Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

City of God

Play trailer Poster for City of God R Released Jan 17, 2003 2h 11m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

City of God

City of God

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (165)
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+)
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 Read all reviews
City of God

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
City of Men 74% 78% City of Men Watchlist Carandiru 67% 85% Carandiru Watchlist Empire 21% 62% Empire Watchlist Paid in Full 53% 93% Paid in Full Watchlist Man on Fire 38% 89% Man on Fire Watchlist TRAILER for Man on Fire Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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
Most Popular at Home Now