Elite Squad

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Elite Squad

R

Released Sep 19, 2008

1h 54m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

87%

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10,000+ Ratings

The captain (Wagner Moura) of a special Brazilian police force considers which of two new recruits (André Ramiro, Caio Junqueira) would make a suitable successor.

Critics Consensus

Brutal, action heavy, Brazilian cop film with a pointless voiceover. Lacks flair, overdoes the violence and is never quite sure where its morals lie.

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V.A. Musetto

New York Post

For nearly two hours, Padilha bombards viewers with senseless, sickening violence for its own sake.

Rated: 1/4

Sep 19, 2008

Full Review

Manohla Dargis

New York Times

Elite Squad is a relentlessly ugly, unpleasant, often incoherent assault on the senses from Brazil.

Rated: .5/5

Sep 19, 2008

Full Review

David Fear

Time Out

Elite Squad can't decide whether it wants to pull the lid back on what urban decay has wrought or simply open up a can of whup ass.

Rated: 2/6

Sep 17, 2008

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It keeps me interested with its sample of slum violence and police brutality, but it is affected by a lack of character development and a regular narrative that seems to repeat itself like a crime wave in the favelas. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Feb 12, 2021

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A satisfactory enough cop movie, but not one that people will still be name checking years hence

Rated: 6/10

Jan 13, 2009

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Robert Koehler

Christian Science Monitor

Given that Brazil, as a Latin American moviemaking powerhouse, steadily produces vibrant, vital films of real impact and humanity, it's a crime itself that Elite Squad may be the only Brazilian film that American audiences see this year.

Rated: D

Sep 25, 2008

Full Review

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Max K

It's a great film and portrays the reality of many people (which is worrying) but nothing better than art copying life.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

Full Review

Pedro A

Amazing! Good film to watch without kids in the classroom.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

Full Review

Fer S

Amazing movie! Great consistent pacing, good acting and very interesting plot with a perfect narrative.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Lucca M

Filme excelente, retrata muito bem o que acontece no nosso Brasil. Críticos que avaliam como violência sem sentido estão nas suas bolhas e estão longe de conhecer a realidade brasileira.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

João Pedro G

Um dos melhores filmes produzidos pelo brasil, retrata bem uma realidade que é escondida com ótimas críticas e uma ótima produção

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/25

Full Review

Wendel L

Direção: Bom Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Bom Soundtrack: Ok

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/14/24

Full Review

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José Padilha

Director

Wagner Moura

Captain Nascimento

André Ramiro

André Matias

Caio Junqueira

Neto

Milhem Cortaz

Captain Fábio

Fernanda Machado

Maria

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Synopsis

The captain (Wagner Moura) of a special Brazilian police force considers which of two new recruits (André Ramiro, Caio Junqueira) would make a suitable successor.

Director: José Padilha
Producer: Marcos Prado, José Padilha
Screenwriter: José Padilha, Rodrigo Pimentel, Bráulio Mantovani, André Batista, Rodrigo Pimentel
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Estúdios Mega, Weinstein Company, Zazen Producoes, Quanta Centro de Produções
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Content|Strong Violence)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1K
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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