Best Brazilian films (Old 1)
by roxen_96 | created - 03 Mar 2018 | updated - 06 Mar 2020 | Public30 best Brazilian movies by IMDb rating with at least 999 votes. As of 03/03/2018.
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1. City of God (2002)
R | 130 min | Crime, Drama
In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.
Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund | Stars: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phellipe Haagensen
Votes: 799,808 | Gross: $7.56M
2. A Dog's Will (2000)
104 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Follows the lives of 2 poor Brazilians and their schemes to get money and the consequences of their actions.
Director: Guel Arraes | Stars: Matheus Nachtergaele, Selton Mello, Rogério Cardoso, Denise Fraga
Votes: 16,840
3. The Given Word (1962)
98 min | Drama
A simple yet devout Christian makes a vow to Saint Barbara after she saves his donkey, but everyone he meets seems determined to misunderstand his intentions. Will he be able to keep his promise in the end?
Director: Anselmo Duarte | Stars: Leonardo Villar, Glória Menezes, Dionísio Azevedo, Geraldo Del Rey
Votes: 3,928
4. Little Secret (2016)
107 min | Biography, Drama
Based on true events Little Secret is a film with three interlocked stories all connected by a single secret that converge to reveal the tragic yet beautiful lives of three families and how... See full summary »
Director: David Schurmann | Stars: Fionnula Flanagan, Erroll Shand, Maria Flor, Júlia Lemmertz
Votes: 1,782
5. Bingo: The King of the Mornings (2017)
113 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Based on a true story, "Bingo" is a film about the man behind the mask. Augusto is an actor hungry for a place in the spotlight, following the footsteps of his mother, a stage artist in the... See full summary »
Director: Daniel Rezende | Stars: Vladimir Brichta, Leandra Leal, Tainá Müller, Augusto Madeira
Votes: 5,663
6. Elite Squad (2007)
R | 115 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In 1997 Rio de Janeiro, Captain Nascimento has to find a substitute for his position while trying to take down drug dealers and criminals before the Pope visits.
Director: José Padilha | Stars: Wagner Moura, André Ramiro, Caio Junqueira, Milhem Cortaz
Votes: 110,042 | Gross: $0.01M
7. Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within (2010)
Not Rated | 115 min | Action, Crime, Drama
After a prison riot, former-Captain Nascimento, now a high ranking security officer in Rio de Janeiro, is swept into a bloody political dispute that involves government officials and paramilitary groups.
Director: José Padilha | Stars: Wagner Moura, Irandhir Santos, André Ramiro, Milhem Cortaz
Votes: 86,653 | Gross: $0.10M
8. The Way He Looks (2014)
Not Rated | 96 min | Drama, Romance
Leonardo is a blind teenager searching for independence. His everyday life, the relationship with his best friend Giovana, and the way he sees the world change completely with the arrival of Gabriel.
Director: Daniel Ribeiro | Stars: Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi, Tess Amorim, Lúcia Romano
Votes: 27,639 | Gross: $0.10M
9. Central Station (1998)
R | 110 min | Drama
The emotive journey of a former schoolteacher who writes letters for illiterate people, and a young boy whose mother has just died, as they search for the father he never knew.
Director: Walter Salles | Stars: Fernanda Montenegro, Vinícius de Oliveira, Marília Pêra, Soia Lira
Votes: 42,248 | Gross: $5.60M
10. Pixote (1980)
TV-MA | 128 min | Crime, Drama
The life of a boy on the streets of Sao Paulo, involved with crimes, prostitution, and drugs.
Director: Hector Babenco | Stars: Fernando Ramos da Silva, Jorge Julião, Gilberto Moura, Edilson Lino
Votes: 9,204
11. The Second Mother (2015)
R | 112 min | Comedy, Drama
When the estranged daughter of a hard-working live-in housekeeper suddenly appears, the unspoken class barriers that exist within the home are thrown into disarray.
Director: Anna Muylaert | Stars: Regina Casé, Helena Albergaria, Michel Joelsas, Camila Márdila
Votes: 16,685 | Gross: $0.38M
12. Estômago (2007)
113 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
In the great restaurant of life, there are those who eat and those who get eaten. Raimundo Nonato finds an alternative way, a life of his own: he cooks in order to survive and find a place ... See full summary »
Director: Marcos Jorge | Stars: João Miguel, Fabiula Nascimento, Babu Santana, Carlo Briani
Votes: 8,107
13. To the Left of the Father (2001)
Not Rated | 163 min | Drama
A young son who ran from his dominant family descends into decadence, then returns to the nest. Tyrannical fathers, incest, fierce family conflicts, and an intense visual style to match.
Director: Luiz Fernando Carvalho | Stars: Selton Mello, Raul Cortez, Juliana Carneiro da Cunha, Simone Spoladore
Votes: 2,034
14. Nise: The Heart of Madness (2015)
Not Rated | 106 min | Biography, Drama, History
Based on the true story of Dr. Nise da Silveira, a psychiatrist in Brazil who treated her patients with art instead of electroshock therapy.
Director: Roberto Berliner | Stars: Glória Pires, Luciana Fregolente, Simone Mazzer, Fabrício Boliveira
Votes: 2,583
15. Bicho de Sete Cabeças (2000)
74 min | Drama
A trip to the mental institution hell. This odyssey is lived by Neto, a middle class teenager, who lives a normal life until his father sends him to a mental institution after finding drugs... See full summary »
Director: Laís Bodanzky | Stars: Rodrigo Santoro, Othon Bastos, Cássia Kis, Dani Nefussi
Votes: 6,343
16. Behind the Sun (2001)
PG-13 | 105 min | Drama
When ordered by his father to avenge the death of his older brother, a young man questions the tradition of violence between two rival families.
Director: Walter Salles | Stars: José Dumont, Rodrigo Santoro, Rita Assemany, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Votes: 7,396 | Gross: $0.06M
17. The Man Who Copied (2003)
R | 124 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
A Brazilian photocopier operator falls in love with a girl who lives in an opposite house and spends his evenings looking at her through his binoculars.
Director: Jorge Furtado | Stars: Lázaro Ramos, Leandra Leal, Luana Piovani, Pedro Cardoso
Votes: 11,225 | Gross: $0.02M
18. Aquarius (I) (2016)
Not Rated | 146 min | Drama
Clara, 65, lives her life to the fullest with her family and friends. A construction company wants her Recife oceanfront condo, as they've already bought all the other in the 3 story building. Clara's staying.
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho | Stars: Sonia Braga, Maeve Jinkings, Irandhir Santos, Humberto Carrão
Votes: 20,743 | Gross: $0.29M
19. Carandiru (2003)
R | 145 min | Crime, Drama
Stories of crime, revenge, love, and friendship at the Carandiru Penitentiary, the largest prison in Latin America.
Director: Hector Babenco | Stars: Enrique Diaz, Wagner Moura, Caio Blat, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Votes: 21,875 | Gross: $0.21M
20. The Boy and the World (2013)
PG | 80 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
A little boy goes on an adventurous quest in search of his father.
Director: Alê Abreu | Stars: Vinicius Garcia, Marco Aurélio Campos, Lu Horta, Felipe Zilse
Votes: 7,591 | Gross: $0.13M
21. Barren Lives (1963)
Not Rated | 103 min | Drama
A poor family in the Northeast of Brazil (Fabiano, the father; Sinhá Vitória, the mother; their 2 children and a dog called Baleia) wander about the barren land searching for a better place... See full summary »
Director: Nelson Pereira dos Santos | Stars: Átila Iório, Maria Ribeiro, Orlando Macedo, Jofre Soares
Votes: 2,905
22. Terra Estrangeira (1995)
110 min | Action, Crime, Drama
After the death of his mother, a young Brazilian decides to leave his country and travel to his mother's native land. In a foreign land, he finds love and danger.
Directors: Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas | Stars: Fernanda Torres, Fernando Alves Pinto, Alexandre Borges, Luís Melo
Votes: 1,919
23. Black Orpheus (1959)
PG | 100 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
A retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, set during the time of the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro.
Director: Marcel Camus | Stars: Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn, Lourdes de Oliveira, Léa Garcia
Votes: 12,230
24. Entranced Earth (1967)
111 min | Drama
In the fictional Latin American country Eldorado, a poet tries to effect political change by influencing powerful men.
Director: Glauber Rocha | Stars: Jardel Filho, Paulo Autran, José Lewgoy, Glauce Rocha
Votes: 3,574
25. Bye Bye Brazil (1980)
R | 110 min | Drama
The Caravana Rolidei rolls into town with the Gypsy Lord at the mike: he does magic tricks, the erotic Salomé dances, and the mute Swallow performs feats of strength. A young accordion ... See full summary »
Director: Carlos Diegues | Stars: José Wilker, Betty Faria, Fábio Jr., Zaira Zambelli
Votes: 1,948
26. Lisbela and the Prisoner (2003)
106 min | Comedy, Romance
This is the fun story of the mischievous, adventurous and conquering Leléu and the dreamy Lisbela, who loves watching American movies and dreams of movie heroes.
Director: Guel Arraes | Stars: André Mattos, Aramis Trindade, Bruno Garcia, Carlos Casagrande
Votes: 6,977
27. Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
R | 120 min | Drama
A gay man and a political prisoner are together in a prison. The gay man narrates the stories of two fake movies and his own life.
Director: Hector Babenco | Stars: William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, José Lewgoy
Votes: 17,327 | Gross: $17.04M
28. A Wolf at the Door (2013)
Unrated | 101 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A journey to the dark cutting edge of desires, lies and wickedness of a love triangle, from the moment a child is mysteriously kidnapped.
Director: Fernando Coimbra | Stars: Leandra Leal, Milhem Cortaz, Fabiula Nascimento, Tamara Taxman
Votes: 5,151
29. Black God, White Devil (1964)
Not Rated | 120 min | Adventure, Crime, Drama
After killing his employer when he tries to cheat him out of his payment, a man becomes an outlaw and starts following a self-proclaimed saint.
Director: Glauber Rocha | Stars: Geraldo Del Rey, Yoná Magalhães, Othon Bastos, Maurício do Valle
Votes: 5,336
30. Tabu (I) (2012)
Not Rated | 118 min | Drama, Romance
A restless retired woman teams up with her deceased neighbor's maid to seek out a man who has a secret connection to her past life as a farm owner at the foothill of Mount Tabu in Africa.
Director: Miguel Gomes | Stars: Telmo Churro, Miguel Gomes, Hortêncílio Aquina, Américo Mota
Votes: 7,418
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