Outside views · South America
4 Best Movies Set in or About Uruguay
Compare how outside filmmakers have used Uruguay as a sustained setting or subject.
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Runtime, mood, and entry level help narrow the list without replacing the editorial ranking.
| Film | Runtime | Genre | Mood | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montevideo, God Bless You! | Not verified | |||
| Alive | Not verified | |||
| The Lighthouse | Not verified | |||
| Survive! | Not verified |
4 Movies Set in or About Uruguay
Foreign-led films whose sustained setting or subject remains centered on Uruguay.
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1. Montevideo, God Bless You!
This exuberant period drama follows a scrappy Serbian football team chasing the dream of reaching the first-ever World Cup in Montevideo in 1930, becoming national legends along the way. A rousing, nostalgic sports epic.
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2. Alive
Based on a true story, a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes high in the Andes must endure freezing cold, avalanches, and starvation — and make an unthinkable choice — over more than two months awaiting rescue. A gripping survival drama.
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3. The Lighthouse
After losing their mother in a car crash, two orphaned Argentine sisters — one left scarred and lame — are sent to live with aunts in Uruguay, where they cling to and clash with each other across the years. A tender coming-of-age drama.
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4. Survive!
This earlier dramatization tells the true story of the Uruguayan rugby players whose plane crashed in the Andes, and their brutal fight against cold, hunger, and despair as they resort to cannibalism to survive. A stark survival film.
Hear the country first
10 Best Movies from Uruguay to Watch First
Start with films made from within Uruguay, then follow the country's own creative voice through the complete ranking.
- A Twelve-Year Night 2018
- Whisky 2004
- Stranded: I've Come from a Plane that Crashed on the Mountains 2007
Selected by the FilmsAroundThe.World editorial desk
Selections require an outside creative lead and a story or subject substantially centered on Uruguay. Decision labels are concise editorial aids, and content notes are non-exhaustive. Read the methodology.
Editorial review: 2026-07-13
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