It’s a great film and well worthy of its the respect it has. It’s gruelling too, the 18 rating is due to the thread running through the film of continuous and ruthless violence of gangs trying to control their drug area. The is the story told through the eyes of ‘Rocket’ who avoids getting in to the gang war of his bro…
8.4/10Drama · Crime
City of God
“If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you.”
- 2002
- 2h 09m
- R
- PT
- Released
The story
What City of God is about
In 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.
City of God is a drama and crime film from 2002, directed by Fernando Meirelles. It runs 2h 09m and is rated R in the US. It was produced by O2 Filmes, VideoFilmes and Wild Bunch, with production in Brazil, France, Germany.
The main cast is led by Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Douglas Silva. The screenplay was written by Bráulio Mantovani. Reported worldwide gross stands at $30.6M.
Why it matters: City of God currently holds 8.4/10 from 8593 TMDB user ratings and has taken $30.6M worldwide against a $3.3M budget. Figures move as more ratings and box-office updates arrive.
Editor’s note
Should you watch City of God?
City of God is best suited to a slower, character-led evening. At 2h 09m, it is a standard feature length. The draw is Alexandre Rodrigues and Leandro Firmino, directed by Fernando Meirelles.
With 8,593 TMDB ratings averaging 8.4/10, this is one of the most widely seen titles in our library, so the score is a reliable signal.
TMDB tags the film with themes including police brutality, street gang, photographer and gangster.
The US certification is R: restricted: it contains material intended for adults, including strong language or violence.
If you like this, try The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather or The Green Mile.
Auto-generated from TMDB data (runtime, cast, ratings, keywords, certification). Last updated November 4, 2026.
Availability
Where to watch City of God
25 official sources across 5 regions. Rows with a direct link open this exact title on the provider’s own site; the others open that provider’s own search for the title, where price, video quality and audio options are confirmed before you pay.
Best option now
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Prime Video
Included with a Prime Video subscription, no extra charge · United Kingdom
United States10 options
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Canada4 options
Australia2 options
India2 options
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Who is in it
City of God cast
Alexandre RodriguesBuscapé
Leandro FirminoZé Pequeno / Dadinho
Phellipe HaagensenBené
Douglas SilvaDadinho
Jonathan HaagensenCabeleira
Matheus NachtergaeleSandro Cenoura
Seu JorgeMané Galinha
Jefechander SuplinoAlicate
Alice BragaAngélica
Edson OliveiraBarbantinho Adulto
Michel GomesBené CriançaCharacter names follow the film's credits. Open a name to see that person's other work on MovieState.
Behind the camera
Direction and crew
DirectorFernando Meirelles
WritersBráulio Mantovani
ProducersDonald Ranvaud, Juliette Renaud
MusicAntonio Pinto
CinematographyCésar Charlone
EditingDaniel Rezende
Audience reaction
Ratings and reviews
8.4/108593 ratings
City of God sits at 8.4 out of 10 from 8593 user ratings. For context, the film's worldwide gross is $30.6M.
Scores show TMDB user ratings at the time of publishing and shift as new votes arrive.
Told by way of an occasionally narrated retrospective, "Rocket" (Alexandre Rodrigues) tells us a story of his childhood in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Growing up in a community of newly built boxes, without power or plumbing, that reminded me of a row of concrete beach huts, the community is pretty lawless. The cr…
The facts
City of God key details
| Original title | City of God |
|---|---|
| Status | Released |
| Release date | August 31, 2002 |
| Runtime | 2h 09m |
| Certification | R in United States, 18 in United Kingdom, A in India |
| Original language | PT |
| Spoken languages | Portuguese |
| Country | Brazil, France, Germany |
| Budget | $3.3M |
| Worldwide gross | $30.6M |
| Studios | O2 Filmes, VideoFilmes, Wild Bunch, Hank Levine Film & Music |
| Also known as | Tanrinin Sheheri, City of God, Guds stad |
Release information
Release dates by country
| Country | Date | Cert |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Aug 31, 2002 | R |
| United Kingdom | Nov 8, 2002 | 18 |
| India | Jan 18, 2007 | A |
| Canada | Sep 6, 2002 | 18A |
| Australia | Mar 13, 2003 | R 18+ |
| Argentina | Mar 6, 2003 | NR |
| Austria | May 9, 2003 | NR |
| Belgium | May 7, 2003 | NR |
| Brazil | Aug 30, 2002 | 16 |
| CU | Dec 1, 2002 | NR |
Official trailer for City of God, via Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers. Open on YouTube
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Who directed City of God?
City of God was directed by Fernando Meirelles.
Who is in the cast of City of God?
The main cast includes Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Douglas Silva, Jonathan Haagensen.
How long is City of God?
City of God runs 2h 09m.
When was City of God released?
It was released in the United States on August 31, 2002. Release dates vary by country — see the table above.
What is City of God rated?
Certification depends on the country: R in United States, 18 in United Kingdom, A in India. Always check your local rating before watching with family.
Where can I watch City of God online?
Availability changes by region and by week. The table above lists the streaming, rental and purchase services reported for major markets. Check the provider page for today's price and quality.
Can I watch City of God in HD or 4K?
Most digital stores offer City of God in HD, and newer releases are often available in 4K. Check the quality label on the provider's page before you pay.
How much did City of God earn?
Reported worldwide gross is $30.6M against a budget of $3.3M. Box office figures update over time.
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Data sources: TMDB (titles, cast, crew, release dates, provider listings and user ratings). Availability and box office figures change over time; this page was last rebuilt on November 4, 2026. We publish information only; we do not host or stream video files.
Exact record pages: IMDb recordTMDB record
At a glance: City of God runs 2h 09m, opened in US cinemas on August 31, 2002, has 25 licensed options across 5 regions tracked here.