Fernando Ferreira Meirelles (Brazilian Portuguese:[feʁˈnɐ̃du mejˈɾɛlis]; born 9 November 1955) is a Brazilian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for co-directing the film City of God, released in 2002 in Brazil and in 2003 in the U.S. by Miramax Films, which received international critical acclaim. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for his work in the film. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director in 2005 for The Constant Gardener, which garnered the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Weisz. He also directed the 2008 adaptation of José Saramago's novel Blindness and the 2011 film 360. In 2019, Meirelles directed The Two Popes for Netflix. In television, Meirelles directed and produced the HBO original series Joint Venture in Brazil. In 2024, he led the directing work for the crime series Sugar and the historical miniseries The Sympathizer. Description above from the Wikipedia article Fernando Meirelles, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Biography from TMDB.
- November 9, 1955 (70)
- São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Producer and director
- 29 on MovieCove · 83 credits in all
What are Fernando Meirelles' films like?
Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 23
A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 7 · Dark 10
A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1
A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 8 · Intense 10
A split, not a type: Steady 12 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 6
Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1
Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1
Casual 3 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 8
A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 11
A split, not a type: Resolved 13 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 4
Moods and endings
- Happy2
- Bittersweet17
- Ambiguous7
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Fernando Meirelles' films?
As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
- Curiosity Stream
Subscription and free streaming for Fernando Meirelles' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
83 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Beast Race(2026)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
From Nowhere: A Portrait of Valter Hugo Mãe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)
Rivers of Fate(2025)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
The Sympathizer(2024)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows
Sugar(2024)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows
Barbaric Acts(2023)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Slam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Buscapé (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Eduardo and Monica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
7 Prisoners(2021)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Urubus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
The Meaning of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Ousmane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Marighella(2019)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
The Great Green Wall(2019)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Loop(2020)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
The Two Popes(2019)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Passages: Travelling In and Out of Film Through Brazilian Geography (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Joint Venture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Socrates(2018)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Liquid Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
492: A Man Called Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
A Fera na Selva (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
El Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
O Filho Eterno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Exodus: Where I come from is disappearing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Rio 2016 Olympic Opening Ceremony: A New World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Stronger Than The World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Zoom(2015)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Cosmos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
The Wise Ones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Happily Ever After? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Trash(2014)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Rio, I Love You(2014)
Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
The Water Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
360(2011)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Xingu(2011)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Xingu: A Saga dos Irmãos Villas-Boas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Elena(2012)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Tropicália(2012)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
The Illusionist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
VIPs(2010)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Brasil Animado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
José & Pilar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Sound & Fury: Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Waste Land(2010)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Amanhecer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Comercial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Adrift(2009)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Sound & Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Blindness(2008)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
City of Men(2007)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Not by Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
The Pope's Toilet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Antônia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Antonia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
The Constant Gardener(2005)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Once Upon a Time There Was Iracema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Up Against Them All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
City of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
City of God(2002)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Maids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Cidade dos Homens Palace II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Palace II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Brava Gente (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
E No Meio Passa Um Trem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
The Nutty Boy 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Evil Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
A Comédia da Vida Privada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Rá-Tim-Bum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Olhar Eletrônico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Amor com Amor Se Paga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Punk em São Paulo: Garotos do Subúrbio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Brasília (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Marly Normal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Art (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Elza: A Mulher do Fim do Mundo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Here Comes the Flood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
The Last of the Tribe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
A full career of 80 titles, 76 of them dated from 1983 to 2026.
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
Awards
2 major awards from 11 major nominations, 2002–2020.
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Outstanding British Film of the Year
- Cannes award, nominated
- Golden Globe, nominated · Best Director - Motion Picture
- BAFTA Award, nominated ×2
- Venice award, won · Best International Film
- Venice award, nominated · Best Film
- Oscar, nominated · Best Director
+1 other major body · 1 nomination
- Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Foreign Film
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Film not in the English Language
- Berlinale award, won
Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.
How do Fernando Meirelles' films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up12
- 50th to 74th9
- 25th to 49th5
- Below 25th3
Shape of the crowd
15 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved3
- Universally Panned1
- Divisive1
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser15
- Broadly Agreed2
- Mixed6
Reviewers score the atmosphere 74/100 and the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is Fernando Meirelles' work okay for kids?
Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and sex & nudity run heavier than most films.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.
Who does Fernando Meirelles work with?
People who share at least 2 of Fernando Meirelles' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Andrea Barata Ribeiro shares the most, 13.
Directors
- Alexandre MorattoShared titles: 7 Prisoners (2021), Socrates (2018)See all 2 shared titles with Alexandre Moratto
- Cao HamburgerShared titles: Xingu (2011), The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006)See all 2 shared titles with Cao Hamburger
Writers
- Bráulio MantovaniShared titles: Rivers of Fate (2025), VIPs (2010), City of Men (2007), The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006), City of God (2002)See all 5 shared titles with Bráulio Mantovani
- Elena SoarezShared titles: Rio, I Love You (2014), Xingu (2011), City of Men (2007)See all 3 shared titles with Elena Soarez
- Renata Di CarmoShared titles: Children of the Church Steps (2024), City of God: The Fight Rages On (2024)See all 2 shared titles with Renata Di Carmo
- Thayná MantessoShared titles: 7 Prisoners (2021), Socrates (2018)See all 2 shared titles with Thayná Mantesso
Actors
- Bruno GagliassoShared titles: Beast Race (2026), Children of the Church Steps (2024), Loop (2020), Marighella (2019)See all 4 shared titles with Bruno Gagliasso
- Seu JorgeShared titles: Beast Race (2026), Blue Carbon: Nature's Hidden Power (2023), Marighella (2019), City of God (2002)See all 4 shared titles with Seu Jorge
- Leandro FirminoShared titles: Beast Race (2026), Children of the Church Steps (2024), City of God (2002)See all 3 shared titles with Leandro Firmino
- Wagner MouraShared titles: Marighella (2019), Trash (2014), VIPs (2010)See all 3 shared titles with Wagner Moura
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Adriano GoldmanShared titles: Trash (2014), 360 (2011), Xingu (2011), City of Men (2007), The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006)See all 5 shared titles with Adriano Goldman
- Antonio PintoShared titles: Trash (2014), VIPs (2010), Adrift (2009), City of Men (2007), City of God (2002)See all 5 shared titles with Antonio Pinto
- Daniel RezendeShared titles: 360 (2011), Blindness (2008), City of Men (2007), The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006), City of God (2002)See all 5 shared titles with Daniel Rezende
- César CharloneShared titles: Rio, I Love You (2014), Blindness (2008), The Constant Gardener (2005), City of God (2002)See all 4 shared titles with César Charlone
Producers
- Andrea Barata RibeiroShared titles: Beast Race (2026), Rivers of Fate (2025), City of God: The Fight Rages On (2024), 7 Prisoners (2021), Marighella (2019), Zoom (2015), Trash (2014), Xingu (2011), Waste Land (2010), Adrift (2009), Blindness (2008), City of Men (2007) and 1 moreSee newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Andrea Barata Ribeiro
- Bel BerlinckShared titles: Marighella (2019), Trash (2014), Xingu (2011), VIPs (2010), Adrift (2009), Blindness (2008), City of Men (2007), City of God (2002)See all 8 shared titles with Bel Berlinck
- Cristina AbiShared titles: Beast Race (2026), Rivers of Fate (2025), City of God: The Fight Rages On (2024), 7 Prisoners (2021), Marighella (2019), Zoom (2015), Trash (2014)See all 7 shared titles with Cristina Abi
- Vanessa ViveirosShared titles: Rivers of Fate (2025), City of God: The Fight Rages On (2024), Marighella (2019)See all 3 shared titles with Vanessa Viveiros