City of God

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City of God

R

Released Jan 17, 2003

2h 11m

Crime

Drama

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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

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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

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Lúcio Leonardo P

Entertainment that is a Brazilian cinematic “treasure,” showing the drama (and incredible “normality”) of those who live in the communities of Rio de Janeiro with all the brutality of the criminals who rule there, whether they are criminals or police officers, using the action to narrate all the temptations (and consequences) that crime can offer to the less fortunate. A cinema lesson from São Paulo filmmakers Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund for the genre that is not “lucky” in Brazil, whether due to investment or script/direction. A well-delivered “slap in the face” to the society that insists on not demanding improvements from its politicians in communities like Cidade de Deus…

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Esse filme mostra verdades que sempre ficaram debaixo do tapete uma obra impressionante e com uma ótima profundidade nesses assuntos.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

Jay W

Getting this out of the way at the beginning, there are some scenes in this film that are flat out hard to watch. They are showing mankind at their absolute worst and making the audience stare at it. It is unpleasant, it is the reality we all do our best to pretend it doesn't happen. They are important scenes, and powerful scenes that I won't forget despite how hard I may try. Let us move past those scenes and talk about the scenes I loved. It is the small moments of levity, finding humor in the darkness where this movie really shines. Despite its clear darkness, I end up thinking more about the positives.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

Full Review

Benjamin H

An immensely powerful and gut wrenching look at crime and growing up in an environment wreathed by poverty, City of God is a masterclass in detailed storytelling and immersive character development which makes it an essential foreign film to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

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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