City of God (2002)
Two young men navigate Rio's favelas, one documenting the relentless crime, the other embracing its brutal power.
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.
How intense is City of God?
City of God is mildly scary, with graphic gore and brutal violence. Emotionally it is devastating. The pace is relentless, and it is a full-attention watch. Rated R.
What City of God feels like
- Tone
- grittybleakpulpy
- Pace
- Relentless
- Best for
- Full attention
- True story
- Yes, based on a book.
Where to stream City of God
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 13, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is City of God for you?
Is City of God scary?
Only a little. City of God has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is City of God gory or violent?
Graphic gore (2 of 3) and brutal violence (3 of 3). If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
Is City of God sad or heavy?
Yes. Emotional weight 3 of 3. It hits hard; do not plan anything light after.
Is City of God OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 1, gore 2, violence 3, each out of 3.
How long is City of God?
City of God runs 2h 9m.
Where can I stream City of God?
City of God is streaming on Paramount+, Kanopy and Hoopla.
Does City of God have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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