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Elite Squad

Original title: Tropa de Elite

“On the streets of Rio only the elite survive”

2007 · 1 h 55 min
Directed by José Padilha · Brazil · Latin American Cinema · Brazilian Cinema · Retomada
ActionCrimeDrama

Where to watch in the United States: Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, BFI Player Amazon Channel · Free: Plex, Plex Channel, Tubi TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube. Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB; availability changes.

Cast

Wagner Moura André Ramiro Caio Junqueira

Credits

Written by: José Padilha

Plot

In Rio de Janeiro, Captain Nascimento of the elite police unit BOPE, tired of the violence, looks for a successor while fighting drug gangs in the favelas, before the Pope's visit. Two idealistic young cadets are trained as they are tested by corruption. José Padilha's 2007 film, with Wagner Moura, won the Golden Bear in Berlin and was controversial for its portrayal of police brutality.

Sinekatalog’s take

José Padilha's tense Rio drama follows a special-police captain in the city's favelas. Gritty and fast, the film is controversial for its brutality and for being seen to glorify violent policing.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

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Awards

Ratings

IMDb: 8.0 / 10 (121,562 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes: 53%
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

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