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Amores Perros

Amores Perros

Love. Betrayal. Death.

2000154 minRMidcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Director
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Starring
Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Goya Toledo, Álvaro Guerrero

A fatalistic car crash in Mexico city sets off a chain of events in the lives of three people: a supermodel, a young man wanting to run off with his sister-in-law, and a homeless man.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Amores Perros?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Amores Perros streaming on MUBI and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Amores Perros?

Amores Perros earns 14 badges, led by Top 1% of films and Stood the test of time.

Show 6 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is Amores Perros worth watching?

Amores Perros' Midcredits score is the 99th percentile of all films, from 602K ratings across 6 sources. 90% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

99th percentile

Better received than 99% of films

99th percentile among Drama99th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)97th
Approval (how many liked it)98th

81 /100

97th percentile of all films

98th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 2000s

Critics 83 · Audience 81

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

90% liked it

98th percentile of all films

98th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 2000s
90% rated it 7–1010% rated it 1–6

Critics 93% · Audience 94%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 35 wins / 22 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Foreign Language Film
  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Foreign Language Film

99th percentile

602K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 11% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$2M
Opening weekend$61K
Domestic gross$5.4M
Worldwide gross$21M

Returned 10.5× its budget — 90th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A sprawling, gritty, multi-story drama about love, violence, and fate in Mexico City.

Fans praised

  • Intertwined stories create an emotionally resonant, complex portrait of love and violence
  • Visceral, documentary-style direction and gritty realism
  • Standout performance by Emilio Echevarría as El Chivo

Detractors panned

  • Overly long and punishing at 153 minutes
  • Second story feels slow and disrupts momentum
  • Overtly sophisticated script lacks genuine wisdom

What stands out

AtmosphereDivisive82

Gritty, immersive portrayal of Mexico City's underbelly

Acting80

Emilio Echevarría standout as El Chivo; Gael García Bernal compelling

OriginalityDivisive80

Fresh non-linear structure and raw depiction of Mexico City

TensionDivisive80

Relentless suspense and unpredictability

Characters75

Compellingly real but purposely unlikable, with deep flaws

Emotional impactDivisive75

Devastating and moving; some find it clinical

Plot and storyDivisive72

Intertwined stories linked by car crash, some find contrived

PacingDivisive55

First hour gripping; second story drags; overall overlong

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 3 points apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Amores Perros like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready to pay close attention and feel heavy feelings, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you unsettled. Skip it when you want an easy night or you can only half-watch.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention and room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseMelancholicDread
Heaviest: throughout
Dark humor
Register
Brutal · 7% of filmsBrooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Hyperlink · 1% of films: Separate storylines that intersect by coincidence.Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.
ToneThe film holds its material with brutal, unflinching sincerity; it never winks at the audience despite the melodramatic turns.
The rideSustained tension and dread from simultaneous stories of violence and desperation, with melancholy pervading every arc from the first scene to the final freeze frame.
StructureThree distinct storylines — Octavio's, Valeria's, and El Chivo's — are intercut out of chronological order, with a car crash serving as the nexus. The hyperlink structure highlights how separate lives intersect through fate.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

The answer rests on this: UnsettlingThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with a lingering unease about how love and violence intertwine, and with a sense of the randomness of fate, prompting reflection on the interconnectedness of lives.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3% (this title)
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Crushed by fate: Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.

9% of films fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThree interconnected stories of characters whose hopes — Octavio's desire to run away with Susana, Valeria's modeling career and relationship, El Chivo's search for redemption — are systematically crushed by violence and chance, with a hint of rebirth in El Chivo's final choice. The film's driving forces include the rivalry between Octavio and Jarocho in dogfighting and Octavio's revenge for the shooting of his dog.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% (this title) · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% (this title) · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 15% of filmsIsolation · 5% of filmsViolence · 4% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeEach story desperately pursues love—Octavio for Susana, Valeria for a new identity with Daniel, El Chivo for a lost family—but love is shown as twisted by obsession, class, and brutality.
StanceThe film examines romantic love as a force that alternately corrupts, destroys, or redeems, without offering a simple verdict on whether it is worth the cost.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticStylized realism
Orchestral modernFolkSupportive music · original score · Gustavo Santaolalla
SettingA raw, fractured portrait of Mexico City where poverty, crime, and media glamour collide.
MusicSantaolalla's spare, guitar-driven score gives the brutal imagery a haunting, intimate resonance.

Content guide

Is Amores Perros okay for kids?

R

Amores Perros is rated R: “Rated R for violence/gore, language and sexuality” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (95/100), sexual content at intense (71/100), language at severe (88/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (44/100) and frightening material at severe (94/100). Overall it is heavier than 97% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 18 other countries
  • UK18
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea18
  • Brazil16
  • Argentina+18
  • Austria16
  • CL14
  • Czechia15+
  • MexicoC
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • PortugalM/16
  • Spain18
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Severe · all five categories
Heavier than 98% of all filmsHeavier than 97% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 95%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 88%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 88%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 58%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 98%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: violence, frightening material, language, and sexual content. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Amores Perros have?

MovieCove's classifier found 9 depicted content warnings in Amores Perros: Animal cruelty (severe), Animal death (severe), Domestic violence (severe), Gore or body horror (severe), Gun violence (severe), Kidnapping or confinement (severe), Sexual violence (severe), Sexual harassment or grooming (moderate), Medical procedures (mild). Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereAnimal crueltyAnimal deathDomestic violenceGore or body horrorGun violenceKidnapping or confinementSexual violence
ModerateSexual harassment or grooming
MildMedical procedures

Cast and crew

Who is in Amores Perros?

Cast

5 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Emilio Echevarría
as El Chivo
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Gael García Bernal
as Octavio
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
newcomer then · star now
Goya Toledo
as Valeria
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Álvaro Guerrero
as Daniel
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Vanessa Bauche
as Susana
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jorge Salinas
as Luis
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.
Marco Pérez
as Ramiro
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Rodrigo Murray
as Gustavo
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Humberto Busto
as Jorge
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Gerardo Campbell
as Mauricio
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Amores Perros?

Movies like Amores Perros include Babel (2006), Battle in Heaven (2005) and 21 Grams (2003). Of the 4 closest matches, half are films by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and half are films about isolation.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Amores Perros?

2.8K other films share the rarest tag below, up against: corrupt official. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.