Top 15 Brazilian movies you need to watch

you usually watch Brazilian movies🇧🇷 For many decades, Brazil has been responsible for producing great cinematographic works, which are recognized worldwide. Many of these works were even nominated and awarded internationally, as is the case of City of God, Tropa de Elite e Central do Brasil — who even won the nomination of Best Actress at the Oscars for Fernanda Montenegro🇧🇷 Despite still being a country in which the film creation market is under development, Brazil has a large audience that gives more and more value to national cinema every day.

In addition to taking our culture abroad, these films show the world a bit of Brazilian reality through the big screen. These movies are available on multiple platforms around the world and some can even be found for free on YouTube🇧🇷 So, if you want to start watching national movies and don't know where to start, don't worry, because we've separated a list with you some of the best brazilian movies of the most diverse genres and eras that you cannot miss. Check out our full list:

Central do Brasil (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | Metacritic: 80 | IMDB: 8.0

Central do Brasil is a national film drama directed by Walter salleswritten by Joao Emanuel Carneiro e Mark Bernstein. starring Fernanda Montenegro e Vinicius de Oliveira, the feature became a milestone in the history of national cinema and enters the list of the best Brazilian films with the right to several international awards. A year after its launch, it was Oscar nominated de Best Foreign Film e Best actress, causing Fernanda Montenegro became the only Brazilian actress to receive an Oscar nomination for a performance in Portuguese since 1999.

Follow the story of Dora, a bitter ex-teacher, who earns her living by writing letters to illiterate people. Dora invests the money without even posting the letters, until one day, Josué, the nine-year-old son of one of her clients, ends up alone when his mother is killed in a bus accident. She is reluctant to take care of the boy, but joins him on a journey through the interior of the Northeast in search of the child's father, whom he has never met.

Watch right now Central do Brasil, available on balloon play or buy/rent from Apple TV or Google Play.

O Auto da Compadecida (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes: TBD% | Metacritic: TBD | IMDB: 8.6

O Auto da Compadecida is a brazilian movie comedy e adventure directed by Guel Arraeswritten by Adriana Falcao, João Falcão and by the director himself, arraes🇧🇷 Based on the play, The Car of Compadecida of 1955 from Arian Suassuna, the film starred Matheus Nachtergael, Selton Mel e Denise Fraga. During the Brazilian Film Grand Prix, the film received awards from Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Release e Best Actor and went on to become the highest-grossing film of the 2000s.

Embark on the adventures of João Grilo and Chicó, two poor and liars from the Northeast who live off scams to survive. They are always deceiving the people of the small village of Taperoá, in the interior of Paraíba, including a feared cangaceiro, Severino de Aracaju, who pursues them throughout the region. After getting into a lot of trouble, the duo's salvation comes with the appearance of Our Lady who can change the fate of the two henchmen.

Watch right now The Car of the Attended, available on balloon play and Now or buy/rent from the store Microsoft.

City of God (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | Metacritic: 79 | IMDB: 8.6

City of God is a brazilian movie drama directed by Fernando Meirelles, adapted by Braulio Mantovani from the book written by Paul Lins and starring Alexandre rodrigues, Leandro Firmino e Alice Braga🇧🇷 This is one of the biggest and most important Brazilian films. The long came to receive Oscar nominations de Best Director, Best Screenplay Adapted, Best Editing e Best Photography, despite not having won in any of the categories, the feature was marked in the history of world cinema.

Meet Buscapé, a poor, black and sensitive young man who grows up in a place surrounded by violence, Cidade de Deus, a Rio favela known for being one of the most violent places in Rio de Janeiro. In search of a way to change his destiny and not become a criminal, Buscapé finds himself as a photographer, and it is through his look behind the cameras that he analyzes the daily life of the favela where he lives, where violence seems to have no place. The end.

Watch right now City of God, available on Paramount More, Globoplay and Now.

2 Sons of Francisco: The Story of Zezé di Camargo & Luciano (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | Metacritic: TBD | IMDB: 6.9

2 Filhos de Francisco: A História de Zezé by Camargo & Luciano is a brazilian movie drama based on the life and history of the country duo Zeze di Camargo & Luciano. Directed by Breno silveira, the film starred Angelo Antonio, Dira Paes e Márcio Kieling. In 2006 it was nominated for the Brazilian Cinema Grand Prix in multiple categories, winning in Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress e Best sound.

The film portrays the story of Francisco, a simple and poor man, whose dream was to see his two sons become country music stars. Follow the whole trajectory of the father who will do everything for his children to become sales champions and icons of the modern sertanejo.

Watch right now 2 Filhos de Francisco: A História de Zezé by Camargo & Luciano, available on Play globe or buy/rent from Apple TV or Google Play.

The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%| Metacritic: 67 | IMDB: 7.4

The Year My Parents Went on Vacation is a national film drama directed and written by dog hamburger and starring Michel Joelsas, Germano Haiut, Daniela Piepszyk, Gaius Blat e Paulo Autran🇧🇷 The long beat Elite Squad (2007)) and it was chosen to represent Brazil at the Oscars in 2008, in the category of Best Foreign Film, however he failed to make it into the final five.

The plot takes place in 1970, and tells the story of Mauro, a 12-year-old boy who loves soccer and button games. His life changes completely when, unexpectedly, his parents “go on vacation”. What actually happens is that the boy's parents were forced to flee because they were leftist militants who were being persecuted during the military dictatorship. As the only way out, the couple decides to leave the boy with his paternal grandfather, who ends up dying on the same day he arrives in São Paulo. Thus, Mauro ends up staying with his neighbor, Shlomo, an old and lonely Jew.

At the time, The Year My Parents Went on Vacation not available on any platform streaming oficial, but you can check out the full movie that was posted by a user on YouTube.

Elite Squad (2007/2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | Metacritic: 71 | IMDB: 8.0

Tropa de Elite it's a brazilian movie drama cop directed and written by José Padilha and starring Wagner Moura, Caio Junqueira e Andre Ramiro🇧🇷 The feature went through a wave of piracy in which people got early access to the film a month before its release in theaters, thus becoming the most talked about national film of the year even before it was officially released. Tropa de Elite conquered one worldwide box office of over $14,7 million and although it received several international awards, the feature failed to represent Brazil at the Oscars, as it was displaced by the success of dog hamburger, The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006).

The first film in the franchise presents and portrays the day-to-day life of Nascimento, the captain of the Rio de Janeiro Elite Squad, chosen to command one of the teams whose mission is to appease Morro do Turano. He will need to carry out orders and go through life and death situations as he searches for a replacement for his post.

Watch right now Tropa de Elite, available on Star +, balloon play and Now or buy/rent Apple TV, Google Play ou Prime Video🇧🇷 watch too Elite squad 2, available on Play globe or buy/rent at Google Play.

The Sound Around (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | Metacritic: 77 | IMDB: 7.1

The sound around is a national film drama and suspense directed by Kleber Mendonça Son, made by Emilie Lesclaux and starring Irandhir Santos, Gustavo Jahn, Sister Brown, Maeve Jinkings e WJ Flounder🇧🇷 The film, despite being Brazilian, made its debut in European cinemas in 2012 and was only released in national cinemas the following year, in 2013. In the same year of its release in Brazil, it was awarded as Best movie, Direction, Supporting actor, Supporting actress, Original Screenplay, Assembly e Audio during the 19th Guarani Brazilian Film Award.

The militia's presence in the lives of residents of a middle-class street in Recife changes their daily lives in unexpected ways. Despite bringing peace to some residents, others end up going through moments of great tension, as the presence of the guards creates more tension than relief. At the same time, Bia, a married woman and mother of two, is trying to find a way to deal with her neighbor's noisy dog.

Watch right now The sound around, available at Netflix or buy/rent from Apple TV.

My Mother Is a Piece (2013/2016/2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | Metacritic: — | IMDB: 6,8

My mother is a piece is a series of Brazilian films from comedy initially directed by
Andre Pellenz, written by and starring Paulo Gustavo in partnership with Fil Braz, with a cast also composed of Mariana Xavier, Rodrigo Pandolfo, Ingrid Guimarães, Herson Capri, Suely Franco, Monica Martelli, Samantha Schmutz e Alexandra Richter.

Paulo died in early 2021 due to complications from COVID-19, but left a legacy with a trilogy that conquered its space in national cinema. His work won the prize for Best Comedy Film em 2014 and 2017 No. Brazilian Film Grand Prix🇧🇷 In addition, the trilogy grossed over BRL 118 million at the box office on My Mother is a Piece 2, becoming the highest income in the entire history of Brazilian cinema.

Follow the story and adventures of Dona Hermínia, a middle-aged woman, divorced from her husband, who left her for a younger woman. Hyperactive, she doesn't let go of her children, Marcelina and Juliano. After finding out that they consider her a boring mother, Hermínia decides to drop everything and leave the house without telling anyone, leaving everyone worried about what would have happened. What they weren't expecting is that her mother went to visit her dear Aunt Zélia to vent about her present sadness and remember the good times of the past.

Watch right now My mother is a piece available on Netflix, balloon play and Now or buy/rent from Apple TV ou Google Play, My mother is a piece 2 available on balloon play🇧🇷 And be sure to check out the last part of this trilogy with My Mother is a Piece 3 available on balloon play and Now or buy/rent from Apple TV and Google Play.

The Boy and the World (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | Metacritic: 80 | IMDB: 7,5

As a representative of Brazilian animations, we have The boy and the world, One adventure which was written and directed by Ale Abreu and which starred the voices of vinicius garcia, Philip Zilse, Ale Abreu, Lu Horta, Marco Aurélio Campos e Cassius Romero🇧🇷 The film has already been shown in more than 80 countries and Oscar nominee for Best Animation, in 2016.

The film features the use of various animation techniques and had its scenarios and characters drawn with colored pencils, crayons, collage and paint. With the aim of making actions more relevant than words, the film's dialogues were all recorded in Portuguese backwards, making it even more unique compared to other animations.

Follow the story of a boy who lives with his parents in a small country town. One day, due to lack of work, the boy sees his father leaving for the big city. The following days are sad and confusing for the boy, until he decides to pack his bags and take a train to discover the new world in which his father lives. To his surprise, the child finds a society marked by poverty, exploitation of workers and lack of perspectives.

At the time, The boy and the world not available on any platform streaming oficial in Brazil, but it is possible to find the feature on third-party websites or watch using VPNs to access the Apple TV, Google Play ou YouTube from other countries.

Today I Want to Go Back Alone (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | Metacritic: 71 | IMDB: 7,9

Today I Want to Go Back Alone is a national film romance e drama directed, produced and scripted by filmmaker Daniel Ribeiro, and starring Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi e Tess Amorim🇧🇷 The film was based on the short I do not want to come back alone, which was starred by the same actors. But the 2014 work is not a continuation, but a different narrative, which was made to tell the same story. With more than US$ 1,1 million at the worldwide box office, the film won several national and international awards, and was chosen to representing Brazil at the 2015 Oscars, however, it did not manage to be among the finalists for the award.

Leonardo is a blind teenager who seeks to gain his independence, but at the same time has to deal with his overprotective mother. Things start to change in Leonardo's life when he meets a boy named Gabriel. New feelings begin to emerge and make him discover more and more about himself and his sexuality.

Watch right now Today I Want to Go Back Alone available on Netflix and balloon play or buy/rent from Apple TV and Google Play.

Tim Maia (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: TBD | Metacritic: TBD | IMDB: 7,2

Tim Maya it's a biopic new boom in musicals Brazilian from drama about the singer's life Tim Maya🇧🇷 Adapted and directed by Mauro Lima based on the work Vale Tudo – The Sound and the Fury of Tim Maia de Nelson Motta and starring Babu santana, Robson Nunes, Cauã Reymond, Alinne Moraes e George Sauma🇧🇷 The film won the award for Best Actor, Audio e Soundtrack No. Brazilian Cinema Grand Prix, 2015.

Follow the troubled life and musical trajectory of the singer-songwriter Tim Maya🇧🇷 See every step of his childhood lived in Rio de Janeiro and his passage through the United States, which led the singer to discover new musical styles that made him become one of the biggest names in Brazilian music, in addition to his premature death, aged 55.

Watch right now Tim Maya available on Netflix and balloon play or buy/rent from Apple TV and Google Play.

What time does she come back? (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | Metacritic: 82 | IMDB: 7.7

What time does she come back? is a national film drama e comedy written and directed by Anna Muylaert and starring Regina Case, Camila Márdilla, Karine Teles, Michel Joelsas e Lourenco Mutarelli. In 2015, the film was chosen to be representative of Brazil at the Oscars 2016 and was elected by National Board of Review one of the top five foreign films of the year. In 2016, was chosen as Best film of the year No. Brazilian Film Grand Prix.

Discover the story of Val, from Pernambuco, who moved to São Paulo and spent years working as a nanny and maid, with only one goal: to provide better living conditions for her daughter, Jéssica. Things start to get out of the routine when Val receives a call from her daughter, saying that she wants to go to the city to take the entrance exam, however her behavior can complicate relations in the house and make Val look for a new way of life. .

Watch right now What time does she come back? available on Netflix and balloon play or buy/rent from Apple TV e Google Play.

Aquarius (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | Metacritic: 88 | IMDB: 7,4

Aquarius is a national film drama e suspense written and directed by Kleber Mendonça Son and starring Sonia Braga, Humberto Carrão, Fernando Teixeira, Maeve Jinkings e Irandhir Santos🇧🇷 The film made its international debut in May 2016 during the 69th edition of the Cannes film festival, in which competed for the Palme d'Or award🇧🇷 It premiered in Brazilian cinemas in September of the same year and in 2017, won the award for Best movie, Direction e Soundtrack No. Brazilian Film Grand Prix.

Know the story of Clara, a retired journalist, widow and mother of three adults who lives in an apartment located at Av. Boa Viagem, in Recife. The plot begins when a construction company, which intends to build a new building in the space, manages to acquire almost all the apartments in the place, except Clara's. Even making it clear that she does not intend to sell the property, she begins to suffer all kinds of harassment and threats to change her mind and leave the place.

Watch right now Aquarius available on Netflix, balloon play and Now or buy/rent from Apple TV e Google Play.

Nighthawk (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | Metacritic: 82| IMDB: 7,3

Bacurau enters the list as one of the best Brazilian films of thriller e drama. The work was written and directed by Kleber Mendonça Son e Juliano Dornelles and starring Sonia Braga, Udo Kier, Silvero Pereira e Barbara Colen. In 2019, the feature won the Special Jury Trophy No. Cannes film festival and 2020, won several awards and nominations, such as the Best Fiction Feature Film, Direction, Actor, Original Screenplay, Visual effects e Fiction Montage No. Brazilian Film Grand Prix.

The plot takes place in a small town in the Brazilian hinterland called Bacurau. Upon discovering that the community they live in is no longer on any map, the citizens of Bacurau, little by little, realize that strange events have begun to happen in the region, such as drones flying through the skies, foreigners arriving in the city, cars being shot at and the appearance of several corpses. Now, Teresa, Domingas, Acácio, Plínio and Lunga, along with other residents, will need to discover the source of the problem and create a way to survive and defend themselves against attacks on the city.

Watch right now Bacurau available on balloon play or buy/rent from Apple TV e Google Play.

Democracy in Vertigo (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | Metacritic: 81 | IMDB: 7.3

Democracy in Vertigem is an documentary brazilian directed by Petra Costa. In 2019, the feature became the second most watched documentary on Netflix in Brazil🇧🇷 The work was also nominated for several national and international awards and was chosen to compete for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, in 2020.

Follow with internal and exclusive images the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, the judgment of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the election of the far-right candidate JAir Bolsonaro and the situation of the political-economic crisis in Brazil.

Watch right now Democracy in Vertigem, available at Netflix.

So, did you like our list? So, tell us in the comments which of these Brazilian movies you've already watched and which one you've been wanting to watch. Don't forget to share the post with your friends and to follow our website to stay up to date with all the news from the world of cinema and technology.

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Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, IMDb.