Pedro Almodóvar has been a successful director for decades. He is widely regarded as a visionary, championing stories about women and queer people throughout his career. In 1980, he made his debut film Pepi, Luci, Bom on a budget of only the equivalent of $3000 (according to i-D), and since then, his directing style has only evolved and become more influential. Now, there are more than 20 Almodóvar movies in existence, from Talk to Her to Bad Education.
Over the last 25 years of his career, Almodóvar has frequently collaborated with Penélope Cruz. Frequent actor-director duos isn't a new phenomenon in Hollywood — Martin Scorsese has partnered with both Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro on many, separate occasions to critical and commercial success — but what's remarkable about Cruz and Almodóvar's partnership is the nuance with which they both approach stories about complex and flawed women characters. Cruz, in fact, has appeared in seven of Almodóvar's last 11 films. Their most recent collaboration Parallel Mothers proved to be another huge access, with Cruz having been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Here are all of their movie collaborations, ranked.
7 I’m So Excited!
I’m So Excited! was released in 2013 and represented a transition period for Almodóvar, as he moved into a more camp style of cinema after a series of very serious films were released. His early career was largely made up of comical films, and this movie represented somewhat of a throwback to that style. I’m So Excited! features lots of different characters that the audience doesn’t stay with long enough to get attached too. The story centers around a family headed to Mexico on a flight, and the crew decide to drug everyone on board, resulting in chaos onboard. Cruz’ role is small in this, appearing alongside Antonio Banderas as a married couple. The film is not the best in Almodóvar’s repertoire, and Cruz features very little in the film.
6 Broken Embraces
Broken Embraces was released in 2009 and is a classic film in the style of Almodóvar. The film is a romantic thriller that tells the story of Harry Caine (Lluís Homar) as he recounts his relationship with an aspiring actress named Lena (Cruz), who is the mistress of a millionaire played by José Luis Gómez. The film is textbook Almodóvar, as Cruz gets to dive deep into her character, who clearly puts on a new face for everyone she encounters in her extravagant life. The cast has undeniable chemistry, and the focus in fully on fleshing out the characters and making a compelling story come to life. The film earned Cruz an Oscar nomination, and it’s a perfect example of the genius of Almodóvar.
5 Live Flesh
Live Flesh was released back In 1997 and marked the first time that Cruz collaborated with Almodóvar. She has a small role in the opening scene of the film, wherein she goes into labor in a brothel. A bus driver then has to take them to the hospital, however, she ultimately has the baby on the bus. The film then cuts to decades later, and we follow the complicated life of her grown-up son (Libero Rabal). It’s a psychosexual drama, which is a classic in Almodóvar’s filmography, and even though Cruz’s role is small, it is very important to the overall feel of the film.
4 Pain and Glory
Pain and Glory was released in 2019 and focuses on a film director (Antonio Banderas) who reflects on his life and the decisions he has made throughout it. Cruz features in flashbacks as his mother, who raised him in a cave-type of home at a time in his life when he first began to realize that he was gay. The story is widely accepted to be autobiographical to Almodóvar’s own life and an examination of his own personal connection to his mother. The interactions are poignant, and the characters feel tender and raw.
3 Parallel Mothers
The most recent addition to Almodóvar’s film catalog is Parallel Mothers, which centers around different mothers and their experiences with being new to motherhood. Cruz plays a fashion photographer, who has a child around the age of 40, and who meets Ana (Milena Smit), a teenager still under the care of her own mother in the maternity ward as they are both about to give birth. Their lives have a lot in common, and we see how, after they both give birth, they experience similar struggles. It’s a tender film that demonstrates Almodóvar’s skill at its best.
2 Volver
Volver was released in 2006 and features the first time Cruz was the lead in an Almodóvar film and also marked Cruz’s first Academy Award nomination for the category of Best Actress. She plays Raimunda, who is trying to hide the corpse of her dead husband, who was killed by her daughter after he attempted to rape her. She hides him in the freezer of a restaurant next door. Volver is campy and comedic in nature, while also displaying moments of true tragedy and heart-breaking performances. The different tones that Almodóvar is so famous for blend together to make this perfect film.
1 All About My Mother
All About My Mother is widely regarded as the ultimate masterpiece in Almodóvar’s career, which is why it takes the top spot on this list. The story of a grieving mother (Cecilia Roth) who connects with women from her past as a sex worker in Barcelona is deeply moving, and each character is treated with compassion and grace. Cruz plays a young nun named Rosa, who is pregnant and HIV-positive. It’s a perfect showcase for the electric chemistry that comes about through an Almodóvar and Cruz collaboration.