Telenovelas are not just Latin American soap operas; They are cultural narratives about ambition, struggle and spirit. What sets them apart are the dramatic plots, set in rich Latin American traditions, and the definitive storylines. They often chronicle the journey of underdogs from hardship to prosperity and are well received by viewers. Now that Netflix is streaming these stories, they reach a global audience and unite us in shared emotions. Choose any series from our selection of the best telenovelas on Netflix and discover why it captivates generations.
Read more about the best films and series on Netflix:
“Elite” (2018-)
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Director: Carlos Montero, Dario Madrona
Pour: María Pedraza, Jaime Lorente, Itzan Escamilla, Miguel Bernardeau, Ester Expósito
Las Encinas, Spain’s most exclusive private school, becomes the setting for drama when three working-class students are admitted. Class differences, love triangles and hidden secrets mix and lead to a shocking murder. Watch how elite delves deep into the upper echelons of society and the lengths they go to to protect their image.
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“La Reina Del Sur” (2011-)
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Director: Mauricio Cruz, Walter Döhner
Pour: Kate del Castillo, Humberto Zurita, Alejandro Calva, Carmen Navarro, Cristina Urgel
In La Reina Del Sur, Kate del Castillo (Inviolable) plays Teresa Mendoza, a woman who rises from poverty to become one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the world. Teresa leads a dangerous life, balancing crime politics with love and life. Inspired by Arturo Perez-Reverte‘s novel, La Reina Del Sur is an exciting insight into the cartel’s underworld. The USA Network series Queen of the South is an adaptation of this popular telenovela.
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“Dark Desire” (2020-2022)
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Director: Kenya Marquez, Pitipol Ybarra
Pour: Maite Perroni, Alejandro Speitzer, Erik Hayser, Jorge Poza, Regina Pavón
Alma (Maite perroni) is a renowned lawyer and university professor. After a weekend without her husband, she becomes entangled in a web of passion and lies. Relationships, trust and self-confidence are put to the test in this provocative and sensual drama. Dark desire is a heady mix of love and betrayal.
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“The Marked Heart” (2022-)
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Director: Camilo Vega
Pour: Michel Brown, Ana Lucía Domínguez, Sebastián Martínez, Valeria Emiliani, Moisés Arizmendi
The marked heart takes viewers deep into the treacherous underground world of organ trafficking, where hearts are more than just a symbol – they are commodities. As Simon’s wife (Valeria Emiliani), tragically murdered for the sake of her heart, becomes a lifesaver for the wealthy Camila (Ana Lucia Domínguez), the depths of despair and revenge know no bounds for Simón (Michel Brown). Don’t miss the emotional roller coaster ride The marked heart offers. Immerse yourself in a story where love, revenge and the essence of life pulsate in every image.
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“The House of Flowers” (2018-2020)
Director: Manolo Caro
Pour: Verónica Castro, Aislinn Derbez, Cecilia Suárez, Darío Yazbek Bernal, Paco León
Set in a seemingly successful flower shop, this dark comedy reveals the dysfunctional lives of the De La Mora family. Scandals ensue as each family member’s facade begins to crumble. Led by talent Manolo Caro, The House of Flowers is a beautiful bouquet of chaos and laughter.
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“The Mafia Dolls” (2009–2019)
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Director: Fernando Gaitan
Pour: Amparo Grisales, Andrea Gómez, Diego Vásquez, Yuly Ferreira, Alejandro Martínez
In the brutal world of the Medellín Cartel, women play a crucial role in holding the empire together. This dramatic series chronicles the life of Brenda (Amparo Grisales), Olivia (Andrea Gomez) and Renata (Virginia Fernandez) as they navigate love, power and danger in the clutches of the cartel. The Mafia dolls offer a rare glimpse into the lives of women embedded in the notorious world of Colombia’s drug lords from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
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“Ingobernable” (2017-2018)
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Director: Epigmenio Ibarra, Verónica Velasco
Pour: Kate del Castillo, Erik Hayser, Fernanda Castillo, Alvaro Guerrero, Alberto Guerra
The First Lady of Mexico, Emilia Urquiza (Kate del Castillo), has big dreams to improve the country. But when tragedy strikes and she becomes involved, a dramatic whirlwind ensues. Emilia must harness her inner strength, resilience and intelligence to navigate a treacherous political landscape. Inviolable forces viewers to think about the boundaries between personal matters and politics while blurring the lines between right and wrong.
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“Rosario Tijeras” (2016-2019)
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Director: Diego Ramírez Schrempp, Mauricio Cruz
Pour: Bárbara de Regil, José María de Tavira, Antonio Gaona, Sofía Garza, Mario Loría
Based on the novel by Jorge Franco, Rosario Tijeras is a story about the turbulent life of Rosario (Barbara de Regil), a beautiful assassin who works the drug-infested streets of Mexico. As she navigates her dangerous profession and personal tragedies, Rosario faces moral dilemmas and deadly enemies.
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“Who Killed Sara?” (2021-2022)
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Director: Jose Ignacio Valenzuela
Pour: Manolo Cardona, Ginés García Millán, Carolina Miranda, Eugenio Siller, Alejandro Nones
Alex Guzman (Manolo Cardona) spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. After his release, he is determined to uncover the truth behind his sister Sara’s mysterious death and expose the real culprits. Alex will stop at nothing to clear his name and bring Sara’s murderer to justice. Dive into Who killed Sarah? and go in search of the truth.
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“Surrogacy” (2023-)
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Director: Araceli Guajardo
Pour: Shani Lozano, Fernanda Borches, Luis Ernesto Franco, Leticia Calderón and Marcela Guirado
The surrogacy reveals the morally complex world of surrogacy and tells its story in Mexico’s elite business scene. As a desperate woman, portrayed by Shani Lozano (Yeni), agrees to act as a surrogate for a Mexican business family, she finds herself drawn into a world of deception. The story takes a mysterious turn when she is given a baby with a disability after giving birth. As the years pass, she is drawn back into her past, pushing her to find out the truth.
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“High Heat” (2022)
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Director: Jose Ignacio Valenzuela
Pour: Eduardo Capetillo, Esmeralda Pimentel, Ivan Amozurrutia, Giovanny Camarena, Humberto Busto
In drama High heatWhen Poncho Quiroga’s brother tragically dies, the only clues to his murderer are those connected to a local fire department. poncho (Ivan Amozurrutia) joins the fire team and plunges headfirst into a world of danger to uncover the truth. As he gets closer, he unexpectedly discovers love for Olivia Serrano (Esmeralda Pimentel), which makes his true intentions even more complicated. Meanwhile, the menacing serial killer operates in secret, whose motives lie deeper than anyone can imagine.
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“Blood Ties” (2022)
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Director: Juan Carlos Aparicio and Mateo Stivelberg
Pour: Shany Nadan, María José Vargas Agudelo, Estefania Piñeres, Rodrigo Poisón, Charlotte de Casabianca
It is set in 19th century Colombia. Blood ties is the story of three aristocratic sisters: Carolina (Shany Nadan), Isabella (Maria José Vargas Agudelo) and Leonor Villamizar (Estefania Piñeres). Her privileged life takes a tragic turn when her mother is killed in front of her eyes. Filled with revenge and determination, the sisters turn into spies to help the rebels in their fight against oppressive Spanish rule.
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“Her Mother’s Murderer” (2020)
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Director: Clara Maria Ochoa
Pour: Carolina Gómez, George Slebi, Brian Moreno, Rebeca Milanés, Géraldine Zivic
In Her mother’s murdererAnalia (Carolina Gomez) is driven by a single mission: to avenge her mother’s death. She unravels a labyrinth of political deception and places herself close to presidential candidate Guillermo León Mejía (Brian Moreno), the man she believes is responsible. As she becomes an integral part of Mejía’s campaign, Analía plans to expose him for his corrupt past, but in a thrilling twist, more secrets await.
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Rebelde (Netflix 2022 adaptation)
Director: Pedro Damian
Pour: Andrea Chaparro, Franco Masini, Lizeth Selene, Jerónimo Cantillo, Azul Guaita
A reimagining of the popular 2000s Mexican telenovela, this new adaptation delves into the lives of students at Elite Way School, a prestigious boarding school in Mexico City. As they navigate friendships, love, and music, they grapple with societal pressures, family legacies, and their dreams. With catchy songs and heartfelt drama, this modernized version of Rebelde promises nostalgia for old fans while creating a connection with new ones.
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Source : collider.com