Best Brazilian crime movies

Brazilian Western (2013)

When João goes to Brazil in search of a better life, he meets punk music enthusiast Maria and falls in love with her. But his involvement in the local drug trade makes him the target of a vicious drug lord.

My Name is Tonho (1969)

As a child he was kidnapped by gypsies that raised him, without he ever knowing his parents. As a young man Tonho leaves the gypsies and go live by himself, meeting in his way a beautiful woman, who lost her brother, and a dangerous gang of violent criminals.

The Traitor (2019)

Palermo, Sicily, 1980. Mafia member Tommaso Buscetta decides to move to Brazil with his family fleeing the constant war between the different clans of the criminal organization. But when, after living several misfortunes, he is forced to return to Italy, he makes a bold decision that will change his life and the destiny of Cosa Nostra forever.

The Girl Who Killed Her Parents (2021)

Based on one of the most shocking and gruesome murder cases in Brazil, the film presents Daniel Cravinhos's point of view of the events that led to the death of Marísia and Manfred von Richthofen, his girlfriend’s parents.

The Boy Who Killed My Parents (2021)

Based on one of the most shocking and gruesome murder cases in Brazil, the film presents de Suzane von Richthofen's point of view of the events that led to the death of her parents.

A Wolf at the Door (2013)

Love turns to hate and panic breeds suspicion as two parents deal with the kidnapping of their child.

Neighboring Sounds (2012)

An independent private security firm arrives at a middle-class neighborhood in Recife, Brazil.

Federal Bank Heist (2011)

"The Baron" wanted to commit the perfect heist involving 3 tons of money and no violence. For this he would need the right people willing to get 1 million dollars to take part in this job. Based on true events, in 2005, 168,000,000 Brazilian Real (almost 80,000,000 US dollars) were stolen from a Brazilian Central Bank (Federal Reserve), making it the biggest peace-time robbery in history. It was perhaps the most audacious bank heist ever.

Friendly Beast (2018)

A restaurant owner going over the edge when an armed robbery is attempted at his establishment. He holds everyone captive at gunpoint – criminals and customers alike – and situations corrode into a nightmare state, guided by manipulation and raw compulsion.

The Park Maniac (2024)

An infamous serial killer who assaulted and killed several women in the '90s, gets on a collision course with a young journalist eager for the truth and a career-changing article.

The Red Light Bandit (1968)

Born and raised in the misery of Brazilian slums, Jorge becomes a luxury house burglar in São Paulo and gets nicknamed "The Red Light Bandit" by the sensationalist press. In addition to wearing a red flashlight, he talks to his hostages in an irreverent tone and makes bold breakthroughs to later spend the money extravagantly. His world is the decadent neighbourhood of Boca do Lixo.

Property (2023)

To protect herself from a revolt by the workers on her family's farm, a reclusive designer locks herself in her armored car. The clock is ticking and the tension rises. Separated by an impenetrable layer of glass, two universes are about to collide.

The Trespasser (2001)

Two businessmen hire a hitman to kill their third partner and are then blackmailed by the hitman as he takes over their company.

Express Kidnapping (2018)

Sao Paulo, Brazil. Isabel, a 25-year-old girl, is kidnapped. The first ATM the criminals try to withdraw money from is broken. It's almost 10:00pm. The kidnappers realize they will not be able to get to the next one on time. What was meant to be an express kidnapping becomes an all-night imprisonment.

Spider (2019)

Three friends are part of a fascist opposition group in the chaotic Chile of the early 70's and together commit a political crime that changes the history of the country and incidentally involves them in a betrayal that separates them forever.

A Extorsão (1975)

I Killed Lucio Flavio (1979)

In the early seventies in Rio de Janeiro, detective Mariel Moryscötte de Mattos belonged to a special police force called "The Golden Men". This powerful group of the elite of the police was created with the intention of eliminate crime from Rio de Janeiro, and they had privileges above law to expedite their action against the outlaws. However, absolute power in wrong hands corrupts, and this group formed the "Death Squad", executing criminals without the conventional trial from the justice.

Massacre County (2015)

After a hideous crime in a mansion by the forest, where a group of young people was found murdered, a suspicious clown tries to prove his innocence to the investigator that found him covered in blood.

Inspector Faustão and the Vagabond (1991)

Faustão, a fruit seller, is selected by God himself to become Inspector Faustão, defender of the animals. He's joined by Sérgio Mallandro in a mission to save a group of quails from an illegal smuggler, while also having to deal with a bratty kid and a jealous girlfriend.

Bellini and the Sphinx (2001)

Doctor Rafidjian turns to Dora Lobo's investigation agency to locate prostitute Ana Cintia. The case is in charge of Bellini and Beatriz, his new assistant. But the doctor is brutally murdered and the detectives infiltrate the night underworld of São Paulo in search of an answer, where they meet Fatima, a mysterious prostitute who gets involved with Bellini.

A Time to Kill, A Time to Die (2016)

In the countryside in Brazil, a group of boys hangs out around a gas station with its manager, Élcio. The men drink beer, do lots of macho stuff, play soccer. In the midst of this, there is an exchange of looks that demonstrates repressed desires, the need to sublimate oneself to be in tune with the rest of the world.

Silvio (2024)

Just 12 hours after having his daughter in the custody of a kidnapper, the influential communicator Sílvio Santos faces an even more complicated obstacle: his home is invaded and he is held hostage for seven hours. Realizing that his life is at risk, he seeks refuge in the distant thoughts of his entire trajectory, which began when he was just a 14 year old teenager working as a street vendor.

Invisible City (2021)

An underground world is inhabited by mythical creatures evolved from a deep lineage of Brazilian folklore. One detective who finds himself caught in a murder investigation that puts him in the middle of a battle between these two worlds.

Contra a Parede (2018)

Less than three months before the presidential elections in Brazil, a renowned newscaster faces an explosive ethical conflict that involves his work at the head of his program and his personal relationship with two presidential candidates named as favorites in the polls.

Runnin' After Love (1978)

Beto, a young gigolo playboy, convinces his friends to break into a house to rape Marlene, a wealthy woman. They can not complete the mission, but the woman fall in love with Beto, who returns to become her lover. The case of the two, eventually involving the husband of Marlene, causes problems that the two can't solve.

AMP House Massacre (2025)

A group of social media influencers sharing a mansion in the Hollywood Hills find themselves caught in a life and death game of survival as a killer reveals their deepest secrets before killing them off one by one.

Loved and Abused (1976)

Famous crime story writer puzzles police investigator when all the women he gets involved with get murdered.

O Sequestro (1981)

A robber breaks into a house in the Santa Teresa district of Rio de Janeiro and kidnaps the family's youngest son. Based on a true kidnapping that happened in Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, whose victim, Carlinhos, has never been found to this day.

Lobos (2012)

Madame Satã (2002)

A story inspired by the life of one of the most remarkable figures in Brazilian popular culture, João Francisco dos Santos (1900-1976). In turn, bandit, transvestite, street fighter, brothel cook, convict and father to seven adopted children, dos Santos – better known as Madame Satã – was also a notorious gay performer who pushed social boundaries in a volatile time.