Mexican cinema is not just a form of entertainment. It is a reflection of who we are, who we were, and who we aspire to be. From its golden age to contemporary productions that conquer international festivals, the national film industry has been a witness to and protagonist of our history, our struggles, our passions, and our dreams.
To talk about Mexican cinema is to talk about identity. It is a lens that has been able to portray the soul of Mexico with strength, beauty, and ingenuity and, through its voices, continues to leave its mark both inside and outside the country.
The Golden Age: when cinema built its success
During the 1940s and 1950s, Mexico experienced one of its most influential cultural periods: the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. With figures such as Pedro Infante, María Félix, Jorge Negrete, Dolores del Río, Cantinflas, and Tin Tan, the screens were filled with stories that not only entertained and thrilled, but also helped define values, symbols, and cultural expressions that remain relevant today.
Cinema became a common language. In an era without social media or digital platforms, films managed to unite the entire country around a single narrative, consolidating idols and reinforcing a sense of collective belonging.
Wrestling and cinema: national heroes on the big screen
It was also during those years that one of the most unique and beloved fusions in Mexican cinema emerged: wrestling brought to the big screen. Characters such as El Santo, Blue Demon, and Mil Máscaras transcended the ring to become national superheroes.
These films, loaded with action, science fiction, mystery, and urban settings, not only left their mark on entire generations, but are now considered cult classics internationally. They represented a unique way of storytelling, deeply rooted in Mexican popular culture.
Cinema as cultural diplomacy
For several decades, Mexico was one of the leading producers of Spanish-language films. Domestic films circulated throughout Latin America and other territories, positioning the country as a cultural reference point and exporting talent, narratives, and styles.
Mexican cinema not only told local stories, it also functioned as a tool of cultural diplomacy, showing the world a complex, diverse, and creative identity.
Like any cultural industry, Mexican cinema also went through difficult times. The arrival of television, the massive opening up to foreign productions, the reduction of support, and the concentration of commercial theaters caused national cinema to lose visibility at times, even within its own territory.
However, the Mexican creative spirit never disappeared. The industry transformed itself, sought new paths, and found ways to resist and reinvent itself.
New voices, global impact
Starting in the 1990s, a new generation of filmmakers began to attract the world’s attention. Directors such as Alejandro González Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón, and Guillermo del Toro managed to establish international careers while continuing to reference their Mexican roots.
At the same time, many filmmakers have decided to continue producing films from Mexico, bringing our most complex realities and our most intimate sensibilities to festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Sundance. Names such as Tatiana Huezo, Michel Franco, Issa López, Lila Avilés, and Fernanda Valadez are proof that Mexican cinema is not only surviving, but evolving, diversifying, and continuing to be a tool for criticism, memory, and representation.
An industry that generates value and employment
Beyond its symbolic and cultural significance, Mexican cinema is also an industry with real economic impact. In 2023, the gross domestic product of the film industry represented 0.07% of the national GDP, with an approximate value of 20.722 billion pesos.
In 2024, the film industry registered around 21,579 jobs, a figure comparable to traditional industrial sectors such as the basic iron and steel industry. Behind every film there is an extensive value chain involving screenwriters, photographers, designers, musicians, technicians, costume designers, carpenters, makeup artists, actors, promoters, and many other professionals.
The new digital ecosystem of cinema
Today, Mexican cinema no longer lives solely in theaters. Digital platforms, social networks, and streaming services have completely transformed the way films are produced, distributed, and consumed.
In 2023, the transmission of digital content, including streaming services for movies, series, music, and subscription programming, represented more than 35.424 billion pesos, surpassing even the economic value of traditional film exhibition.
More and more Mexican feature films are reaching platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Canela TV, Tubi, and ViX, expanding their reach and allowing local stories to connect with global audiences.
Mexico as a creative territory
National film production is mainly concentrated in states such as Mexico City, Nuevo León, Puebla, Michoacán, Jalisco, and Guanajuato, regions that have become creative hubs where talent, infrastructure, and new narratives converge.
This regional dynamism shows that Mexican cinema is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather an active network of creativity that extends throughout the country.
Digital identity: Mexican cinema on the Internet
In this new ecosystem, digital presence becomes strategic. Having your own website is not only a promotional tool, but also a space to connect with audiences, seek funding, share creative processes, and build community.
Using a .MX domain is a way to extend the national film identity to the digital environment. It is telling the world that these stories are born in Mexico, that they represent our culture, and that they are part of a local creative ecosystem.
More and more production companies, festivals, and cultural institutions understand this. From independent production companies to organizations such as IMCINE or university and specialized festivals, the .MX domain is establishing itself as a meeting point between culture, technology, and identity.
Supporting Mexican cinema is more than just consuming culture. It means strengthening communities, creating jobs, preserving stories, and promoting ideas. And when those ideas find their place on the Internet, doing so under a name that represents us is also part of the message.
Because, just as a movie begins with an idea, every creative project starts with an online address. Do it with .MX.