Spanish Comedy is Back: New Series & Films to Watch in 2024

A surge of Spanish-language comedy is arriving on streaming platforms this month, offering a diverse range of humor from heist capers to canine-centered narratives. The influx of new series, including “Por Cien Millones” (For One Hundred Million), “Vida Perra” (Dog Life), and “Si es martes, es asesinato” (If it’s Tuesday, it’s Murder), signals a revival of the genre in Spain, building on a legacy of comedic storytelling.

“Por Cien Millones,” debuting on Thursday, recounts the true story of the 1980 kidnapping of FC Barcelona footballer Enrique Castro ‘Quini’ by three mechanics from Zaragoza. The kidnappers demanded 100 million pesetas for his release, but the operation quickly descended into chaos, becoming a national news story. The series, presented at the Málaga Film Festival, stars Raúl Arévalo, Vito Sanz, and Gabriel Guevara and boasts meticulous attention to period detail, a hallmark of recent Movistar Plus+ productions like “La Canción.”

Prime Video will release “Vida Perra” on Friday, a comedy centered around a group of people whose lives intersect through their dogs. The series features Carlos Areces, known for his work in “Rafaela y su loco mundo,” alongside Fernando Tejero, recently acclaimed for his role in Alejandro Amenábar’s “El Cautivo,” and Elvira Mínguez, a recent Goya nominee for “La Cena.” Ana Morgade, Jordi Sánchez, and Óscar Lasarte, also of “La Cena,” round out the ensemble cast.

Disney+ will premiere “Si es martes, es asesinato” on March 31st. This black comedy, also showcased at the Málaga Film Festival, draws inspiration from the classic Ealing Studios films and titles like “The Ladykillers.” The series follows a group of tourists on a bus trip to Lisbon whose vacation takes a dark turn when a member of their party is found dead, prompting an Agatha Christie-style investigation. The cast includes Álex García, Inma Cuesta, who previously appeared together in “La Novia,” as well as Ana Wagener, Luisa Gavasa, and Pedro Casablanc. The series’ promotional materials evoke the style of “Only Murders in the Building.”

These new comedies follow a period of evolution in Spanish humor. The 1990s saw the dominance of situation comedies like “Hostal Royal Manzanares,” “Farmacia de Guardia,” and “Pepa y Pepe.” The 2000s brought more sophisticated offerings, such as “Aquí no hay quien viva.” The current wave of comedies, delivered through streaming services, caters to a wider range of audiences and often draws inspiration from real-life events.

Rafael Azcona, a prominent Spanish screenwriter known for his work with Luis García Berlanga on films like “Plácido” and “El verdugo,” died in 2008. He won six Goya Awards for his screenwriting and was considered by many to be the best Spanish screenwriter in history.