Filmmakers frequently found significant inspiration in ancient civilizations. Their locations, deities, cities, and rites have been used in a number of films, both documentary and fantasy. One such well-known ancient Mesoamerican culture is the Mayan, yet oddly enough, it wasn’t depicted in movies as frequently as other civilizations. We’re going to concentrate on Mayans in movies and documentaries in today’s post. Having said that, let’s look at the top 10 Mayan-related movies you must see.
47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
Uncaged, the second film in the survival horror series, is called 47 Meters Down. Similar to the first film, the plot of this one involves the heroes being stuck underwater while being pursued by a shark. In the second part, we follow Mia and Sasha, two stepsisters who encounter some major difficulties while travelling together.
They intend to go scuba diving close to a long-since submerged Mayan metropolis. They ultimately make the decision to wander the city and find an old tomb. While attempting to delve deeper into the chamber One of the pals accidentally knocks over a stone column, causing the entire chamber to collapse as a result. The situation worsens as the shark begins stalking them, and the expedition becomes a struggle for survival.
Apocalypto (2006)
Mel Gibson’s historical horror film Apocalypto was first warmly acclaimed, but afterwards it was noted that it gave a horribly false impression of this once-great society. Nevertheless, the film is enjoyable, and as a result, it made this list.
Around 1502, when Apocalypto is set, the Mayan civilization is in a state of fast decay in Yucatán. Human sacrifice, persecution, and ritualistic worship are major themes in the film.
Breaking the Maya Code (2008)
The next film is a documentary. The ancient Maya hieroglyphic script, which was translated startlingly late in comparison to other scripts of the ancient civilizations, is explored and rediscover in the book Breaking the Maya Code.
A book published by Michael Coe served as the basis for the documentary. By examining the civilization’s script, we can learn more about how they lived on a daily basis and decipher some of its more enigmatic elements.
Curse of the Mayans/ Xibalba (2017)
In the movie Curse of the Mayans, Dr. Alan Green and Danielle Noble direct an expedition to the submerged ancient Mayan city of Xibalba. They intend to discover ancient documents that have been hidden for ages beneath perilous waters, but instead they will unleash a potent and lethal curse.
Evil Grave: Curse of the Maya (2004)
Renee, a recovering drug addict, moves into a little village close to the Mexican border at the beginning of the film. Renee and her fiance are ignorant of the town’s terrible past.
Renee and her fiancé Jeffrey quickly become friends with the locals, and Michael, who looks after the neighbourhood windmills, is one among them. Michel is invited to Renee and Jeffrey’s home for supper, but the conversation will soon be cut short by vengeful Mayan undead. When they learn that Michael, their guest, is tied to them, things become even more complicated.
Kings of the Sun (1963)
In Kings of the Sun, two civilizations are engaged in a bloody conflict along the Gulf of Mexico beaches. Native Americans vowed to destroy the Mayan tribe, and neither side will stop until the other tribe is entirely eradicated from the planet.
Mayan Doomsday Prophecy (2006)
Do you recall when everyone thought the world will end in 2012? Of course, it never happened, and since then, doomsday has been predicted numerous times. Nevertheless, the theory was very compelling and led to a number of documentaries (and many fiction movies).
There are several movies that address the end of the ancient Mayan calendar, as I’ve already mentioned, but I’ve chosen to include Mayan Doomsday Prophecy on the list. The documentary explains how to decipher the ancient Mayan calendar and the real significance of the end-of-the-world symbolism.
The Fountain (2006)
With the help of Tommy the Space Traveler, Tom Creo, and other characters from different realities, The Fountain transports us through time (Hugh Jackman). Tom Creo is presently attempting valiantly to heal his wife Izzi of a fatal brain tumour.
He even turns to some unusual strategies, including studying old Mayan mythology. Tom is on a quest to rid the planet of mortality itself after Izzi eventually passes away.
The Ruins (2008)
In the supernatural horror film The Ruins, two American couples travel to Mexico for a vacation. While on vacation, they unintentionally run with Mathias, a German tourist who is searching for his missing brother Heinrich, who was working on a Mayan archaeological dig in the neighbouring jungle.
They discover they are not alone once they arrive at the jungle and archaeological site because the area is populated by Mayans. They immediately attacked them, but as the plot progresses, we learn that the Mayans are actually more terrified of something far more sinister and dangerous than visitors.
Volcano / Ixcanul
We travel to a town situated on a volcano’s flanks as a result of this incredible Guatemalan tale. This is where Maria, a young woman of Kaqchikel descent, resides. A deeply spiritual and reclusive people combine elements of Christianity and traditional Mayan religion. Maria has been forced into an arranged marriage with Ignacio, an older guy, and the wedding will go place as soon as he gets back from a nearby town.
Maria is romantically linked with Pepe, a younger lad who charms her with tales of the United States and other wonders outside the boundaries of their small town. Maria becomes pregnant with Pepe and must now deal with Ignacio and her parents’ hatred. To mitigate the effects of her acts, she will go to great lengths.
