10 Must-See Immigration Related Movies

Immigration plays a key role in the stories of these films every movie lover should see.

1. Coming to America

Via imdb.com

A young Eddie Murphy plays Akeem Joffer, a crown prince from the fictional African country of Zamunda. Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Samuel L. Jackson also appear in this comedy classic.

2. In America

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An Irish family dealing with tragedy emigrate to the United States and settle in Manhattan. The film was Oscar nominated for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay, and is considered Djimon Hounsou's breakout performance.

3. The Kite Runner

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Based on the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini, the film depicts the story of friends Amir and Hassan, flashing back and forth from their childhood in Afghanistan to present-day California.

4. Babel

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This film focuses on four interrelated stories taking place simultaneously in Morocco, Japan, and the United States/Mexican border. Adriana Barraza was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2007 Academy Awards for her portrayal of Amelia, a Mexican nanny looking after children in San Diego, California.

5. Crash

Via imdb.com

Set over a 36-hour period in Los Angeles, this is another multi-narrative film with an even larger ensemble cast. One of the characters featured is immigrant shop owner Farhad, portrayed by Shaun Toub, who also appears in The Kite Runner (#3). Crash won Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing at the Oscars in 2006.

6. House of Sand and Fog

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An immigrant Iranian family purchases a house in Northern California and enters a struggle with a woman who claims ownership of the home. Ben Kingsley and Shohreh Aghdashloo were Oscar nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, for their portrayals of Massoud Amir Behrani and Nadereh Behrani.

7. The Visitor

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A professor finds an undocumented immigrant couple living in his New York City apartment and decides to let them stay. Richard Jenkins was nominated for an Academy Award in 2009 for his role as the professor, Walter.

8. Entre Nos

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Originally setting out to reunite her family, a Colombian immigrant attempts to survive in New York City with her two children.

9. Lost Boys of Sudan

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A feature-length documentary film about the journey of two young Sudanese refugees as they flee civil war and adjust to American culture.

10. The Godfather: Part II

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One of the greatest films ever made is anchored by the immigration story of the young Vito Corleone. In a series of flashbacks, we see Vito fleeing Sicily as a kid, arriving at Ellis Island, struggling as a new immigrant, and establishing the Corleone family. This cinematic masterpiece was nominated for 11 Oscars, and won 6 at the ceremony in 1975, including Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro's portrayal of Young Vito Corleone.