novaro. The most famous films produced at this time were Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) and Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas. Most recently, several mexican movies starring Gael García Bernal have enjoyed great popularity, including Amores Perros, Y tu mamá también, and the polemical El Crimen del Padre Amaro.
Top 100 Movies
1. Vámonos con Pancho Villa (1935) by Fernando de Fuentes
2. Los olvidados (1950) by Luis Buñuel
3. El compadre Mendoza (1933) by Fernando de Fuentes
4. Aventurera (1949) by Alberto Gout
5. Una familia de tantas (1948) by Alejandro Galindo
6. Nazarín (1958) by Luis Buñuel
7. Él (1952) by Luis Buñuel
8. La mujer del puerto (1933) by Arcady Boytler
9. El lugar sin límites (1977) by Arturo Ripstein
10. Ahí está el detalle (1940) by Juan Bustillo Oro
11. Campeón sin corona (1945) by Alejandro Galindo
12. Enamorada (1946) by Emilio Fernández
13. Pueblerina (1948) by Emilio Fernández
14. Canoa (1975) by Felipe Cazals
15. Los hermanos Del Hierro (1961) by Ismael Rodríguez
16. El ángel exterminador (1962) by Luis Buñuel
17. Cadena perpetua (1978) by Arturo Ripstein
18. El rey del barrio (1949) by Gilberto Martínez Solares
19. El esqueleto de la señora Morales (1959) by Rogelio A. González
20. Víctimas del pecado (1950) by Emilio Fernández
21. Tiburoneros (1962) by Luis Alcoriza
22. Distinto amanecer (1943) by Julio Bracho
23. Río Escondido (1947) by Emilio Fernández
24. La oveja negra (1949) by Ismael Rodríguez
25. La otra (1946) by Roberto Gavaldón
26. Reed, México insurgente (1970) by Paul Leduc
27. Nosotros los pobres (1947) by Ismael Rodríguez
28. Salón México (1948) by Emilio Fernández
29. Doña Perfecta (1950) by Alejandro Galindo
30. Flor silvestre (1943) by Emilio Fernández
31. La pasión según Berenice (1975) by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo
32. La sombra del caudillo (1960) by Julio Bracho
33. Calabacitas tiernas (¡Ay qué bonitas piernas!) (1948) by Gilberto Martínez Solares
34. Dos tipos de cuidado (1952) by Ismael Rodríguez
35. El vampiro (1957) by Fernando Méndez
36. La barraca (1944) by Roberto Gavaldón
37. María Candelaria (Xochimilco) (1943) by Emilio Fernández
38. El suavecito (1950) by Fernando Méndez
39. La diosa arrodillada (1947) by Roberto Gavaldón
40. Los confines (1987) by Mitl Valdez
41. El gallo de oro (1964) by Roberto Gavaldón
42. El Topo (1969) by Alexandro Jodorowsky
43. Sensualidad (1950) by Alberto Gout
44. El grito (1968) by Leobardo López Aretche
45. Danzón (1991) by María Novaro
46. Susana (Carne y demonio) (1950) by Luis Buñuel
47. Ensayo de un crimen (1955) by Luis Buñuel
48. Tlayucan (1961) by Luis Alcoriza
49. Ladrón de cadáveres (1956) by Fernando Méndez
50. Frida, naturaleza viva (1983) by Paul Leduc
51. Los tres huastecos (1948) by Ismael Rodríguez
52. El bulto (1991) by Gabriel Retes
53. María de mi corazón (1979) by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo
54. La noche avanza (1951) by Roberto Gavaldón
55. A.T.M. A toda máquina! (1951) by Ismael Rodríguez
56. Como agua para chocolate (1992) by Alfonso Arau
57. México de mis recuerdos (1943) by Juan Bustillo Oro
58. Los caifanes (1966) by Juan Ibáñez
59. Macario (1959) by Roberto Gavaldón
60. El apando (1975) by Felipe Cazals
61. Cabeza de Vaca (1990) by Nicolás Echevarría
62. Juego de mentiras (1967) by Archibaldo Burns
63. Rosauro Castro (1950) by Roberto Gavaldón
64. Esquina bajan...! (1948) by Alejandro Galindo
65. Doña Herlinda y su hijo (1984) by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo
66. Torero (1956) by Carlos Velo
67. Santa (1931) by Antonio Moreno
68. Gángsters contra charros (1947) by Juan Orol
69. La mujer de Benjamín (1991) by Carlos Carrera
70. En la palma de tu mano (1950) by Roberto Gavaldón
71. Matinée (1976) by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo
72. Amor a la vuelta de la esquina (1985) by Alberto Cortés
73. Doña Diabla (1949) by Tito Davison
74. Mecánica nacional (1971) by Luis Alcoriza
75. Doña Bárbara (1943) by Fernando de Fuentes
76. Los motivos de Luz (1985) by Felipe Cazals
77. Cronos (1992) by Guillermo del Toro
78. Ángel de fuego (1991) by Dana Rotberg
79. Luponini (El terror de Chicago)]] (1935) by José Bohr
80. La perla (1945) by Emilio Fernández
81. Nocaut (1983) by José Luis García Agraz
82. Santa (1943) by Norman Foster y Alfredo Gómez de la Vega
83. Los tres García (1946) by Ismael Rodríguez
84. Águila o sol (1937) by Arcady Boytler
85. El baisano Jalil (1942) by Joaquín Pardavé
86. Janitzio (1934) by Carlos Navarro
87. Sólo con tu pareja (1991) by Alfonso Cuarón
88. Viento negro (1964) by Servando González
89. Allá en el Rancho Grande (1936) by Fernando de Fuentes
90. Historia de un gran amor (1942) by Julio Bracho
91. Escuela de vagabundos (1954) by Rogelio A. González
92. La malquerida (1949) by Emilio Fernández
93. Las abandonadas (1944) by Emilio Fernández
94. Dos monjes (1934) by Juan Bustillo Oro
95. La ilusión viaja en tranvía (1953) by Luis Buñuel
96. La Cucaracha (1958) by Ismael Rodríguez
97. Espaldas mojadas (1953) by Alejandro Galindo
98. El automóvil gris (1919) by Enrique Rosas, Joaquín Coss and Juan Canals de Homs
99. Una carta de amor (1943) by Miguel Zacarías
100. Naufragio (1977) by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo
