Apocalypse in the Tropics

2025 1h 49m PT

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 66

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Through deep examination, this documentary from Oscar nominee Petra Costa explores the profound impact of evangelism on Brazil's political landscape.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

NetflixSubscription

Netflix Standard with AdsSubscription

Cast

Silas Malafaia
Self
Elizete Malafaia
Self
Jair Bolsonaro
Self
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Self
Petra Costa
Self
Alexandre de Moraes
Self
Cabo Daciolo
Self
Damares Alves
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Petra Costa
Writers: Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino, Tina Baz
Languages: English, Portuguese
Countries: Brazil, United States of America, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released last year.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Portuguese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Brazil, United States of America, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Petra Costa, shot by João Atala. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Rodrigo Leão. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor David Barker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Silas Malafaia and Elizete Malafaia and Jair Bolsonaro carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt30012657 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Petra Costa directs. João Atala behind the camera. Rodrigo Leão scores. David Barker cuts. Produced in Brazil, United States of America, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English, Portuguese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released last year.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Portuguese.
3International production across 3 countries: Brazil, United States of America, United Kingdom.
4Directed by Petra Costa, shot by João Atala. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Rodrigo Leão. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor David Barker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Silas Malafaia and Elizete Malafaia and Jair Bolsonaro carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt30012657 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 66 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: João Atala
Original score: Rodrigo Leão
Editing: David Barker
Sound: Olivier Goinard
Runtime: 109 min · 1h 49m
Status: Released
Original language: PT
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Apocalypse in the Tropics (2025)

Also by

Petra Costa

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2026-07-31
★ 7/10
There's one line here from the very successful television evangelist Silas Malafaia along the lines of why can't he politicise the teachings of Christ in the same way that others do with those of Karl Marx - and it's a point that is well illustrated in the documentary. For some he is a charismatic and dangerous rabble-rouser, but for many others he is the voice of Jesus empowering the ordinary and disenfranchised population to pray to God and seize control - democratically - of their congress and their presidency. It's Jair Bolsonaro who is the beneficiary of his support, but he is just the most recent in a long line of powerful Brazilian politicians who have benefitted from the patronage of this wealthy and characterful orator. The establishment is somewhat more resistant to his charms though, and their formerly imprisoned candidate Luiz Lula da Silva is not without the support of many influential senators and so what ensues here is an extensively archive intensive depiction of the forthcoming election and of the divisions caused by a result that history tells us was clearly manipulated. Talking of history, of course this is just the latest in a long line of nations that have found the hijacking of religion to further political agendas taking centre stage, but rarely can these activities have been so well captured by the camera and as this advances across a few years of real time in the life of it's citizens, we see a sea change in opinions facilitated by something of the divine - and thereby something unchallengeable. What's also interesting here is the district absence of the military in all of this. Whilst they were certainly involved on the periphery, there are no scenes of tanks on the streets or protesters being shot with rubber bullets. This is clearly a democracy that is undergoing turbulent times, but in a fashion that offers hope for many who are prepared to use the rules to change the rules - and so much the better if God is in their corner. It also goes to show just how potent a speaker can be when he tells a susceptible people what they want to hear - however intolerant and toxic that message me actually be.

Production companies