City of God

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City of God

R

Released Jan 17, 2003

2h 11m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

165 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket (Phellipe Haagensen) is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood. José "Zé" Pequeno (Douglas Silva) is an ambitious drug dealer who uses Rocket and his photos as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival, "Knockout Ned" (Leandro Firmino da Hora). The film was shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods.

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Critics Consensus

City of God offers a shocking and disturbing -- but always compelling -- look at life in the slums of Rio de Janiero.

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Anupama Chopra

Film Companion

What makes City of God so breathtaking is director Fernando Meirelles' passion for these people - he gives us the color, the music and the humor...

Dec 30, 2019

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

I came away from this film impressed by its narrative control but unmoved by anything it had to say.

Nov 8, 2011

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Powerful, but only for 17 and up.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Paul Emmanuel Enicola

Movie-Blogger.com

A stark depiction of life outside the city: terrifying, unsettling, but never losing the sense of comedy.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 24, 2024

Full Review

Blake Howard

One Heat Minute

“A gateway drug to world cinema … aesthetically pure… the world was bigger after I watched City of God.”

Rated: 4/4

Feb 13, 2023

Full Review

Ray Pride

Newcity

What is the value of human life? And why are we so reckless with the fate of the youth of the world?

Rated: 7/10

Aug 18, 2022

Full Review

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Ricardo B

É indiscutível que esse é um dos maiores e mais importantes títulos do cinema brasileiro, mas a complexidade desse filme nunca deixa de me impressionar, mesmo que eu já tenha assistido incontáveis vezes. "Cidade de Deus" utiliza de uma estrutura narrativa não linear para transformar a história de um menino da favela que sonha em ser fotógrafo em um épico conto de amizade, crime e o detrutivo poder de uma violência enraizada e geracional, tornando-se um retrato vivo e atemporal da realidade por trás dos cartões postais do Rio de Janeiro.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

Full Review

blue m

City of God is a really powerful movie. The story is absolutely intense and shows the harsh reality of life in the favelas. Some parts are extremely violent, but they are also very real and important. I was totally shocked by the characters’ lives.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

Full Review

Ettore N

Sensational film. A milestone in the cinema of the new millennium.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Kafe R

Wow. This was unique. Definitely a must watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 11 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language, Drug Content, Sexuality and Strong Brutal Violence!!!!!!!!!!!! In Brazilian Portuguese and English versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

Max K

One of, if not the best film in Brazil. A masterpiece of cinema and certainly has characters that carry feelings.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

Full Review

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Fernando Meirelles

Director

Alexandre Rodrigues

Buscapé - Rocket

Leandro Firmino

Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé

Phellipe Haagensen

Benê - Benny

Douglas Silva

Dadinho - Li'l Dice

Jonathan Haagensen

Cabeleira - Shaggy

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Synopsis

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket (Phellipe Haagensen) is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood. José "Zé" Pequeno (Douglas Silva) is an ambitious drug dealer who uses Rocket and his photos as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival, "Knockout Ned" (Leandro Firmino da Hora). The film was shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods.

Director: Fernando Meirelles
Producer: Andrea Barata Ribeiro, Maurício Andrade Ramos
Screenwriter: Bráulio Mantovani, Paulo Lins
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: O2 Filmes, Lumiere Productions, Lereby, Globo Filmes, Hank Levine Film, StudioCanal, VideoFilmes, Wild Bunch
Rating: R (Language|Drug Content|Sexuality|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 17, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.6M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

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