Best films · South America
10 Best Peruvian Movies to Watch First
Start with films made from within Peru, then follow the country's own creative voice through the complete ranking.
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Compare the route at a glance
Runtime, mood, and entry level help narrow the list without replacing the editorial ranking.
| Film | Runtime | Genre | Mood | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon | Not verified | |||
| The Milk of Sorrow | Not verified | |||
| Captain Pantoja and the Special Services | Not verified | |||
| Kayara | Not verified | |||
| The City and the Dogs | Not verified | |||
| Condorito | Not verified | |||
| How to Get Over a Breakup | Not verified | |||
| Days of Santiago | Not verified | |||
| Eternity | Not verified | |||
| Dragones: destino de fuego | Not verified |
10 Essential Peruvian Films
Ranked native cinema in Peru’s own creative voice.
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1. Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon
A brave young Amazonian girl, guided by two comic animal spirits, sets out on a perilous journey to protect her rainforest home from a dark force threatening to destroy it. A colorful Peruvian animated adventure.
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2. The Milk of Sorrow
A withdrawn young Peruvian woman believes she has inherited her mother's terror — the fear passed down from the years of political violence — through her breast milk, and lives paralyzed by dread until she must venture out to bury her mother. Claudia Llosa's haunting, Oscar-nominated drama.
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3. Captain Pantoja and the Special Services
A rigidly dutiful Peruvian army officer is given a bizarre secret assignment: to organize a discreet corps of visitors to service soldiers at remote jungle outposts — a task he pursues with absurd, ruinous diligence. A satirical comedy from Mario Vargas Llosa's novel.
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4. Kayara
A spirited, athletic teenage girl dreams of becoming the first female Chasqui — the swift relay messengers of the Inca empire — and must prove herself in a world that says the role is not for her. An animated adventure.
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5. The City and the Dogs
At a harsh Lima military academy, a tight-knit clique of cadets bends the rules to survive, but a theft and a cover-up spiral into violence and a killing. A gripping drama from Mario Vargas Llosa's novel.
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6. Condorito
The wisecracking cartoon condor Condorito must save his overbearing mother-in-law and the world from an ancient alien race bent on enslaving the universe. An animated comedy based on the beloved comic strip.
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7. How to Get Over a Breakup
After a six-year relationship ends, a young Peruvian woman must relearn how to be single with the help of her two closest friends — and maybe find love again along the way. A breezy romantic comedy.
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8. Days of Santiago
A young man returns from the Peruvian army unable to adjust to civilian life, torn between a longing for education and the pull of his violent past and reckless comrades. A raw, striking character study.
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9. Eternity
High in the Peruvian Andes, an elderly Quechua couple eke out a hard, isolated existence, tending their animals and waiting for a son who may never come. A spare, poetic drama in the Aymara language.
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10. Dragones: destino de fuego
Raised among condors and believing himself to be one, a young creature discovers he is actually something far more extraordinary, and sets off on an adventure to fulfill his true destiny. A Peruvian animated fantasy.
Film notes
The view from outside
10 Best Movies Set in or About Peru
Compare how outside filmmakers have used Peru as a sustained setting or subject.
- Kon-Tiki 1950
- Paddington 2014
- Storm in the Andes 2015
Selected by the Films Around the World editorial desk
Ranked for craft, enduring reputation, influence, and importance within Peru cinema. Decision labels are concise editorial aids, and content notes are non-exhaustive. Read the methodology.
Editorial review: 2026-07-13
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