20 Spanish TV Shows You Can Watch this Second

Looking for some new epic new shows to add to your rotation? Good news! There are loads of options available by way of several streaming services (Netflix and Amazon Prime for example) who have recently expanded their databases to include not only U.S. series but international ones as well. Some are dubbed in English, while others have subtitles—either way, viewers can’t get enough of these must-watch Spanish TV shows that are loaded with drama, suspense, action and more. What's more, in addition to being entertained by a riveting series, you'll also increase your knowledge of Spanish culture, language and history.

From Las chicas del cable (Cable Girls) to La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), keep reading for 20 binge-worthy Spanish TV shows you can start watching right now.

• Cast: Blanca Suárez, Yon González, Ana Fernández
• Created by: Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira

Las Chicas del Cable tells the story of Spain’s very first telephone company in the 1920s, which is run by a sharp group of women, known as “cable girls,” in a time where most women stayed at home as housewives. With five seasons, the series ran on Netflix from April 2017 to June 2020, and is worth a binge if you're into soap-style dramas with strong female leads. 

• Cast: Kate del Castillo, Humberto Zurita, Alejandro Calva
• Created by: Roberto Stopello

Meet Teresa Mendoza (del Castillo), a somewhat naive young woman whose world is turned upside down when her boyfriend is executed during a trafficking operation gone awry. As in, she flees the area and starts her very own drug cartel. This one has drama, action and a fair amount of violence. 

• Cast: Alejandro Arean, Enrique Arrizon, Fernando Becerril
• Created by: Gabriel Ripstein

Chronicling Mexico’s Dirty War and the events leading up to the 1968 student massacre, this series follows the fictional Fernando Barrientos, the head of the National Security Directorate, who will stop at nothing—we repeat, nothing—to obtain political power, even if it means betraying his closest allies. The two seasons series may not be completely historically accurate (although Barrientos is said to be inspired by the Fernando Gutiérrez Barrios, the real life head of Mexico’s Federal Security Directorate between 1965 and 1970), but it does give audience members fascinating insight into the internal conflict that rocked the nation in the '60s and beyond. 

• Cast: Úrsula Corberó, Álvaro Morte, Itziar Ituño
• Created by: Alex Pina

La Casa de Papel is about The Professor, a renowned criminal mastermind on the hunt for his next steal (literally). Follow along as he attempts to pull off the biggest heist in history. Alongside him are eight other co-conspirators eager to participate in the scheme as they've been deemed individuals with "nothing to lose." The tense moments definitely make this show worth the watch.

• Cast: Marta Hazas, Javier Veiga, Mariano Peña
• Created by: Javier Veiga

This series zeroes in on Marta (Hazas) and Javi (Veiga), two single strangers who are in no rush to settle down. That is, until they find themselves brought together by their respective biological clocks. The only question is, do these two make a perfect match?

• Cast: Cecilia Suárez, Claudette Maillé, Darío Yazbek Bernal
• Created by: Manolo Caro

Although the De la Moras look like a nuclear family on the outside as they run their successful floral business, it doesn't take long to realize that is actually not the case at all. In fact, their dysfunctional secrets will make your own family drama seem minuscule as the De la Moras clan deals with major secrets such as adultery and hiding deaths from one another.

• Cast: Álvaro Morte, Verónica Sánchez, Irene Arcos
• Created by: Álex Pina, Esther Martínez Lobato

Alejandra (Sánchez) is a high-profile architect whose husband is found dead. Was it foul play? Or did he take his own life? Either way, something sinister happened on the pier that night, and she’s determined to find answers. The only issue is, her husband was leading a double life she was kept completely in the dark on, which adds another layer to her investigation.

• Cast: Adriana Ozores, Amaia Salamanca, Yon González
• Created by: Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira

Gran Hotel centers around an elegant hotel with a troubling history. It all started when a maid mysteriously disappeared, which sets off a chain of eerie events. This is a series full of twists and turns, so get prepared to be on the edge of your seat, and if that isn't enough to give you a good amount of entertainment, you'll be floored by the stunning visuals as the series is set in 20th century Spain. Luxury and opulence at it's finest, I might add.

• Cast: Jaime Lorente, Francisco Ortiz, Alicia Sanz, Jaime Olías
• Created by: Marco A. Castillo

El Cid is a riveting historical drama about the story of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (Lorente), a Castilian nobleman and war hero in medieval Spain. What makes this series so compelling is watching how Rodrigo navigates being caught in-between two different worlds and cultures, as he tackles complex matters such as conspiracy, loyalty and even death.

• Cast: Quim Gutiérrez, Clara Lago, Adrián Pino
• Created by: Miguel Esteban, Raúl Navarro

In The Neighbor, a self-centered twenty-something gets his world rocked when he unexpectedly becomes a superhero. Adding to the confusion, it's his now ex-girlfriend that is the one in charge of finding out his true identity, which increases the complications of his already whirlwind life. The Neighbor ran from 2019 to 2021, and was praised for its innovative approach to the world of superhero action.

• Cast: Ariel Miramontes, Adrián Uribe, Carmen Salinas, Malillany Marín
• Created by: Guillermo del Bosque

Developed by Guillermo del Bosque, Nosotros los Guapos is a comedic series about two men, Vítor (Miramontes) and Albertano (Uribe), who decide to share a room together as way to save money. As you can imagine, there are a lot of adjustments as the two have quite different personalities, but they end up working things out...eventually—something most of us can relate to as you're bound to have a roommate at least once in your life. Prepare for drama and a whole lot of laughter. 

• Cast: Adriana Ugarte, Eduardo Noriega, Marc Martínez
• Created by: Verónica Fernández

This Netflix drama follows the life of a femme fatale named Helena (Ugarte), a young woman who gains the love and trust of a dangerous heroin cartel leader. Based in 1960s Barcelona, she quickly realizes she's going to need a strong skillset to rise through the ranks—with the help of her new lover, of course. Hache, by the way, is actually based on real events, which brings a different depth while watching.

• Cast: Marta Hazas, Asier Etxeandia, Adrián Lastra
• Created by: Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira

Set in 1969, this fascinating drama follows a fashion designer named Ana (Hazas) who decides to hire friends Clara, Pedro and Raúl for a new shop and design school she's opening in the area. There's plenty of twists, turns and even funny moments, as Ana and her friends go through the ups and downs of being beginners in the cutthroat fashion industry. Velvet Colección was directed by Sara Escobar and Ramón Campos, and ran from 2017 to 2019.

• Cast: Verónica Sánchez, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Asier Etxeandia
• Created by: Álex Pina, Esther Martínez Lobato

Sky Rojo gets into the action quickly when a fatal turn of events at a brothel sends three women on the run from their past. What exactly are they on the run from? Oh, nothing major—just a conniving (and dangerous) pimp and his henchman. While this show has its fight scenes, there's also plenty of funny, lighthearted moments as well, although reviewers recommend watching in Spanish with subtitles if need be, as the English dubbing is apparently quite bad.

• Cast: Manolo Cardona, Ginés García Millán, Carolina Miranda
• Created by: José Ignacio Valenzuela

Imagined being framed for a close relative's murder. That is exactly the situation Álex (Cardona) finds himself in as he is framed for murdering his sister. Determined to prove his innocence and clear his name, Álex sets out for revenge against the Lazcano family, the real perps behind the crime. There are three riveting seasons to keep up with, giving you plenty to watch over a long weekend.

• Cast: Najwa Nimri, Maggie Civantos, Itziar Castro
• Created by: Daniel Écija, Esther Martínez Lobato, Álex Pina, Iván Escobar

Starring Najwa Nimri, Maggie Civantos and Itziar Castro, Vis a Vis aka Locked Up is an intense drama about a naive young woman (Nimri) thrusted into the crime world after being manipulated into embezzling funds for her boyfriend and sentenced to a lengthy prison term. Struggling to adjust to prison life with a number of hardcore criminals around her, she unexpectedly finds solace in a fellow cellmate who assists with showing her the tricks of the trade. Vis a Vis ran for five seasons, receiving praise from both critics and viewers for its acting and fast-paced storyline.

• Cast: Alice Braga, Hemky Madera, Peter Gadiot
• Created by: Perla Farias

Created by Perla Farias and written by Sergio Mendoza, this series is everyone's worst nightmare come true—identity theft, except from the perspective of those doing the thieving as two complete strangers take on the identity of a dead American tourist and his wife in order to escape their past life in Sonora. Falsa Identidad ran for three years, and while it undoubtedly could have gotten another season or two, you won't feel disappointed with the ending either.

• Cast: Gorka Otxoa, Fele Martínez, Fernando Gil
• Created by: Alberto Caballero, Laura Caballero, Daniel Deorador, Araceli Álvarez de Sotomayor

Ready to laugh your butt off? This feel-good comedy will have you in stitches while you follow the journey of Pedro, Luis, Raúl and Santi—four men trying to make an adjustment to their new world dominated by women. They choose some pretty unique ways to deal with it to say the least, but entertaining nonetheless as they desperately try to reclaim their "masculinity." Of note: Fele Martínez received an Iris Award for "Best Actor" at the 2023 Iris Awards, which gives you another good reason to watch.

• Cast: Aura Garrido, Marina Quiroga, Jean Reno
• Created by: Teresa Fernández-Valdés, Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira

Set in the 1940s, A Private Affair is about an upper-class girl with detective roots who sets off on a mission to capture a serial killer that's been terrorizing the town alongside her faithful butler Héctor. They make a pretty odd team as neither one are exactly trained enough to capture a stone cold killer, but that certainly doesn't stop them from trying. The only real negative with this series is that it only aired for one season, which obviously leaves some questions unanswered. While that is certainly a bummer, you can still get enjoyment as the show was different from anything that has been on the air in the last five years.

• Cast: Asia Ortega, Albert Salazar, Clara Galle, Claudia Riera
• Created by: Laura Belloso

If you think you've seen it all when it comes to the horror genre, just wait until watch this series. In The Boarding School: Las Cumbres, a spooky forest surrounding a boarding school becomes the center of attention due to its ancient legends and threats that lead the students on a number of terrifying adventures. Be prepared for a whole lot of jump scares with this one—especially if you have a hate/love relationship with ghosts and creepy figures appearing out of nowhere.