City of God poster

City of God

Front-Runner Starts strong, fades late
2002 · Drama, Crime · Fernando Meirelles

City of God builds an impressive record against weaker competition — then loses it in the late rounds. At 53% overall, the number flatters it slightly. Filmmaking this kinetic and this humane doesn't come along often. Voters who've seen it carry it with them, and that intensity of memory is a formidable advantage against better-known competitors. 0.9s per vote. That's not a decision — it's a reflex. Voters see the matchup and act without thinking.

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.

Round 1
58.8%
Where it thrives
Semifinals
55%
22/40
Finals
31.8%
The ceiling

Strong at 59% in the opening round, solid at 55% in the semis, then 32% in the final. The further City of God goes, the tougher the opposition — and the results show it.

At 49%, the matchup with Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is the tightest in City of God's record — close enough to go either way. On the other end of the spectrum: The Pursuit of Happyness at 71% is a comfortable win, while The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 27% is the matchup City of God can't crack.

BingeBracket Record
53%
Win Rate
#22 of 88 in Drama #13 of 41 from the 2000s
Scores based on real fan votes in head-to-head brackets. 50% = wins as often as it loses — perfectly average.
Featured Tournament

Featured in Movies That Changed You.

Cast your vote.

City of God #1
The Pursuit of Happyness #2
The Shawshank Redemption #3
It's a Wonderful Life #4
The Godfather #5
Schindler's List #6
Titanic #7
The Silence of the Lambs #8
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About These Rankings

BingeBracket ranks films through head-to-head matchups in 8-film brackets — no star ratings, no reviews, just direct comparison. Browse tournaments, try Discovery mode, or explore the leaderboards. You can also .