On March 13, 2026, Folha de S.Paulo published a list of the 50 best Brazilian films released since 2001, based on votes from 100 cinema professionals. The ranking, released ahead of the 2026 Oscars, highlights 'Cidade de Deus' in first place, followed by 'Ainda Estou Aqui' and 'O Agente Secreto'. The poll reveals themes such as public security, documentaries, and the wounds of dictatorship.
Folha invited 100 professionals, including filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, producers, critics, and curators, to vote on their top ten Brazilian cinema works from the first 25 years of the 21st century. Each vote was weighted, with ten points for first place down to one for tenth, and ties resolved by number of mentions. The films span various genres, from fiction and documentaries to animations and experimental works, released from 2001 onward.
The ranking, published on March 13, 2026, places 'Cidade de Deus' by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund in first. Second is 'Ainda Estou Aqui' by Walter Salles, Oscar-nominated. 'O Agente Secreto' by Kleber Mendonça Filho, which contends for Best Actor for Wagner Moura at the March 15 Oscars, ranks third. The full list cites about 240 works and includes streaming recommendations.
According to Folha critic Inácio Araujo, the top three films generically address 'public security,' with 'Cidade de Deus' questioning banditry origins and highlighting characters like Zé Pequeno (Leandro Firmino) and Buscapé (Alexandre Rodrigues). Dictatorship themes appear in 'Ainda Estou Aqui' and 'O Agente Secreto'. Eduardo Coutinho's documentaries, such as 'Edifício Master' (fourth) and 'Jogo de Cena' (fifth), break traditional genre disdain. Other highlights include 'Que Horas Ela Volta?' (ninth), on social engagement, and regional productions from Pernambuco and Bahia.
The jury included names like Kleber Mendonça Filho, with four films in the top 50, Fernanda Torres, Oscar-nominated for 'Ainda Estou Aqui', and Lázaro Ramos. The poll shows cinema decentralization, with contributions from states beyond Rio and São Paulo, and values inventive small productions, like those by Adirley Queirós and André Novais Oliveira.
