

Yuli
2018, Spanish. Directed by Icíar Bollaín.
Yuli is the nickname given to Carlos Acosta by his father, Pedro, who considers him the son of Ogun, an African god and a fighter. As a child Yuli avoids discipline and education, learning from the streets of an impoverished and abandoned Havana. His father, however, has other ideas, and knowing that his son has a natural talent for dance, sends him to the National Ballet School of Cuba. Despite his repeated escapes and initial poor behaviour, the boy is inevitably drawn to the world of dance, and begins to shape his legendary career from a young age, becoming the first black dancer to be cast in some of the most prestigious ballet roles, originally written for white dancers, in companies such as the Houston Ballet or the Royal Ballet in London.
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Spanish
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.9/10 from 102 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch Yuli
Yuli isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free or rent it or buy it online.
Free
Availability in India as of 4 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Icíar BollaínDirector
- Santiago AlfonsoPedro
- Carlos AcostaCarlos Acosta (Actual)
- Keyvin MartínezCarlos Acosta (Joven)
- Edison Manuel OlberaCarlos Acosta (1983)
- Laura de la UzMaestra Chery
- Yerlín Pérez LópezMaría
- Carlos Enrique AlmiranteEnrique
- Andrea DoimeadiosBerta
- Alexandra ProkhorovaAmiga Inglesa
- Tamara RojoJulieta
- Héctor NoasGuía
Details
- Released
- 14 December 2018
- Country
- Germany, Cuba, Spain, France, United Kingdom
- Written by
- Paul Laverty
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What Yuli is based on
Yuli is based on a true story.
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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Yuli: quick answers
Is Yuli worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.9/10 from 102 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is Yuli?
Yuli runs 115 minutes (1h 55m).
Does Yuli have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Yuli. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Yuli parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for Yuli yet.
Which OTT platform is Yuli on?
Yuli isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free or rent it or buy it online. (Checked 4 November 2026.)
What movies are like Yuli?
If you liked Yuli, try Gigi & Nate, Richard Jewell, A Call to Spy.
Who directed Yuli?
Yuli (2018) was directed by Icíar Bollaín and stars Santiago Alfonso, Carlos Acosta, Keyvin Martínez.
What is Yuli based on?
Yuli is based on a true story.