Spanish Comedy “Cateto a Port” Claims Title of Most-Watched Film Ever on Spanish Television
Madrid,Spain – In a surprising upset to Hollywood blockbusters,a 1970 Spanish comedy,Cateto a port (roughly translated as “Greenhorn to the Navy”),has been revealed as the most-watched film in the history of Spanish television. the broadcast on La 1 on April 26th, 2025, drew an average of 10,041,000 viewers, surpassing previous records held by American classics.
The film, starring Alfredo Landa, follows a naive young man’s misadventures after reluctantly joining the Navy to avoid military service and care for his brother. its simple, family-friendly humor and depiction of life within the Spanish Navy resonated with a massive audience, achieving a 38.7% share – a rare feat in modern Spanish television where programs exceeding 15% are considered highly prosperous.
While a record-breaking number, context is crucial. Television audience measurement in Spain began in 1986, meaning earlier broadcasts, even of potentially popular films, weren’t officially tracked. Prior to audiometers, the General Media Study (EGM) used interviews to estimate viewership starting in 1968. This suggests that films aired in the 1970s and 80s may have drawn even larger crowds when television was the primary form of entertainment for many Spaniards.
Cateto a port‘s success contrasts with the trend of more aggressive comedies that emerged later in the 1970s. Its conciliatory tone,typical of the late Franco dictatorship,contributed to its initial box office success and enduring appeal.
Other films that have achieved high viewership numbers include Clint Eastwood and Shirley McLaine’s Two Mules and a Woman (9,598,000 viewers), the Priest’s son starring Fernando Esteso (9,287,000 viewers), Pretty Woman (9,223,000 viewers – broadcast in 1994), and Dirty Dancing (9,110,000 viewers).Notably, these high-performing broadcasts largely occurred in 1992 (with the exception of Pretty Woman), suggesting a general increase in television viewership in the early 1990s despite the rise of private television channels.
