The Immigrant Experience

Arriving in a country that doesn't want you

These films understand that immigration is not a political talking point — it is the story of human beings navigating survival, belonging, and the cost of leaving everything behind.

Drama
16
Movies
20
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Created: January 8, 2026

The Collection

Dirty Pretty Things

Dirty Pretty Things

2002
1
Dirty Pretty Things
2002
1
Dirty Pretty Things
IMDb 7.2 / 10
Director Stephen Frears
Cast Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, Sophie Okonedo
Box Office $8,112,414
El Norte

El Norte

1983
2
El Norte
1983
2
El Norte
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Gregory Nava
Cast Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, David Villalpando, Ernesto Gómez Cruz
Box Office $27,920
Capernaum

Capernaum

2018
3
Capernaum
2018
3
Capernaum
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Nadine Labaki
Cast Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shifera, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole
Box Office $1,661,096
Maria Full of Grace

Maria Full of Grace

2004
4
Maria Full of Grace
2004
4
Maria Full of Grace
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Joshua Marston
Cast Catalina Sandino Moreno, Guilied Lopez, Yenny Paola Vega
Box Office $6,529,624
Why A raw, unflinching portrait of economic desperation that doubles as a taut thriller—Catalina Moreno…
Minari

Minari

2020
5
Minari
2020
5
Minari
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Lee Isaac Chung
Cast Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim
Box Office $3,110,580
In America

In America

2003
6
In America
2003
6
In America
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Jim Sheridan
Cast Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine, Sarah Bolger
Box Office $15,539,656
The Visitor

The Visitor

2008
7
The Visitor
2008
7
The Visitor
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Tom McCarthy
Cast Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira
Box Office $9,427,089
Sin Nombre

Sin Nombre

2009
8
Sin Nombre
2009
8
Sin Nombre
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Cary Joji Fukunaga
Cast Paulina Gaitán, Edgar Flores, Kristyan Ferrer
Box Office $2,536,665
Frozen River

Frozen River

2008
9
Frozen River
2008
9
Frozen River
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Courtney Hunt
Cast Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott
Box Office $2,511,476
A Better Life

A Better Life

2011
10
A Better Life
2011
10
A Better Life
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Chris Weitz
Cast Demián Bichir, José Julián, Chelsea Rendon
Box Office $1,759,252
Why Weitz crafts an intimate portrait of undocumented immigrant life through the lens of a father's qui…
Brooklyn

Brooklyn

2015
11
Brooklyn
2015
11
Brooklyn
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director John Crowley
Cast Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson
Box Office $38,322,743
Far and Away

Far and Away

1992
12
Far and Away
1992
12
Far and Away
IMDb 6.6 / 10
Director N/A
Cast N/A
Box Office $58,883,840
Why Irish immigrants pursue land ownership dreams across 19th century America
The Terminal

The Terminal

2004
13
The Terminal
2004
13
The Terminal
IMDb 7.4 / 10
Director N/A
Cast N/A
Box Office $77,872,883
Why Man trapped between nations embodies displacement and stateless immigrant limbo
Bend It Like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham

2002
14
Bend It Like Beckham
2002
14
Bend It Like Beckham
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Gurinder Chadha
Cast Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Box Office $32,543,449
Why Indian immigrant daughter balances tradition and British cultural assimilation
Bread and Roses

Bread and Roses

2000
15
Bread and Roses
2000
15
Bread and Roses
IMDb 0.0 / 10
Director Ken Loach
Cast Pilar Padilla, Adrien Brody, Jack McGee
Box Office $533,479
Why Mexican immigrants fight for labor rights in Los Angeles
An American Tail

An American Tail

1986
16
An American Tail
1986
16
An American Tail
IMDb 6.9 / 10
Director Don Bluth
Cast Dom DeLuise, Christopher Plummer, Erica Yohn
Box Office $47,483,002
Why Russian mouse family seeks safety and promise in immigrant America

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