Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a vibrant and profound celebration of life, memory, and the enduring connection between the living and those who have passed. Far from being a somber occasion, it is a colorful, joyful, and deeply spiritual holiday filled with ofrendas, marigolds, and storytelling. Cinema has offered a powerful lens through which to explore these rich traditions, translating the holiday's visual splendor and emotional depth to the screen. From blockbuster animations to classic black-and-white allegories, these essential films capture the beautiful soul of Día de los Muertos, inviting audiences to understand and appreciate its significance.

Perhaps no film has introduced the traditions of Día de los Muertos to a global audience more effectively than Disney and Pixar's 'Coco' (2017). The film follows young Miguel Rivera, who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead and must seek his family's blessing to return. With breathtaking animation, the movie visualizes the afterlife as a bustling, luminous city connected by bridges of marigold petals. It respectfully and beautifully explains core concepts like ofrendas (altars with offerings), alebrijes (spirit guides), and the importance of remembering ancestors to keep their spirits alive. Its Oscar-winning song, 'Remember Me,' perfectly encapsulates the holiday's central theme: that love and memory transcend death, making it a modern classic and an emotional entry point for all ages.

Disney

Released a few years before 'Coco,' 'The Book of Life' (2014) offers a distinctly different but equally enchanting animated take on the holiday. Produced by Guillermo del Toro, the film's unique visual style is its standout feature, with characters designed to look like articulated wooden puppets and folk art toys. The story is a whimsical love triangle framed by a wager between two spirits, La Muerte and Xibalba. It's a fast-paced, music-filled adventure that leans into the more fantastical and mythological elements associated with the celebration. Its aesthetic is a love letter to Mexican folk art, presenting a world that is creatively stylized, richly textured, and bursting with personality, celebrating love, bravery, and the importance of writing your own story.

20th Century Fox

For a more classic and allegorical interpretation, look no further than 'Macario' (1960). This landmark of Mexican cinema was the first Mexican film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Shot in stunning black and white, it tells the story of a poor, starving woodcutter named Macario who longs to eat a whole turkey by himself just once. On the eve of Día de los Muertos, his wish is granted, and he is subsequently visited by the Devil, God, and Death. His interaction with Death sets him on a path as a miraculous healer, leading to fame, fortune, and peril. 'Macario' is a somber, beautiful fable that uses the holiday's backdrop to explore themes of life, mortality, and social inequality with a timeless, haunting power that still resonates today.

A beloved animated feature from Mexico, 'La Leyenda de la Nahuala' (2007) is a ghost story set against the backdrop of Día de los Muertos in 1807. The film follows Leo San Juan, a timid boy who must overcome his fears to rescue his brother from a haunted house possessed by a malevolent witch known as the Nahuala. The film brilliantly weaves historical settings in the city of Puebla with supernatural folklore and the specific traditions of the Day of the Dead. It combines spooky adventure with comedy and heart, featuring a host of charming characters, including ghostly friars and comical alebrije-like creatures. It’s an authentic celebration of Mexican storytelling that captures the spooky-fun side of the holiday, much like Halloween, but with a distinctly cultural and historical flavor that makes it a must-watch.

Netflix

Another powerful animated film from Mexico, 'Día de Muertos' (2019) tells a poignant story rooted in the heart of the celebration. The film centers on Salma, a determined orphan in the town of Santa Clara who has never known her biological parents and thus has no ofrenda to build for them. Convinced they are not truly gone, she embarks on a quest with her two friends, Jorge and Pedro, into the underworld to find them. The film delves deeply into the personal and emotional aspects of the holiday—the yearning for connection, the pain of the unknown, and the power of belief. While it faced some release challenges, the film stands on its own as a beautifully animated adventure with a unique narrative, focusing on one girl's journey to uncover her own history and the true meaning of family, both living and ancestral.

20th Century Fox