City of God
Directed by Fernando MeirellesIn the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.
Where to Watch City of God
Cast of City of God
City of God Ratings & Reviews
- ONEshotONEkil630July 6, 2025Some films punch you in the gut. City of God grabs you by the soul and doesn’t let go. Fernando Meirelles’ City of God is one of the most powerful, electrifying, and haunting films ever made. I gave it a 5/5 without hesitation—not just because it’s technically brilliant, but because it tells a story that feels brutally real, yet masterfully cinematic. Set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the film unfolds like a living, breathing chronicle of survival, ambition, and innocence lost. It’s not just a crime film—it’s a coming-of-age story buried under layers of systemic violence, poverty, and fractured dreams. From its opening scene to its final moments, it never lets up. Every frame is alive with energy, every cut a burst of tension, and every character—whether innocent or monstrous—feels disturbingly human. What makes City of God so unforgettable is its fearless storytelling. It doesn’t glorify crime or fall into clichés. Instead, it gives us an unfiltered look into a community forgotten by the rest of the world. The non-linear narrative, rapid editing, and saturated color palette all work in tandem to create something raw and visceral, yet incredibly precise. The cast—made up largely of untrained actors—deliver performances that feel more real than most Hollywood films. Rocket’s perspective grounds the chaos, while figures like Li’l Zé leave a lasting psychological imprint. You don’t just watch City of God—you live in it, and it stays with you long after the credits roll. Online, it’s rightly considered one of the greatest films of the 21st century. For me, it goes even further—it’s a film that redefined how powerful cinema can be when it dares to tell the truth, no matter how ugly.
- mickerdooJuly 5, 2025Great turf war gangster movie set in Brazil. Good casting and crazy true story.
- Halim MellickMay 24, 2025I think this is my favourite movie of all time and has been since my first watch. I remember not being able to look away from the first scene. An epic story spanning a number of years told from a number of perspectives shot and edited beautifully. This was shot on 16mm film mostly handheld and really makes you feel like you are on the ground as part of the action. Based on a true story - watch the first 5 minutes and see if it doesn’t captivate you. I cannot start this movie without finishing it and it’s been that way for decades
- godzill416April 26, 2025Fantastic. Acting was superb. Worldbuilding was great. Character development was unexpectedly well done. And most importantly: the pacing. I did not lose even a fraction of my interest once.
- VarunOctober 19, 2024Wow a very engaging story from start to end, filled with well fleshed out characters, that’s told through some amazing camera work and editing. I’ve seen so many movies and shows on cartels and gang violence, but this film stands out in a special way.
- MikeOctober 11, 2024City of God is a gritty and realistic film that immerses you into the action and has your attention from the first to the last frame "Gangsters never stop, they just take a break" This film is one of the best films I have ever seen. There is not a single dull moment within the 2 hour runtime. What impressed me the most is how realistic it felt. It's almost like you're watching a documentary. This enhanced the emotional impact of the events that happened during the film. The plot was perfect. The way multiple events and timelines connected to eachother, was something like I had never seen before. This was all enhanced by the voice-over narration of Rocket. Rocket told us a story and we as the viewer were experiencing that story. Voice-over narration in films is often a hit or miss, with City of God it was definitely a hit. It had the right balance between showing and telling. The voice-over narration guides you through the story and plot, but it never distracts you from them. Not only was the protagonist a very interesting character, but all the other characters were too. Rocket was the protagonist of this story, luckily he wasn't the only character that had great character development. Characters felt believable and fleshed-out, which created some strong and diverse archetypes. This was also enhanced by the tremendous acting, especially by the children. I have never seen children act like this before. Their roles required a lot of emotional expressions and they absolutely nailed it to the point that it felt realistic. The cinematography was beautiful and immersive. This film was shot on 16 mm, which created the gritty aesthetics that fitted very well with the story and plot. On top of that there were also a lot of handheld shaky scenes, which also contributed to the gritty and realistic feel. The dynamic staging and close-ups immersed the viewer into the action. It felt like you was part of the action, as if you were really there instead of just looking at it. Not all shots were shaky, there were also nice looking steady shots that provided the viewer with some breathing time so they could think about the events. Overall the cinematography was very unique. There were some techniques used that felt very playful, an example of this is; the low framerate shots that placed the focus on what character do within that shot. Another example is simultaneously showing 2 different shots to visualize a scene from multiple perspectives. Although this film was very gritty and realistic, I do have a feeling that this will not be my last time watching this film. Letterboxd: Mike_v_E
- sKRxPTidOctober 9, 2024Occasionally a piece of media comes along that can offer the future a window into an entire epoch of life. These relics may be the best representation of the era long after it is forgotten. A book, a poem, a movie. This film is such an example. It is as true as fictional crime dramas come and is more entertaining than The Godfather. It is the best film this genere, chock full of classics, has ever seen. Filmed in Portugeese, the direction and powerful scenery trancends the language barrier rendering it hardly noticable. ⭐🎬👑🎥⭐ 9.9/10
