Scrolling through Netflix, hunting for a gem that’ll actually make you stop scrolling—ever thought the stars might be nudging you toward a cinematic treat? With Mercury in retrograde, it’s the perfect cosmic moment to rewind and dive into something that’s a little off the beaten path but packs all the feels. Enter Alfonso Cuarón’s 2001 coming-of-age masterpiece, Y Tu Mama También—a film that folks swear you absolutely must watch at least once. Starring the unforgettable Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal (yeah, the same Diego Luna who brought Andor to life), plus Maribel Verdú, this movie isn’t just another road trip story; it’s a soulful journey that’s earned a glowing 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and a beloved spot on Letterboxd’s ‘must-watch’ lists. So, why not shake up your usual Netflix routine and see why this movie’s been dubbed the original Challengers? Trust me, the universe might just thank you for it. LEARN MORE
If you’re browsing Netflix and looking for something new to watch, there’s a film fans say you have to stick on at least once in your life that’s recently been added to the streaming platform.
It come from director Alfonso Cuarón, who you might know from Children of Men, Gravity and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (aka, the best Harry Potter movie).
The 2001 movie is quite the hidden gem, and has been dubbed ‘the original Challengers’.
It’s a coming of age film starring Diego Luna (the lead actor in Andor, the most brilliant Star Wars show ever made), Gael García Bernal and Maribel Verdú.
Boasting a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it not only has the thumbs up from loads of critics but their actual reviews are flush with praise too.
The film also has the nod of approval from that most stern of critics, the Letterboxd crowd, who give it great reviews and have it on a list of ‘movies everyone should watch at least once’.
Check out the trailer for Y Tu Mama También below:
We won’t spoil what happens, but will just tell you that Luna and Bernal play a pair of Mexican teenagers who see off their girlfriends on a trip abroad and decide to have some fun while they’re away.
This fun ends up coming in the form of inviting older Spanish woman Luisa (Verdú) on a road trip to the beach, while along the way they learn some things about life, love and each other.
It’s up to you to watch the movie and find out what lessons they’ll learn, but suffice it to say that Y Tu Mama Tambien has drawn comparisons with Challengers for a reason.
I think you might be able to guess the reason why.
Two teenagers take an older woman on a road trip in this coming of age movie with amazing reviews (IFC Film)
Those who’ve seen the film have called it ‘devastating’, but they absolutely mean it as praise as they said it ‘captures that magical feeling you get when it feels like the whole world stopped spinning just for you’.
Other viewers have called it ‘a wonderful film on so many levels’, and that they ‘picked this one out by random’ only to discover a new favourite movie.
That could be you, Netflix viewer, you could find your new favourite movie by giving Y Tu Mama Tambien (which means ‘and your mother too’, which makes the title a ‘your mum’ joke) a chance.
You might be content sticking on reruns of The Office every night, but perhaps it’s time to give something new a go.
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