

City of God
Cidade de Deus
“If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
DestinyOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2017-03-03
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Alexandre Rodrigues
Buscapé
Leandro Firmino
Zé Pequeno / Dadinho
Phellipe Haagensen
Bené
Douglas Silva
Dadinho
Jonathan Haagensen
Cabeleira
Matheus Nachtergaele
Sandro Cenoura
Seu Jorge
Mané Galinha
Jefechander Suplino
Alicate
Alice Braga
Angélica
Emerson Gomes
Barbantinho
Edson Oliveira
Barbantinho Adulto
Michel Gomes
Bené Criança
Roberta Rodrigues
Berenice
Luis Otávio
Buscapé (criança)
Kiko Marques
Cabeção
Gustavo Engracia
Editor do Jornal
Darlan Cunha
Filé-com-Fritas
Robson Rocha
Gelson
Release History & Theatrical Window
Mar del Plata Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
January 17, 2003
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 6, 2003
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3.3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$30.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
9.29x
+$27.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Fernando Meirelles
- Screenplay & Story
- Bráulio Mantovani
- Original Score
- Antonio Pinto, Ed Cortês
- Original Title
- Cidade de Deus
- Country of Origin
- Brazil, France, Germany
- Spoken Languages
- Portuguese
- Runtime
- 2h 9m
- Production Budget
- $3.3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $30.6M
- Production Studios
- O2 Filmes, VideoFilmes, Wild Bunch, Hank Levine Film & Music, Globo Filmes, Lumière
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Fernando Meirelles
Bráulio Mantovani, Paulo Lins
Antonio Pinto, Ed Cortês
César Charlone
Daniel Rezende
Donald Ranvaud, Juliette Renaud, Bel Berlinck, Elisa Tolomelli, Andrea Barata Ribeiro
Department Leadership Roster
Antonio Pinto
Original Music Composer
Inês Salgado
Costume Design
Bráulio Mantovani
Screenplay
Daniel Rezende
Editor
Renato Batata
Visual Effects Supervisor
Donald Ranvaud
Producer
Ed Cortês
Original Music Composer
Juliette Renaud
Producer
Tulé Peak
Production Design
Bia Salgado
Costume Design
Andrea Barata Ribeiro
Producer
Daniel Filho
Producer
César Charlone
Director of Photography
Marc Beauchamps
Producer
Vincent Maraval
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 16 ans — 16+ only.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted to Adults (18+).
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for City of God.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring City of God.
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Frequently Asked Questions About City of God
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is City of God 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.
Who directed City of God?
City of God was directed by Fernando Meirelles.
Who stars in City of God?
The principal cast of City of God includes Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Douglas Silva, Jonathan Haagensen.
When was City of God released and how long is it?
City of God was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 2h 9m.
What was the box office and production budget of City of God?
City of God had a reported production budget of $3.3M and grossed $30.6M at the worldwide box office (9.29 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for City of God?
The original motion picture soundtrack for City of God was composed by Antonio Pinto, Ed Cortês.
Is City of God based on a book or true story?
City of God is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Paulo Lins".
What is the age rating and content advisory for City of God?
City of God holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; CA: 18A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 16 (Interdit aux moins de 16 ans — 16+ only.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); IN: A (Restricted to Adults (18+).); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).




















