Summer Movies with Latino Actors in 2022
Created 6/2/2022 | Updated 7/30/2022
Get your popcorn ready. There are more than 40 summer flicks that feature or star Latino and Hispanic actors. Consider supporting these movies by watching them in theatres or on streaming services to help send the message to Hollywood that we want more stories about us and for us.
We still have a ways to go when it comes to representation in movies. Latinos represent about 25 percent of the box office sales, yet only about 5 percent of on-screen roles are played by Latinos, according to a 2021 study by USC Annenberg.
The movies listed below show Latinos/Hispanics in many roles that extend beyond the maid, criminal and sex object stereotypes but:
Too few movies have Latinos/Hispanics as the main protagonist or co-star.
Tokenism still exists. Less than half of these movies have more than one Latino/Hispanic actor in starring or supporting roles. And, when you do see a Latino, it’s with little screen time or spoken lines.
There is a need more Afro-Latino representation. Jorge Lendeborg Jr. ( American Carnage) Allen Maldonado (House Party, American Carnage) Ski Carr (White Elephant), Dascha Polanco ( DC League of Super pets and Samaritan) and Tessa Thompson (Thor: Love and Thunder) are the only Afro-Latinx actors cast in this slate of summer flicks.
Only seven movies: The Valet; Father of the Bride; American Carnage, Halftime; ¡Viva Maestro! ; and The Photographer: Murder in Pinama, have Latino stories front and center.
Love and Baseball
(May 1)
This indie romantic comedy starring Max Arciniega was released last year, but it only now available for wide release on HBO Max.
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 6)
Starring Xochitl Gomez as dimension-hopping superhero America Chavez.
Senior Year
(Netflix, May 13)
Starring Michael Cimino as high school cool guy Lance.
A Perfect Pairing
(Netflix, May 19)
Starring Victoria Justice, who is of Puerto Rican descent as a sommelier and entrepreneur. Her father Carlos is played by actor Antonio Alvarez.
The Valet
(Hulu, May 20)
Starring Eugenio Derbez as the titular valet with a heart of gold. Carmen Salinas, Marisol Nichols, Noemí González, Amaury Nolasco play supporting roles in this movie with a predominately Latino cast.
Bob’s Burger Movie
(May 27)
Stephanie Beatriz, who is Colombian and Bolivian plays Chloe Barbash, a student at the local school.
Viva Maestro
(May 24, Streaming)
Documentary about Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, who is the music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Emergency
( May 27, Amazon Prime)
Starring Sebastian Chacon, who is Ecuadorian and Colombian, as college student Carlos in this horror satire film. Also features Diego Abraham as Rafael.
Top Gun Maverick
(May 27)
Danny Ramirez, who is Colombian and Mexican, plays pilot trainee “Hangman”.
We Feed People
(May 27)
Acclaimed Chef José Andrés plays himself in this documentary about the work he does to feed people during disasters.
Fire Island
(June 3, Hulu)
Starring Tomás Matos as Fire Island vacationer Keegan in this queer romantic comedy.
The Interceptor
(June 3, Netflix)
Spanish actress Elsa Pataky headlines this movies as JJ Collins, a military captain trying to stop a nuclear attack.
Jurassic World Dominion
(June 10)
Mexican American actress Daniella Pineda returns as Dr. Zia Rodriguez, a paleo-veterinarian in the latest installment of the Jurassic Park series.
Hustle
(June 10, Netflix)
NBA player Juancho Hernangómez, who is Spanish, will make his acting debut as Bo Perez, a street basketball player. Raúl Castillo plays a supporting role.
Halftime
(June 14, Netflix)
Puerto Rican actress, dancer and musician Jennifer Lopez, will star in this documentary about her life, with a focus on her performance at the superbowl.
Father of the Bride (HBO Max, June 16)
Latinos Andy García, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, Isabela Merced, and Diego Boneta play lead roles in this Cuban-Mexican remake of the “Father of the Bride” movie.
Operation Fortune
(June 16)
Stars Aubrey Plaza— who is Puerto Rican, English and Irish— as a superspy.
Lightyear
(June 17)
Salvadoran American actor Efren Ramirez, who is best known for playing Pedro in “Napoleon Dynamite” will take on the role of Airman Diaz.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
(June 17, Apple TV)
Raúl Castillo, who is Mexican American, plays a lawyer.
Spiderhead
(June 17, Netflix)
Features Latino Joey Vieira as Miguel. Prisoners in a state-of-the-art penitentiary agree to be guinea pigs in return for time off their sentences.
The Man From Toronto
(June 24, Netflix)
Lela Loren, who is Mexican American and Jencarlos Canela who is Cuban are part of the ensemble cast of this action comedy.
Marcel The Shell With the Shoes On
(June 24)
Starring Rosa Salazar, who is Peruvian and French-Canadian as Larissa, the previous homeowner.
Middle Classy
(June 24, Netflix)
Comedy special by Cristela Alonzo.
Black Phone
(June 24)
Mexican American actor Miguel Cazarez Mora stars as Robin, a student and best friend of the protaganist.
Minions: The Rise of Gru
(July 1)
Danny Trejo who is Mexican American, stars as a member of the Vicious 6. He plays the giant Stronghold.
Thor: Love and Thunder
(July 8)
Afro Latina Tessa Thompson, who is of Panamanian descent, reprises her role as the superhero Valkyrie in this fourth Thor film.
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (July 15)
Mexican American comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias stars as a cat named Chuck.
American Carnage
( July 15, theaters and streaming)
Stars a predominately Latino cast with Jenna Ortega, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Allen Maldonado and Bella Ortiz.
The Gray Man
(July 22, Netflix)
Ana De Armas, who is Cuban and Spanish, stars as CIA agent Dani Miranda. Also featuring Brazilian actor Wagner Moura.
Nope
(July 22)
Barbie Ferreira, who is Brazilian American stars as Danielle and Brandon Perea, who is Puerto Rican and Filipino, plays Kevin in this movie about a paranormal event.
DC League of Super Pets
(July 29)
Diego Luna stars as a super pet squirrel named Chip who can manipulate electricity and Dascha Polanco as his superhero owner Jessica Cruz/Green Lantern in this ensemble film.
Purple Hearts
(July 29, Netflix)
Sofia Carson, who is of Colombian descent, stars as the lead in this story of a marriage of convenience between a struggling songwriter and military man.
Luck
(Aug. 5)
Eva Noblezada who is Mexican and Filipina plays the lead role in the movie as Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world.
Bullet Train
(Aug. 5)
Puerto Rican music superstar Bad Bunny aka Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio stars as a Mexican assassin.
Easter Sunday
(Aug. 5)
Stars Eva Noblezada, who is Mexican and Filipina as Ruth, a friend of the family.
They/Them
(Aug. 5)
Stars Darwin del Fabro. Michael Aguilar has a supporting role.
Emily the Criminal
(Aug. 12)
Aubrey Plaza, who is Puerto Rican, plays Emily, a woman is saddled with student debt. Also stars Theo Rossi.
Secret Headquarters
(Aug. 12, Paramount+)
Michael Peña stars in this movie about a kid who finds his dad’s secret superhero underground lair.
Day Shift
(Aug. 12, Netflix)
Stars Mexican actress Karla Souza, stars as a vampire/real estate agent and Meagan Good, who is Puerto Rican.
13: The Musical
(Aug. 12, Netflix)
Cast includes Luke Islam who Bengalese and Puerto Rican.
Look Both Ways
(Aug. 17, Netflix)
A woman’s life splits into parallel realities after she takes a pregnancy test. Stars Danny Ramirez.
Me Time
(Aug. 26)
Film features Mexican actor Luis Gerardo Méndez. A stay-at-home dad enjoys his first “me tim” while his family is away for the first time in years by joining his hard-partying old friend on a wild birthday adventure.
Samaritan
(Aug. 26)
Colombian American Moisés Arias stars as Reza Smith and Dominican actress Dascha Polanco plays Isabelle in this superhero flick.
Other movies being released with Latinos:
Private Property (May 13) has Rosemberg Salgado in a supporting role.
The Photographer: Murder in Pinamar (May 19. Netflix) is a documentary about the murder of Argentine photojournalist José Luis Cabeza.
Tini Tour 2022: Live from Buenos Aires (June 1) Argentine music star Tini returns to her hometown in this concert film.
White Elephant (June 3) has Vadhir Derbez and Ski Carr in supporting roles.
Eraser Reborn (June 7, VOD) stars Eddie Ramos as “Sugar Jax” a local gangster.
Best Rest (July 15) stars Melissa Barrera as the main protagonist.
Don’t Make Me Go (July 15, Prime) features Kaya Scodelario.
