5 Most Underrated Alejandro González Iñárritu Movies You Should Watch This New Year

Alejandro González Iñárritu is one of those directors who makes films that stick with you long after the credits roll. Sure, movies like Birdman and The Revenant made a huge splash and won major awards, but Iñárritu’s other gems deserve some serious love, too.

These films may not have grabbed the spotlight, but they’re just as compelling, thought-provoking, and emotional. Let’s not waste time and start exploring five films you might have missed. They’re cinematic masterpieces in their own right. So, get ready for some serious feels, because these films are about to hit you where it hurts—in the best way possible.

5. Amores Perros (2000)

If you haven’t seen Amores Perros, you’re missing out big time. This was Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s first feature film, and it’s a punch right to the gut in the best way. The film is set in Mexico City and follows three interconnected stories, all tied together by a horrific car accident.

We meet Octavio, a young man willing to do anything to make cash, even if it means diving into the world of dogfights. Then there’s Valeria, a glamorous supermodel whose life goes off the rails in the worst way. And lastly, El Chivo, a hitman who’s tough as nails but surprisingly has a soft spot.

These three lives collide in ways you wouldn’t expect, peeling back the curtain on a darker, grittier world few ever witness. Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography makes you feel like you’re right in the heart of the action, almost like a documentary.

But it’s not just about the characters’ messy lives; it’s also about the struggle to find meaning in all the chaos. Amores Perros is often called the “Mexican Pulp Fiction,” and while it’s definitely got that chaotic energy, it’s so much more than that.

Ameros Perros is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video!

4. Biutiful (2010)

Biutiful might not have been a huge hit when it came out, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re a fan of Iñárritu’s work. The movie stars Javier Bardem as Uxbal, a man who’s trying to make peace with his life while battling terminal cancer.

He’s got two kids he wants to protect, and he’s deeply involved in the world of illegal immigrants, trying to help them survive in the rough underbelly of Barcelona. The catch? He has a strange ability to communicate with the dead, which doesn’t really make his life any easier.

Uxbal is facing death head-on, trying to make sense of his life while dealing with the grim reality of being involved in shady business with illegal immigrants. It’s messy, it’s heartbreaking, and you’ll probably need a good cry afterward.

But Bardem’s portrayal of Uxbal, caught between desperation and hope, is a masterclass in acting. Though some critics didn’t totally buy into the film’s slow pace, Biutiful still carries the Iñárritu trademark of pushing the boundaries of human emotion and exploring life’s brutal side.

Biutiful is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video!

3. Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022)

This Iñárritu’s surreal, semi-autobiographical film is an explosion of visuals, emotions, and existential crisis. It’s been compared to Federico Fellini’s work, and for good reason.

The movie follows a journalist returning to Mexico, only to find himself deep in a world of confusion and self-doubt. It’s kind of like a fever dream where the line between what’s real and what’s not gets really blurry.

Yes, Bardo is indulgent. It’s overlong at times, and it definitely pushes the limits of surrealism. But that’s part of the charm. The film is a mind-bender, blending one man’s internal struggle with a deep reflection on Mexico’s political and social landscape.

It feels like a modern version of Federico Fellini’s works—surreal, reflective, and kind of nightmarish in the best way. Sure, it’s a bit long, and it can feel indulgent at times, but there’s a lot of depth here if you’re willing to let it unfold.

Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths is available to watch on Netflix!

2. 21 Grams (2003)

21 Grams is one of those films that hits you right in the heart. This is the second film in Iñárritu’s Death Trilogy, and it’s a doozy. 21 Grams explores the tangled lives of three people who, after a tragic accident, are connected in ways they never expected.

The first is Sean Penn, playing a man waiting for a heart transplant. The second is Naomi Watts, a woman grieving the death of her family. The third is Benicio Del Toro, a man trying to redeem himself after years of being in and out of prison.

Their stories collide in the aftermath of a tragic accident, and the result is a deeply emotional, complex exploration of how people deal with pain and tragedy. The film is complex, to say the least. It plays with time, jumping back and forth between moments, which can be jarring. But that’s exactly what makes it unique.

The nonlinear narrative really drives home the randomness of life and death and how our actions affect others, even in ways we can’t understand. Each character is dealing with their own grief, and Iñárritu’s direction pulls you into their pain, making it impossible not to empathize. It’s a slow burn, but worth every minute.

21 Grams is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video!

1. Babel (2006)

And now, the grand finale of Iñárritu’s Death Trilogy—Babel. This is a movie that spans the globe, weaving together four different storylines that intersect in unexpected ways. The film jumps between Japan, Morocco, Mexico, and the U.S., showing how disconnected lives can somehow come together.

It’s a story about communication—or, rather, the lack of it—and how we all struggle to truly understand each other. Each storyline brings its own unique flavor. In Morocco, two young boys accidentally shoot an American tourist. In Mexico, that tourist’s children are left in the care of their Mexican nanny.

In Japan, a deaf schoolgirl deals with the aftermath of her mother’s suicide. The way these stories connect feels both devastating and enlightening. The film’s title says it all. Babel—like the biblical Tower of Babel—depicts the chaos that arises from humanity’s inability to communicate effectively.

But despite the confusion, there’s beauty in these stories of loss, isolation, and hope. It’s a powerful exploration of the world’s many divides, and the film doesn’t shy away from showing us how painful and poignant those divides can be.

Babel is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV!