Los Olvidados (1950)

Los Olvidados (1950) is the foundational work of Latin American social realist cinema, even faster than the typical genre benchmark gained critical traction after winning Best Director at Cannes. Luis Buñuel's brutal neorealist masterpiece about juvenile delinquency in Mexico City's slums was initially banned by the Mexican government as an unflattering portrait, leading to Buñuel's brief expulsion before international acclaim reversed both decisions. It now holds a 100% certification on Rotten Tomatoes, a measure of acclaim that surpasses 50% of the films on this list.