The Ariel Award for Best Picture (Ariel de Mejor Película in Spanish) is the highest award given in Mexico to a single film and is part of the Mexican Academy of Film's Ariel Award program.
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 (2nd) | |||
| La barraca | Roberto Gavaldón | ||
| Crepúsculo | Julio Bracho | ||
| Las abandonadas | Emilio Fernández |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 (3nd) | |||
| Enamorada | Emilio Fernández | ||
| Campeón sin corona | Alejandro Galindo | ||
| La otra | Roberto Gavaldón |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 (4nd) | |||
| La perla | Emilio Fernández | ||
| Cinco rostros de mujer | Gilberto Martínez Solares | ||
| El buen mozo | Antonio Momplet |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 (5nd) | |||
| Río Escondido | Emilio Fernández | ||
| Que Dios me perdone | Tito Davison | ||
| Rosenda | Julio Bracho |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 (6nd) | |||
| Una familia de tantas | Alejandro Galindo | ||
| El dolor de los hijos | Miguel Zacarías | ||
| Pueblerina | Emilio Fernández |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 (7nd) | |||
| En la palma de tu mano | Roberto Gavaldón | ||
| Deseada | Roberto Gavaldón | ||
| Doña Perfecta | Alejandro Galindo |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 (8nd) | |||
| El jurado se declaró desierto | |||
| El rebozo de Soledad | Roberto Gavaldón | ||
| Mi esposa y la otra | Alfredo B. Crevenna | ||
| Subida al cielo | Luis Buñuel |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 (9nd) | |||
| El niño y la niebla | Roberto Gavaldón | ||
| Las tres perfectas casadas | Roberto Gavaldón | ||
| Un divorcio | Emilio Gómez Muriel |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 (10nd) | |||
| Los Fernández de Peralvillo | Alejandro Galindo | ||
| Orquídeas para mi esposa | Alfredo B. Crevenna | ||
| Sombra verde | Roberto Gabaldón |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 (11nd) | |||
| Robinson Crusoe | Luis Buñuel | ||
| Ensayo de un crimen | Luis Buñuel | ||
| Una mujer en la calle | Alfredo B. Crevenna |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 (12nd) | |||
| El camino de la vida | Alfonso Corona Blake | ||
| La escondida | Roberto Gavaldón | ||
| Talpa | Alfredo B. Crevenna |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 (13nd) | |||
| Tizoc | Ismael Rodríguez | ||
| Feliz año, amor mío | Tulio Demicheli | ||
| La culta dama | Rogelio A. González |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 (14nd) | |||
| El castillo de la pureza | Arturo Ripstein | ||
| Mecánica nacional | Luis Alcoriza | ||
| Reed, México insurgente | Paul Leduc |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 (15nd) | |||
| El principio | Gonzalo Martínez Ortega | ||
| El cambio | Alfredo Joskowicz | ||
| Fe, esperanza y caridad | Luis Alcoriza, Alberto Bojórquez and Jorge Fons |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 (16nd) | |||
| La Choca | Emilio "Indio" Fernández | ||
| La otra virginidad | Juan Manuel Torres | ||
| Presagio | Luis Alcoriza |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 (17nd) | |||
| Actas de Marusia | Miguel Littín | ||
| Canoa | Felipe Cazals | ||
| De todos modos Juan te llamas | Marcela Fernández Violante |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 (18nd) | |||
| La pasión según Berenice | Jaime Humberto Hermosillo | ||
| Cuartelazo | Alberto Isaac | ||
| Longitud de guerra | Gonzalo Martínez Ortega |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 (19nd) | |||
| El lugar sin límites | Arturo Ripstein | ||
| Naufragio | Jaime Humberto Hermosillo | ||
| Los pequeños privilegios | Julián Pastor |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 (20nd) | |||
| Cadena perpetua | Arturo Ripstein | ||
| Anacrusa | Ariel Zúñiga | ||
| El recurso del método | Miguel Littín |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 (21nd) | |||
| El año de la peste | Felipe Cazals | ||
| El infierno de todos tan temido | Sergio Olhovich | ||
| Fuego en el mar | Raúl Araiza |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 (22nd) | |||
| Las grandes aguas | Servando González | ||
| Misterio | Marcela Fernández Violante | ||
| Morir de Madrugada | Julián Pastor |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 (23nd) | |||
| Ora sí ¡tenemos que ganar! | Raúl Kamffer | ||
| Llámenme Mike | Alfredo Gurrola | ||
| Noche de Carnaval | Mario Hernández |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 (24nd) | |||
| La pachanga | José Estrada | ||
| Días de combate | Alfredo Gurrola | ||
| Tiempo de lobos | Alberto Isaac |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 (25nd) | |||
| Bajo la metralla | Felipe Cazals | ||
| La viuda negra | Arturo Ripstein | ||
| Nocaut | José Luis García Agraz |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 (26nd) | |||
| Frida, naturaleza viva | Paul Leduc | ||
| De veras me atrapaste | Gerardo Pardo | ||
| Vidas errantes | Juan Antonio de la Riva |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 (27nd) | |||
| Veneno para las hadas | Carlos Enrique Taboada | ||
| Los motivos de Luz | Felipe Cazals | ||
| Redondo | Raúl Busteros |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 (28nd) | |||
| El imperio de la fortuna | Arturo Ripstein | ||
| Amor a la vuelta de la esquina | Alberto Cortés | ||
| Crónica de familia | Diego López Rivera |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 (29nd) | |||
| Mariana, Mariana | Alberto Isaac | ||
| Lo que importa es vivir | Luis Alcoriza | ||
| Días difíciles | Alejandro Pelayo |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 (30nd) | |||
| Esperanza | Sergio Olhovich | ||
| ¿Nos traicionará el presidente? | Juan Fernando Pérez Gavilán | ||
| El secreto de Romelia | Busi Cortés |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 (31nd) | |||
| Goitia, un dios para sí mismo | Diego López Rivera | ||
| El homicida | Alfonso Rosas Priego | ||
| Morir en el golfo | Alejandro Pelayo |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 (32nd) | |||
| Rojo amanecer | Jorge Fons | ||
| Pueblo de madera | Juan Antonio de la Riva |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 (33nd) | |||
| Como agua para chocolate | Alfonso Arau | ||
| Danzón | María Novaro | ||
| La mujer de Benjamín | Carlos Carrera |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 (34nd) | |||
| Cronos | La invención de Cronos | Guillermo del Toro | |
| Ángel de fuego | Dana Rotberg | ||
| Tequila | Rúben Gámez |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 (35nd) | |||
| Principio y fin | Arturo Ripstein | ||
| Desiertos mares | José Luis García Agraz | ||
| Lolo | Francisco Athié | ||
| La vida conyugal | Carlos Carrera | ||
| Novia que te vea | Guita Schyfter |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 (36nd) | |||
| El callejón de los milagros | Jorge Fons | ||
| Bienvenido-Welcome | Gabriel Retes | ||
| Dos crímenes | Roberto Sneider | ||
| El jardín del edén | María Novaro | ||
| Hasta morir | Fernando Sariñana |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 (37nd) | |||
| Sin Remitente | Carlos Carrera | ||
| Dulces compañías | Oscar Blancarte | ||
| Entre Pancho Villa y una mujer desnuda | Sabina Berman, Isabelle Tardán | ||
| Mujeres insumisas | Alberto Isaac | ||
| La reina de la noche | Arturo Ripstein |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 (38nd) | |||
| Sender Unknown | Sin remitente | Carlos Carrera | |
| The Queen of the Night | La reina de la noche | Arturo Ripstein | |
| Entre Pancho Villa y una mujer desnuda | Sabina Berman, Isabelle Tardán | ||
| Dulces compañías | Óscar Blancarte | ||
| Mujeres insumisas | Alberto Isaac |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 (39nd) | |||
| Cilantro and Parsley | Cilantro y Perejil | Rafael Montero | |
| Deep Crimson | Profundo carmesí | Arturo Ripstein | |
| Santo Luzbel | Miguel Sabido | ||
| Reclusorio | Ismael Rodríguez | ||
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 (40nd) | |||
| Por si no te vuelvo a ver | Juan Pablo Villaseñor | ||
| Esmeralda Comes by Night | De noche vienes, Esmeralda | Jaime Humberto Hermosillo | |
| Elisa Before the End of the World | Elisa antes del fin del mundo | Juan Antonio de la Riva |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 (41nd) | |||
| Bajo California: El límite del tiempo | Carlos Bolado | ||
| Divine | El evangelio de las maravillas | Óscar Urrutia Lazo | |
| Un embrujo | Carlos Carrera | ||
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 (42nd) | |||
| Herod's Law | La ley de Herodes | Luis Estrada | |
| Terminal Rite | Rito terminal | Óscar Urrutia Lazo | |
| Juan, I Forgot I Don't Remember | Del olvido al no me acuerdo | Juan Carlos Rulfo |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 (43nd) | |||
| Amores perros | Alejandro G. Iñárritu | ||
| Violet Perfume: No One Is Listening | Nadie te oye: Perfume de violetas | Marisa Sistach | |
| His Most Serene Highness | Su alteza serenísima | Felipe Cazals | |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 (44nd) | |||
| Bedtime Fairy Tales for Crocodiles | Cuentos de hadas para dormir cocodrilos | Ignacio Ortiz | |
| The Mountain Hawk | Ciudades oscuras | Juan Antonio de la Riva | |
| Streeters | De la calle | Gerardo Tort |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 (45nd) | |||
| The Crime of Padre Amaro | El crimen del Padre Amaro | Carlos Carrera | |
| Dark City | Ciudades oscuras | Fernando Sariñana | |
| Aro Tolbukhin in the Mind of a Killer | Aro Tolbukhin - En la mente del asesino | Isaac-Pierre Racine, Agustí Villaronga, Lydia Zimmermann |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 (46nd) | |||
| El misterio del Trinidad | José Luis García Agraz | ||
| A Thousand Clouds of Peace | Mil nubes de paz cercan el cielo, amor, jamás acabarás de ser amor | Julián Hernández | |
| Japón | Carlos Reygadas | ||
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 (47nd) | |||
| Duck Season | Temporada de patos | Fernando Eimbcke | |
| Innocent Voices | Voces inocentes | Luis Mandoki | |
| Manos libres | José Buil | ||
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 (48nd) | |||
| Mezcal | Ignacio Ortiz | ||
| News from Afar | Noticias lejanas | Ricardo Benet | |
| Las vueltas del citrillo | Felipe Cazals | ||
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 (49nd) | |||
| Pan's Labyrinth | El laberinto del fauno | Guillermo del Toro | |
| Cronicas | Crónicas | Sebastián Cordero | |
| The Violin | El violín | Francisco Vargas |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 (50nd) | |||
| Silent Light | Stellet Licht | Carlos Reygadas | |
| El cobrador: In God We Trust | Cobrador: In God We Trust | Paul Leduc | |
| Old Thieves: The Legend of Artegio | Los ladrones viejos. Las leyendas del artegio | Everardo González |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 (51nd) | |||
| Lake Tahoe | Fernando Eimbcke | ||
| I'm Gonna Explode | Voy a explotar | Gerardo Naranjo | |
| Shakespeare and Victor Hugo's Intimacies | Intimidades de Shakespeare y Víctor Hugo | Yulene Olaizola | |
| Los herederos | Jorge Hernández Aldana | ||
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 (52nd) | |||
| Nora's Will | Cinco días sin Nora | Mariana Chenillo | |
| Corazón del Tiempo | Alberto Cortés | ||
| Northless | Norteado | Rigoberto Pérezcano | |
| 2011 (53rd) | |||
| Hell | El infierno | Luis Estrada | |
| Abel | Diego Luna | ||
| Chico Grande | Felipe Cazals | ||
| 2012 (54th) | |||
| Pastorela | Emilio Portes | ||
| Miss Bala | Gerardo Naranjo | ||
| Días de gracia | Everardo Gout | ||
| 2013 (55th) | |||
| The Prize | El premio | Paula Markovitch | |
| The Delay | La demora | Rodrigo Plá | |
| The Last Christeros | Los Últimos Cristeros | Matías Meyer | |
| 2014 (56th) | |||
| The Golden Dream | La jaula de oro | Diego Quemada-Díez | |
| Club Sandwich | Club Sándwich | Fernando Eimbcke | |
| Heli | Amat Escalante | ||
| The Amazing Catfish | Los insólitos peces gato | Claudia Sainte-Luce | |
| She Doesn't Want to Sleep Alone | No quiero dormir sola | Natalia Beristáin | |
| 2015 (57th) | |||
| Güeros | Alonso Ruizpalacios | ||
| Carmin Tropical | Rigoberto Pérezcano | ||
| The Perfect Dictatorship | La dictadura perfecta | Luis Estrada | |
| Guten Tag, Ramón | Jorge Ramírez-Suárez | ||
| The Obscure Spring | Las oscuras primaveras | Ernesto Contreras | |
| 2016 (58th) | |||
| The Chosen Ones | Las elegidas | David Pablos | |
| 600 Miles | 600 Millas | Gabriel Ripstein | |
| Gloria | Christian Keller | ||
| The Thin Yellow Line | La delgada línea amarilla | Celso R. García | |
| A Monster with a Thousand Heads | Un Monstruo de Mil Cabezas | Rodrigo Plá | |
| 2017 (59th) | |||
| The 4th Company | La 4ª Compañía | Mitzi Vanessa Arreola and Amir Galván Cervera | |
| Beauties of the Night | Bellas de noche | Maria Jose Cuevas | |
| From Afar | Desde allá | Lorenzo Vigas | |
| Desierto | Jonás Cuarón | ||
| Mara'akame's Dream | El Sueño del Mara'akame | Federico Cecchetti | |
| You're Killing Me Susana | Me estás matando, Susana | Roberto Sneider | |
| Tempestad | Tatiana Huezo | ||
| 2018 (60th) | |||
| I Dream in Another Language | Sueño en otro idioma | Ernesto Contreras | |
| Intimate Battles | Batallas íntimas | Lucía Gajá | |
| Devil's Freedom | La libertad del diablo | Everardo González | |
| The Untamed | La región salvaje | Amat Escalante | |
| Time Share | Tiempo compartido | Sebastián Hofmann | |
| 2019 (61st) | |||
| Roma | Alfonso Cuarón | ||
| The Chambermaid | La camarista | Lila Avilés | |
| The Good Girls | Las niñas bien | Alejandra Márquez Abella | |
| Our Time | Nuestro tiempo | Carlos Reygadas | |
| Museum | Museo | Alonso Ruizpalacios | |
| Year | English title | Original title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (62nd) | |||
| I'm No Longer Here | Ya no estoy aquí | Fernando Frías de la Parra | |
| This Is Not Berlin | Esto no es Berlín | Hari Sama | |
| Suffocation | Asfixia | Kenya Marquez | |
| Buy Me a Gun | Cómprame un revólver | Julio Hernández Cordón | |
| Powder | Polvo | José María Yazpik | |
| 2021 (63rd) | |||
| Identifying Features | Sin señas particulares | Fernanda Valadez | |
| Dance of the 41 | El baile de los 41 | David Pablos | |
| The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo | Las tres muertes de Marisela Escobedo | Carlos Pérez Osorio | |
| Los lobos | Los lobos | Samuel Kishi | |
| Tragic Jungle | Selva trágica | Yulene Olaizola | |
| 2022 (64th) | |||
| Prayers for the Stolen | Noche de fuego | Tatiana Huezo | |
| Impossible Things | Cosas imposibles | Ernesto Contreras | |
| Nudo Mixteco | Angeles Cruz | ||
| The Other Tom | The Other Tom | Rodrigo Pla, Laura Santullo | |
| A Cop Movie | Una película de policías | Alonso Ruizpalacios | |