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%

Popcornmeter

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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Marlene A

I truly believe that non-Brazilians might miss out on the full depth of this film. It serves as a powerful lens into the grim realities of police corruption and brutality, alongside the staggering issues of drug trafficking that plague the impoverished communities of Rio de Janeiro. The acting is nothing short of exceptional, drawing you in and making every moment feel raw and authentic. And for anyone searching for a moral in the story, let me clarify: there isn't one—this is simply the harsh reality of life for many.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/17/25

Full Review

The K

An absolutely accurate representation of reality in Brazil! This is a masterpiece of Brazilian pop culture.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Artur A

Muito bom MDSS. Wagner Moura perfeito, direção foda, fotografia maravilhosa. Muito bom.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Manuela D

filme histórico, maravilhoso, com cenas de violencia muito bem trabalhadas e uma critica social ABSOLUTAMENTE necessaria. eu sou apaixonada por esse filme, e é um dos poucos que possuem o primeiro e o segundo filme igualmente maravilhosos. 10/10.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

Full Review

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

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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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