Movies Like El Mejor de los Tiempos

If you liked El Mejor de los Tiempos (1989), a movie directed by Felipe Vega, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
The Infiltrator (2016)
★ 6.7/10
A U.S Customs official uncovers a massive money laundering scheme involving Pablo Escobar.
2
Blow (2001)
★ 7.4/10
The story of how George Jung, together with the Medellín Cartel led by Pablo Escobar, established the billion-dollar cocaine empire in the United States in the 1970s.
3
Jackie Brown (1997)
★ 7.4/10
Jackie Brown is a flight attendant who gets caught in the middle of smuggling cash into the country for her gunrunner boss. When the cops try to use Jackie to get to her boss, she hatches a plan — with help from a bail…
4
Maria Full of Grace (2004)
★ 7.2/10
A pregnant Colombian teenager becomes a drug mule to make some desperately needed money for her family.
5
Barren Land (2025)
★ 6.4/10
Barren Land is the story of three friends. All three trapped between the abandonment of the institutions, the violent and unstoppable rise of the narco in the province and the dangerous increase of social discontent…
6
Beautiful Boy (2018)
★ 7.6/10
After he and his first wife separate, journalist David Sheff struggles to help their teenage son, who goes from experimenting with drugs to becoming devastatingly addicted to methamphetamine.
7
The Usual Suspects (1995)
★ 8.2/10
The lone survivor of an explosive heist gone wrong recounts for interrogators the events that began with five disparate criminals assembled for a police lineup - with alleged criminal mastermind Keyser Soze at the…
8
Mr. Church (2016)
★ 7.4/10
A unique friendship develops when a little girl and her dying mother inherit a cook - Mr. Church. What begins as an arrangement that should only last six months, instead spans fifteen years.
9
25th Hour (2002)
★ 7.3/10
On the eve of a seven-year prison sentence, a New York drug dealer spends his final day of freedom confronting his past, his relationships, and the choices that led to his downfall in a city still reeling from 9/11.
10
Lucca's World (2025)
★ 7.4/10
Determined to help her son, who has cerebral palsy, Bárbara takes her family to India for an experimental treatment.
11
Upon Entry (2023)
★ 6.7/10
Diego, a Venezuelan urbanist, and Elena, a contemporary dancer from Barcelona, move to the United States with their approved visas to start a new life. Their intention is to boost their professional careers and start a…
12
Less Than Zero (1987)
★ 6.4/10
A college freshman returns to Los Angeles for Christmas at his ex-girlfriend's request, but discovers that his former best friend has an out-of-control drug habit.
13
Tequila Sunrise (1988)
★ 6.1/10
In a seaside California town, best friends Mac and Nick are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican…
14
The Nest (2020)
★ 6.1/10
Rory is an ambitious entrepreneur who brings his American wife and kids to his native country, England, to explore new business opportunities. After abandoning the sanctuary of their safe American suburban…
15
Safe Haven (2013)
★ 7.2/10
A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her.
16
Identifying Features (2020)
★ 7/10
Magdalena makes a journey to find her son, who has disappeared on his way to the Mexican border with the United States. Her odyssey takes her to meet Miguel, a man recently deported from the US. They start to travel…
17
Out in the Open (2019)
★ 6.7/10
A boy escaped from home, listening, crouched in the depths of his hiding place, the cries of the men who seek him. When the game passes, what remains before him is an infinite and arid plain that he must cross if he…
18
Smoke (1995)
★ 7.2/10
Writer Paul Benjamin is nearly hit by a bus when he leaves Auggie Wren's smoke shop. Stranger Rashid Cole saves his life, and soon middle-aged Paul tells homeless Rashid that he wouldn't mind a short-term housemate…
19
Great Expectations (1998)
★ 6.7/10
Loosely based on the Charles Dickens' classic novel, "Great Expectations" is a sensual tale of a young man's unforgettable passage into manhood, and the three individuals who will undeniably change his life forever…
20
Eleanor the Great (2025)
★ 6.8/10
94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein tries to rebuild her life after the death of her best friend. As a result, she moves back to New York City after living in Florida for decades.