12 Best Movies to Watch on Cinco de Mayo

Like many other Americans, I love Cinco de Mayo. We love gorge ourselves on tacos, nachos, and burritos, perhaps drink a bit of cerveza (or even a shot of Tequila). Americans just love Cinco de Mayo! (Perhaps more than Mexicans do). Sure, we have a fiesta, but what else?

How about a movie?

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a great movie with a Mexican theme. I'm not telling you to watch a documentary on the history of Mexico or all about Mexican culture (though you could). I'm saying that there are some great movies with a Mexican flavor that will have you feeling like you did your part in celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

These are in no particular order. Pick the one that fits your group of viewers.

Starring Salma Hayek & Alfred Molina

If you haven't seen Frida, then put this one on the top of your list. This film is the story of one of Mexico's most known artists, Frida Kahlo.

Her story is a fascinating one of exuberance, tragedy, loyalty, and sexuality. Much of the film is about Frida's relationship with her husband, another famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera.

This is one of those films in which you learn something without feeling like you are learning. The story is so great on it's own. Plus, you can watch Salma Hayek sport Frida's famous unibrow!

Watch the trailer for Frida.

Despite being confined to a bed for much of her life after a serious bus accident, Frida Kahlo lived more than most. She was quite a woman.

Starring Hector Elizondo & Raquel Welch

Tortilla Soup is an adaptation of Ang Lee's Oscar nominated Eat Drink Man Woman, but set in a very different culture. Families are the same everywhere.

Tortilla Soup is a story of three Mexican-American daughters muddling through life, and their Father who tries to keep them together and on the right course through family dinners.

This is another food-centric film. The food scenes are mouth watering.

Here's a recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup and one for Beef Tortilla Soup, in case you are wondering what to eat before sitting down to this movie.

Starring Marco Leonardi & Lumi Cavazos

Don't be tricked by the horrible DVD cover - this movie is amazing!

Like Water For Chocolate is based off the novel Como Agua Para Chocolate (Spanish) by Laura Esquivel, which was translated to English: Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies.

This is the story of a woman, Lumi, with immense emotion and passion, who is under the restrictions of her very strict mother. She finds and outlet for her emotions - through food. The food she prepares passes the emotions on to those who eat it, the results of which are sometimes tragic, and other times hilarious.

I can't say enough good things about this movie. It's certainly worth watching for yourself. View the trailer.

Warning: Parts of this movie feels like food porn. Don't watch on an empty stomach.

Starring Brad Pitt & Julia Roberts (and James Gandolfini)

I know - neither Brad Pitt nor Julia Roberts are Mexican. I never said they were.

The Mexican in the title here refers instead to the sub-story that is revealed throughout the movie. A story of love and a gun.

The gun becomes the center of the mayhem Pitt's character has to deal with.

This is a good movie for a Cinco de Mayo date night at home. It's got enough action for him, and enough romantic comedy for her.

Make some quesadillas, grab some cerveza, and enjoy The Mexican.

Watch the trailer of The Mexican.

Starring Jack Black

Okay, so this one may not show an average Mexican experience, but it's funny and it fits the bill.

This is the story of Ignacio, the cook at a central Mexican monastery who wrestles - Lucha Libre wrestles.

If you are looking for a goofy movie for Cinco de Mayo that you can have a laugh with, this is it.

Nacho Libre Tip: This movie is 20% funnier with a shot of tequila.

Watch the trailer for Nacho Libre.

Starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, & Martin Short

It's a classic.

Yeah, it might be riddled with stereotypes, but who can take that out on these three funny men?

It's light, it's fun, it has fantastic sombreros.

Watch the trailer of Three Amigos

You didn't see this one coming, did you?

Maybe this Cinco de Mayo you are looking for something a bit more ... thrilling.

This thriller is set in the middle of the rainforest on old Mayan ruins that are cursed with a monstrous ... something.

The people in the area know not to approach the ruins, but a group of tourists (typical horror victims) aren't so wise.

When a group of Mayans surround the ruins to keep the evil from spreading, our group of touristy teenagers face dangers of unknown origin.

This is one of those movies that has some scary moments, but also some funny ones. The premise is so absurd it's hard to tell if you should laugh or not sometimes.

It's stupid, but we love stupid.

Watch the trailer of The Ruins.

Starring Jennifer Lopez

Selena Quintanilla Perez was a latina superstar with a gorgeous smile, beautiful voice and vibrant personality, whose life was cut short (at age 23) by a disturbed fan just as she was propelling her Tejano music to wider and wider audiences.

Selena was a Mexican-American from south Texas who sold over 60 million albums worldwide!

Jennifer Lopez plays Selena in this story of her life (not of her death).

This movie has a great story as well as great music that will have you involuntarily dancing in your seat.

Watch the trailer of Selena.

The final three movies on the list are El Mariachi, Desperado, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, known as The Mexico Trilogy.

Starring Carlos Gallardo & Consuelo Gómez

This first film in the Mexico Trilogy was made for the insanely low cost of $7,500 by a new filmmaker, Robert Rodriguez, however it was done amazingly well, and gave Rodriguez the chance to prove himself.

El Mariachi is an exciting, action-packed story of a guitarist turned hitman has

Watch the trailer for El Mariachi

Starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek

Rodriguez continues the story of El Mariachi, but with Antonio Banderas in the lead role. Desperado reached a much wider audience. It's nice to have seen El Mariachi before watching Desperado, but it is not necessary. You will still understand the story.

Watch the trailer for Desperado

Starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek & Johnny Depp

This is the third in the trilogy, but again, you could watch it without having seen the other two (but it's better if you did).

Watch the trailer for Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too) might have Mama in the title, but it's not the kind of movie you want to watch with your Mama (at least I wouldn't). This movie is super sexy. Super super sexy. Sometimes SEXy.

This movie, made in Mexico, does not have a rating, but if did it would surely be NC-17. I can't be clearer...don't watch this with your kids - even if your kids are 30. This one is for the couples to watch.

Two teenagers that have only two things on their mind - sex and drugs, hit the road with a seductive older woman (28, so not old, just older ). While they do learn a lot about sex, they learn a lot more about life.

Do you have a favorite movie about Mexico, set in Medico, about Mexicans or Mexican-Americans?