Is City of God appropriate for children?

# City of God - Parental Guide This gritty crime drama depicts graphic violence, frequent strong language, and drug trade brutality in Rio de Janeiro's favelas—not suitable for children under 17. The R rating reflects intense scenes of gang warfare and criminal activity that could be disturbing for younger viewers. Consider waiting until your child is a mature teenager before viewing.

What age is City of God suitable for?

Our verdict for City of God is: Not recommended. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is City of God safe for children? | ScreenWise Parent Guide

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Strong

🗣️

Language / Profanity

Strong

🔞

Sexual Content

Moderate

👻

Horror / Scary

Moderate

About this movie

Type

Movie

Released

2002

Rating

Genre

Drama, Crime

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.

Cast

Alexandre Rodrigues

Buscapé - Rocket

Leandro Firmino

Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé

Phellipe Haagensen

Bené - Benny

Douglas Silva

Dadinho - Li'l Dice

Full cast on IMDb ›

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

Not recommended

Ages 9–12

Not recommended

Ages 13+

Not recommended

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

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Parents also checked

The Shawshank Redemption

Not recommended

Forrest Gump

Not recommended

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
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