Latino movies, stars in Oscars mix include ‘West Side Story’ and standouts Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose

Latino stories are taking center stage in Hollywood — and awards voters are paying attention.

“West Side Story,” “In the Heights” and “Encanto” dazzled moviegoers and critics alike in 2021 thanks to breakthrough performances, lively musical numbers and engrossing characters, with each earning at least a 91% approval rating among reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website.

Disney’s “Encanto,” an animated musical about a magical Colombian household, also proved to be a box office blockbuster, taking home $222 million worldwide despite the COVID-19 pandemic that’s caused repeated challenges for theaters.

“West Side Story,” which is set amid a New York City turf war between Puerto Rican and white gangs, has grossed $57 million globally since its mid-December release, and “In the Heights,” about a vibrant Latino community in Upper Manhattan, made nearly $44 million at theaters while debuting simultaneously on HBO Max last June.

Rafael Agustín, CEO of the Latino Film Institute, says “it’s about time” that Latino stories get reflected on the big screen on a regular basis, adding, “We are part of this nation.”

“We need to see ourselves as part of the fabric of this nation,” Agustín told Viva. “When we’re omitted from film, TV, media, it’s easy for us to be ‘othered.’”

Awards season is off to a strong start for several of the stars of these films, including Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose of “West Side Story,” who already won Golden Globes for their performances.

With Academy Awards nominations just weeks away and the ceremony scheduled for March 27, here are the top movie, director and actors who deserve Oscar consideration.

Best Picture: “West Side Story”

Something’s coming, something good for “West Side Story,” which seems like a surefire bet for a Best Picture nomination and remains squarely in the mix to win the honor, too.

Beyond its jaw-dropping dance sequences and heartrending plot, Steven Spielberg’s new adaptation improves on the original 1961 film with much more authentic casting of its Puerto Rican characters.

The movie keeps striking a chord on the awards circuit, as “West Side Story” was named best musical or comedy film at the Golden Globes this month.

Best Actor: Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights”

A big reason why “In the Heights” soared was the well-rounded performance of Ramos, who lit up the screen during upbeat song sequences and brought emotional depth to the heavier moments.

The film established the Brooklyn-born actor as a true Hollywood leading man, with Ramos receiving a Golden Globes nomination for best actor in a musical or comedy. He’ll look to add a best actor nod at the Oscars, where he’d likely face off with top contenders Will Smith for “King Richard,” Andrew Garfield for “Tick, Tick... Boom!” and Denzel Washington for “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”

Best Actress: Rachel Zegler, “West Side Story”

Making her movie debut, the New Jersey-born Zegler’s performance as the love-struck Maria — previously played by Natalie Wood — left viewers feeling fizzy and funny and fine, thanks in large part to her elite vocal range.

“Being the first Latina to play Maria on screen is a huge honor and also a huge responsibility, so the accurate depiction of Latin joy was very important,” Zegler told the Daily News last fall before the movie’s release.

Zegler won best actress in a musical or comedy at the Globes, and was also named best actress by the National Board of Review. She’s competing in a star-studded Oscars race for best actress that also includes Lady Gaga for “House of Gucci” and Nicole Kidman for “Being the Ricardos.”

Best Supporting Actor: Robin de Jesús, “Tick... Tick, Boom!”

In a movie led by Andrew Garfield’s high-energy portrayal of “Rent” writer Jonathan Larson, de Jesús provided the perfect complement with his grounded performance as Larson’s best friend Michael.

De Jesús’ Broadway chops were on full display throughout the film’s imaginative musical sequences. His nominations so far include nods from the Hollywood Critics Association and for the Satellite Awards.

Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”

Fresh off her Globes win for best supporting actress, DeBose is ready to get her kicks at the Oscars for her standout performance as Anita.

Her dancing in “West Side Story” is unparalleled, particularly as she twirled and toe-tapped with precision through the memorable “America” number.

She enters the Oscars as a favorite to take home the best supporting actress trophy — six decades after Rita Moreno won the same award in 1962 for her portrayal of Anita in the original “West Side Story.”

Best Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green, “King Richard”

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” was darkly entertaining but hardly equaled his best picture-winning “The Shape of Water,” and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the force behind the groundbreaking Broadway musicals “In the Heights” and “Hamilton,” proved he was no slouch behind a camera as the first-time director of “Tick, Tick... Boom!”

But Green’s biopic about Venus and Serena Williams’ eccentric father has a captivating story, realistic tennis scenes and heart-pumping drama. Game, set, match.

The NYU alum’s attention to detail as a filmmaker helped highlight aspects of the famed Williams family’s story that audiences had never seen before.

He depicted the ups and downs of their journey with grace — and the end result was one of the best movies of 2021.

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