A ruthless female drug lord who was feared by Pablo Escobar, a Mexican child prodigy who later sang with Frank Sinatra, a first lady who’s accused of having murdered the president of Mexico, and a handsome financier who grew up in Tokyo, but returns to his hometown Mexico City accompanied by a Samurai. Watch some of the most successful Spanish-language drama and biopic series that have conquered the predominantly English-language markets. Discover Latin America’s best Netflix series.
THE GODMOTHER OF COCAINE
Set in 1970s-80s Miami, Griselda is a fictionalized dramatization inspired by the life of the astute, ambitious and ruthless Griselda Blanco (1943-2012), who created one of the most powerful cartels in history. Pablo Escobar once said: “The only man I was ever afraid of was a woman named Griselda Blanco.”
For the six-episode series, which was number one in 89 countries, leading actress and co-producer Sofía Vergara joined forces with the team that created the Netflix hit series Narcos and Narcos Mexico. The Colombian actress discovered the life of Griselda Blanco about ten years ago during a flight, while reading an article about Griselda Blanco in a magazine. “I had never heard of her,” she says. “I immediately thought that this was a very interesting character. As a Latin woman, and someone
who sounds like me, there aren’t many projects that are perfect for me. It’s hard to find roles. I thought that this was a role that I could play, because she’s a strong Colombian woman.”
LUIS MIGUEL – THE BRIGHTER THE SUN, THE DARKER THE SHADOWS
He is often referred to as El Sol de México (The Sun of Mexico), but destiny cast a shadow on the life of this child prodigy. Luis Miguel, one of Latin America’s most iconic superstars, has revealed some of his darkest secrets to the screenwriters of the Netflix series. It dramatizes the life story of the artist, the exploitation by his father and his manager, Luisito Rey, played masterfully by Spanish actor Oscar Janeada, the sudden disappearance of his mother, his alcohol addiction, his difficult relationship with his daughter, his youngest brother and Mariah Carey.
Diego Boneta masterfully portrays Luis Miguel in a 25-year gap difference. He had to wear prosthetics that had never been used before in Latin America. Diego Boneta, who has an amazing voice, also sang all the songs in the biographical series, an extremely difficult task, given the fact that Luis Miguel’s voice is considered to be one of the best voices of all time. In fact, Frank Sinatra invited Luis Miguel to duet on Come Fly With Me in 1994.
LA REINA DEL FLOW (SEASON 2)
17 years after being wrongly imprisoned in the United States, Yeimy Montoya, a beautiful and talented songwriter, goes back to Colombia to take revenge on the men who caused her downfall and killed her family.
Read more about last year’s most successful Latin American Netflix series in our article 19 Facts About The Queen of Flow.
LA REINA DEL SUR (SEASON 3)
La Reina del Sur is the best performing series in Telemundo’s history: Nearly 17 million viewers saw at least some of the show starring Mexican actress Kate del Castillo. She plays Teresa Mendoza, a naïve young woman from Sinaloa, Mexico, who is forced to flee Mexico after her first love, el Güero, is killed by his bosses in the Sinaloa drug cartel. She ends up in Spain, where she gains money and fame as a drug trafficker after her release from prison.
If you haven’t seen Season 1, which premiered in 2011, I suggest that you start with season 2, which premiered in 2019. Teresa Mendoza lives in Tuscany, Italy, with her 8-year-old daughter. She has changed her name, hoping that Sinaloa drug cartel won’t find her. Her life is idyllic. But one day, her daughter is kidnapped and Teresa must re-enter the dangerous drug trafficking world to get her back.
La Reina del Sur will be back in a few months with Season 3 (watch the trailer below).
INGOBERNABLE
Kate Del Castillo plays a first lady who goes on the run after she’s accused of assassinating her husband, Mexico’s president.
Kate’s co-star in the series is Alberto Guerra, a Mexican actor who plays Dario in Griselda (2024).
EL DRAGÓN
Sebastián Rulli, one of Latin America’s most attractive actors, plays Miguel Garza, a successful financier who grew up in Tokyo after his parents were killed in Mexico. He returns to Mexico City to replace his grandfather as head of a cartel and to battle two rivals for control.
Renata Notni, who had a leading role in the Netflix show La venganza de las Juanas, plays a private driver who falls in love with Miguel Garza.
EL CHAPO
This Netflix drama series chronicles the true story of the rise, capture and escape of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
According to Forbes, in 2013, El Chapo was the world’s most powerful drug trafficker. His cartel was responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that entered the U.S. via Mexico.
THE DAY I MET EL CHAPO
Mexican superstar actress Kate del Castillo reveals the untold story of her encounter with El Chapo Guzmán, the world’s most-wanted drug lord. She also tells how Sean Penn used and betrayed her in order to get an exclusive story about El Chapo.
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This article was first published on 1 June 2022 and updated in January 2024.
