Elite Squad

Before a high profile pope visit to Rio, the city is already on edge as crime and police work collide in the favelas. The story follows Captain Nascimento, a battle hardened leader of BOPE, as he pushes his men to curb drug trafficking in a dangerous hillside district near where the pope will stay. He also takes on a mentorship role for two younger officers who must prove themselves under brutal rules and intense pressure. The film tracks late nights, gritty tactics, and uneasy moral choices that crackle with urgency. It avoids easy answers, focusing on the price of enforcing order in a city where violence, corruption, and loyalty pull in different directions. The tension never eases and choices matter.

Directed by Jose Padilha and written with Bráulio Mantovani, the film draws on Luiz Eduardo Soares' investigative work about policing in Rio. It arrived in 2007, marking Padilha's breakout hit that sharpened the international profile of Brazilian crime cinema worldwide.

It earned about 14.8 million dollars worldwide on a budget of 4 million, signaling strong domestic and international interest for a Brazilian crime drama. The numbers reflect festival performance and video and streaming life that kept the title in circulation.

The movie left a lasting imprint on how audiences discuss policing and urban violence. Its intense portrayal of power, fear, and hierarchy sparked debates across Brazil, and helped shape later depictions of BOPE in films and television while influencing conversations about crime policy and police reform in public policy debates.

Critics broadly praised the film for its raw energy and crisp pace, while noting the unflinching look at corruption, loyalty, and the harsh realities of enforcing order. Audiences respond to the moral ambiguity and the way characters balance duty with personal cost and family life in a city on edge.