Films to Pair with Your Tacos To Go

The nights are getting longer, the air is getting cooler, and the couch is calling. November is made for staying in, so we put together a list of films to pair with your favorite tacos to go. A few celebrate Día de los Muertos, a few celebrate Mexican icons, and all of them make a great night in. Save one for the long Thanksgiving weekend, too.

1. Coco

Start with the 2017 animated film Coco. The story was inspired by Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which families celebrate on November 1 and 2 by honoring loved ones who have passed. Coco features an all-Latino principal cast and earned praise for its animation, voice acting, music, and respect for Mexican culture. Keep the tissues close. Tears and tacos? No shame in that.

2. Selena

Couch, tacos to go, and Selena? Sign us up. This 1997 film celebrates the life and music of Tejano star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, a recording artist beloved in Mexico and in Latino communities across the United States. Bonus: you get Jennifer Lopez in her breakout role, and a good excuse for a post-taco dance party. ¡Baila esta cumbia!

3. Frida

We can’t leave this one out. This 2002 biographical drama follows the professional and private life of Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican surrealist artist. Salma Hayek stars as Frida and Alfred Molina plays Diego Rivera. The film won two Academy Awards, for Best Makeup and Best Original Score. Learn more about the life, love, and work of this artist, with a side of tacos to go.

4. Instructions Not Included

Our tacos-to-go instructions are simple. Step 1: order from Amigo. Step 2: enjoy. Babies, on the other hand, don’t come with instructions. Instructions Not Included, a 2013 comedy-drama, follows a Mexican playboy whose life changes when a former fling shows up at his door with a baby she says is his, then leaves. What follows mixes real laughs with real emotion in a story about love, courage, and parenthood. Give it a try with your next Amigo takeout order.

5. El Estudiante

Looking for something that will warm your heart? Try the 2009 film El Estudiante. It tells the story of Chano, a 70-year-old man who enrolls at a local university to study literature. His love for Don Quixote helps him bridge the gap between himself and his much younger classmates. Love, hope, and friendship run through the whole film, as Chano plays both student and teacher.

6. The Book of Life

For a second Día de los Muertos pick, put on The Book of Life (2014). This animated film, directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez and produced by Guillermo del Toro, follows Manolo on a colorful journey through the Land of the Remembered. It is bright, funny, and full of music, which makes it a great pick for a family movie night.

Whatever you stream this month, pair it with tacos to go from your neighborhood Amigo. And don’t forget the cheese dip!