Bolivia’s film industry has steadily carved its own unique space in Latin American cinema, telling stories that reflect the country’s complex social fabric, breathtaking landscapes, and rich culture. From intimate dramas to political critiques, Bolivian movies have captured hearts both at home and abroad.
Bolivian films that marked an era (1982 – 2013)
| Año | Título / Title | Description |
| 1982 | Mi Socio | Paolo Agazzi’s road-movie about an unlikely friendship humanized poverty and became the first Bolivian blockbuster. |
| 1995 | Jonás y la Ballena Rosada | Juan Carlos Valdivia turned La Paz’s 1980s narco-boom into a daring, erotic coming-of-age drama. |
| 1998 | El Día que Murió el Silencio | A travelling tinkerer brings radio—and gossip—to a forgotten valley town; magical-realist jewel by Agazzi. |
| 2003 | Dependencia Sexual / Sexual Dependency | Rodrigo Bellott shattered taboos with a raw, handheld portrait of teenage desire. |
| 2007 | ¿Quién Mató a la Llamita Blanca? | Bellott again—this time a slang-packed, irreverent narco road trip that became a cult comedy. |
| 2007 | Los Andes no Creen en Dios | Period melodrama set in Uyuni’s mining camps; lush visuals and literary pedigree. |
| 2009 | Zona Sur | Valdivia eviscerates La Paz’s elites during Bolivia’s political realignment of the 2000s. |
| 2013 | Yvy Maraey | A metafilmic trek from the altiplano to the Guaraní lowlands, questioning identity and ethnographic gaze. |
Runner-ups: Las Bellas Durmientes, American Visa, Blackthorn, Utama (2022—Bolivia’s first Oscar shortlist).
Watch Bolivian Films Online: Bolivia Cine Streaming Portal
In response to the 2020 lockdown, Bolivia launched its first legal streaming platform, Bolivia Cine, offering free access to 17 films during its early days. Now, rentals cost between Bs 15-40, with the catalog growing steadily. It’s a great way to explore Bolivian cinema from anywhere.
Bolivia’s Cameos in International Blockbusters
Bolivia’s stunning landscapes and rich history have attracted global filmmakers, with the country appearing in several major films:
| Film | How Bolivia shows up |
| Quantum of Solace (2008) | Bond thwarts a coup that would privatize Bolivia’s water; plot mirrors Cochabamba’s Water War. |
| Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) | Salar de Uyuni doubled as planet Crait, the salt-over-red-mineral battlefield. |
| Titanic (ITV miniseries, 2012) | Dinner-table gossip about opening tin mines in Bolivia—proof the country even slips into trans-Atlantic tales. |
| Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (1969) | Outlaws’ last stand—“the Bolivian Army ending”—etched San Vicente into pop-culture myth. |
More cameos
· Even the Rain (2010) recreates the Cochabamba Water War.
· The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) ends at La Higuera. · Werner Herzog’s Salt and Fire (2016) and Mateo Gil’s Blackthorn (2011) feature scenes filmed on the Uyuni salt flats.
All Things Bolivia 