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Best Brazilian TV Shows on Netflix

18 Best Brazilian TV Shows on Netflix (2023)

Watching Brazilian series on Netflix is a great way to practice vocabulary and listening skills and gain cultural insights. Fortunately, Netflix is rapidly adding new binge-worthy original Brazilian shows.

Here are some of the best Brazilian TV shows on Netflix in the US as of January 30, 2023. If you’re not in the US, just click the title to check if the show is available in your country (if it’s not available, it’ll display an error or redirect to Netflix’s home page).

If you’re an intermediate or advanced learner, I recommend watching with Portuguese subtitles as studies show it enhances language learning. I also jot down any interesting new vocabulary and add it to my Anki flashcards later.

To amp up your Portuguese learning, try Google Chrome browser’s free Language Reactor (LR) extension. It allows you to add subtitles in two languages, listen to dialogue one line at a time, and change playback speed. There’s also a pop-up dictionary, and LR suggests the most important words for you to learn.

Also, don’t miss my recommended Brazilian movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime, YouTube channels for learning Brazilian Portuguese, and Portuguese podcasts for language learners.

1. 3%

3% | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

This addictive dystopian thriller was Netflix’s first Portuguese-language original series.

In a future where the elite inhabit an island paradise far from the crowded slums, you get only one chance to join the 3% saved from squalor.

2. O Mecanismo

The Mechanism | Trailer 2 [HD] | Netflix

A massive scandal erupts in Brazil during an investigation of alleged government corruption via oil and construction companies.

This Netflix Original directed by Narcos‘ José Padilha is loosely based on the real-life “Lava Jato” (Car Wash) bribery scandal involving former presidents Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff.

3. Killer Ratings

Killer Ratings | Official Trailer | Netflix

Chilling true crime docuseries about Brazilian TV presenter and politician Wallace Souza, who hosted a top-rated crime reality show in the gang-plagued Amazonian city of Manaus.

In a surreal twist, Souza was accused of masterminding the brutal crimes he reported on to boost his show’s ratings.

4. Coisa Mais Linda (Girls from Ipanema)

Most Beautiful Thing | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Popular Brazilian period drama set in 1950s Rio to the seductive strains of bossa nova.

As soon as Malu arrives in the city, she discovers her husband has deserted and robbed her. Everything seems lost, but Malu eventually finds new friends, a second chance at love, and the courage to fulfill her dream of opening a music club.

The show’s title derives from the opening line of famed bossa nova song Garota de Ipanema: Olha que coisa mais linda, mais cheia de graça.

For more interesting cultural insights and vocabulary explanations for Portuguese learners, watch Brasileirices’s video review.

5. Sintonia

Sintonia | Trailer | Netflix

Fans of Brazilian pop culture should check out this addictive YA crime drama with a catchy funk soundtrack.

Three teenage friends from the same quebrada (shantytown) of São Paulo choose very different paths defined by music, drug trafficking, and religion.

Stunning aerial shots of São Paulo and lots of paulista slang. If you’re curious about the gíria on the show, try this fun dictionary. Keep in mind though that these expressions are very regional and wouldn’t be used or even understood by most Brazilians.

Because of the heavy use of slang this show may not be a good fit for beginners.

Created and directed by music video producer KondZilla, who took funk out of the favela and made it mainstream with the biggest YouTube channel in Brazil and Latin America.

6. The Circle Brasil

THE CIRCLE BRASIL COM GIOVANNA EWBANK | TEASER | NETFLIX BRASIL

No English subtitles available for YouTube trailer – tap to watch subtitled trailer on Netflix

This unique and addictive competition is Netflix’s first Brazilian reality TV series.

In this social media popularity contest, online players try to flirt, bond, and catfish their way to a R$300,000 prize. Each contestant is isolated in their apartment, able to communicate only via social media. The contestants’ exuberant personalities are a lot of fun to watch.

While the show flashes gorgeous opening shots of Rio and São Paulo, the players actually live in the same apartment building in Manchester, UK used for The Circle‘s American and British editions.

Players hail from a variety of locations in Brazil. The diversity of accents, colorful slang, texting jargon, and regional cultural references make The Circle a great choice for language learners.

7. Cidade Invisível (Invisible City)

Invisible city Official trailer (HD) Season 1 (2021)

Fast-paced fantasy crime drama. After finding a dead freshwater pink dolphin on a beach in Rio de Janeiro, detective Eric of the environmental police becomes involved in a murder investigation and discovers an underground realm inhabited by magical creatures.

It’s fascinating to research the mythical beings in the series like Cuca and Curupira based on traditional Brazilian folklore.

8. Ninguém Tá Olhando (Nobody’s Looking)

NINGUÉM TÁ OLHANDO | TRAILER OFICIAL | NETFLIX

No English subtitles available for YouTube trailer – tap to watch subtitled trailer on Netflix

In this inventive comedy, a new brand new angel uncovers a secret behind the guardian angel bureaucracy that leads him to break official rules about protecting humans.

9. Irmandade (Brotherhood)

Irmandade | Trailer oficial | Netflix

Note: No English subtitles available for trailer – tap to watch subtitled trailer on Netflix

Intense crime drama set in ’90s São Paulo starring musician and actor Seu Jorge.

This Netflix Original follows Cristina, an honest and hard-working lawyer, who discovers her imprisoned brother leads a criminal faction known as Irmandade (Brotherhood).

Forced by the police to infiltrate the Brotherhood and inform on her brother, Cristina comes into contact with her darkest side and begins to question her own ideas of justice.

Disclaimer: I couldn’t get into this show, but many Portuguese learners love it, so I’m including it.

10. Mundo Mistério (Mystery Lab)

Mundo Mistério com Felipe Castanhari | Trailer Oficial | Netflix Brasil

No English subtitles available for YouTube trailer – tap to watch subtitled trailer on Netflix

Popular Brazilian YouTuber Felipe Castanhari fronts this quirky documentary series.

Half-hour episodes tackle intriguing mysteries such as the Bermuda Triangle, time travel, the bubonic plague, and the possibility of a zombie apocalypse.

11. Vai Anitta

Vai Anitta | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

This engaging Netflix original docuseries goes behind the scenes with Brazilian superstar Anitta as she builds her international career.

Lots of colloquial Portuguese and opportunities to hear the carioca accent.

12. Anitta: Made In Honório

Anitta: Made In Honório | Trailer Oficial | Netflix Brasil

In this candid follow-up to Vai Anitta, the Brazilian pop diva opens up about fame, family, and her fierce work ethic.

The title refers to Honório Gurgel, the humble neighborhood in Rio’s North Zone where the singer grew up.

Nowadays, Anitta is her own CEO, running the show 24/7 and firmly in control of her career and brand.

13. Bom Dia, Verônica (Good Morning, Verônica)

Good Morning, Verônica | Official Trailer | Netflix

Chilling crime-mystery series about the abuse and murder of women. Based on the novel of the same name by criminologist Ilana Casoy and writer Raphael Montes.

The clock is ticking and time is running out for Verônica, clerk with the São Paulo police. When she finds herself on a risky and enigmatic hunt for a dating-site predator, Verônica has to use all her investigative skills to help victims fight violence and injustice.

14. Afronta! (Face It!)

Trailer - Afronta (legendado)

Short docuseries spotlighting Afro-Brazilian thinkers sharing their journeys and discussing representation, entrepreneurship, and community.

15. Samantha!

Samantha! | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Fun Brazilian comedy that follows Samantha, a child star in the ’80s, who clings to the fringes of celebrity with harebrained schemes to launch herself back into the limelight.

This clever satire is a good opportunity to pick up Brazilian slang.

16. O Escolhido (The Chosen One)

The Chosen One | Official Trailer | Netflix

Binge-worthy creepy thriller based on the Mexican series Niño Santo.

This Netflix Original follows three young doctors determined to bring a Zika vaccine to the remote Pantanal. They find themselves trapped in an isolated community whose leader has supernatural healing powers.

17. Onisciente (Omniscient)

Onisciente - Netflix | Trailer Oficial

Note: No English subtitles available for trailer – tap to watch subtitled trailer on Netflix

New sci-fi series by the creator of 3%. In a city where citizens are monitored 24/7, a tech trainee must outsmart her surveillance drone in order to investigate her dad’s murder.

18. Super Drags

Super Drags | Trailer Para Maiores [HD] | Netflix

Note: No English subtitles available for trailer – tap to watch subtitled trailer on Netflix

In this campy adult cartoon, three gay co-workers lead double lives as drag queen superheroes, saving the LGBTQ community from evil nemeses.

Brazilian singer, drag queen, and LGBTQ icon Pabllo Vittar wrote the opening song and voices the character of Goldiva. Lots of raunchy humor.

Be sure to switch the audio to Portuguese.

You may also like:

  • Top Brazilian Movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime
  • Learning Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro
  • Best Brazilian Portuguese YouTube Channels
  • Resources for Portuguese Self-Study
  • Great Portuguese Podcasts for Language Learners
  • Portuguese Reading Recommendations
Have feedback on these series or more recommendations for Brazilian shows on Netflix? Please share your thoughts on the best Brazilian TV series in the comments.

Featured image from Sintonia © Netflix

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February 13, 2019 by Ingrid 9 Comments

About Ingrid

Ingrid left software engineering at age 43 to devote herself to language learning and travel. Her goal is to speak seven languages fluently. Currently, she speaks English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, and is studying Italian.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tequiero4000

    August 14, 2019 at 9:30 am

    Can you do a series on French shows as well?

    So far I’ve watched dix pur cent, marseille, and the hookup plan.

    Also, what are the best methods to learn while watching a show? (besides writing down diffcult words to look them up later?)

    Reply
    • Ingrid

      August 15, 2019 at 8:52 am

      Unfortunately my French is really rusty, but if I take it up again I’ll definitely create a list of French shows.

      I tend to just watch shows in my target language for enjoyment as a reward after doing grammar studies, podcasts with transcripts, and classes with online tutors. I’ve found it a fun, relaxing way to get a feel for the flow of the language and build up audio comprehension. I just note an unknown word or phrase if I think it’s important, or it pops up multiple times.

      But if you want to dig into it more, here are some great tips from polyglot Luca Lampariello: https://www.lucalampariello.com/language-learning-with-netflix/.

      Reply
  2. Manuela

    January 4, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    Uau! Interessante encontrar alguém que está estudando a língua de Camões! Especialmente por ser tão difícil! Parabéns!!
    Se quiser mais dicas e alguém para conversar, estou à disposição!
    Sou brasileira e moro atualmente no Canadá.

    Reply
    • Ingrid

      January 7, 2020 at 9:25 am

      Muito obrigada, Manuela, que gentileza! Adoro a cultura brasileira e a linda língua portuguesa. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Anna

    April 25, 2020 at 4:03 am

    Hello Ingrid!
    I’m also learning brasilian portuguese and very happy to find you post about netflix shows on that language. Helped a lot, got hooked:)
    Is there any chance anki flashcards can be shared between users? Would love to have a look at yours
    Thank a lot!

    Reply
    • Ingrid

      April 27, 2020 at 10:13 am

      Hi Anna, so glad it’s been helpful to you. Unfortunately, my Anki cards are a bit of a mess, and they also include a lot of European Portuguese expressions from when I studied in Lisbon.

      Personally, I’ve found creating my own cards to be the most effective way to learn. I have a very intuitive method for adding new vocabulary… if I hear an interesting word or phrase used repeatedly by a friend or on a TV show or podcast I like, I’ll create a card for it. It makes my cards very random and personal!

      I do recommend experimenting with just creating cards for expressions you’re drawn to and have a personal connection with. For me, having that emotional context is key to being able to remember the phrase and use it in real life.

      Hope that helps! Enjoy learning Brazilian Portuguese! Would love to hear what resources are working for you.

      Reply
  4. Anna

    April 28, 2020 at 5:02 am

    Ingrid, thanks a lot for your reply. You are right, I’ve created a countless number of cards while I was learning English based on all books and tv shows I’ve seen and watched so will start doing the same with Portuguese. I’m just at the beginning of the long road and looking for anything that can help:) For now, I’m having skype lessons with my teacher, practising vocabulary on Duolingo, busuu and memrise and just started to watch netflix in portuguese thanks to you

    Reply
    • Ingrid

      April 29, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      Anna, sounds like it worked very well for you with English. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out my comprehensive list of resources I used learning Portuguese: https://www.secondhalftravels.com/learning-brazilian-portuguese/. Would love to hear your suggestions if you have anything to add to my lists. Abraço e boa sorte com a aprendizagem!

      Reply
  5. Real Brazilian

    January 9, 2022 at 8:27 pm

    As a Brazilian,all i have to say is its a Shame,that my country,with Beautiful places and beautiful people,be remember with all this crime,crime crime tv shows,or poor people.You Gringos,never was on Cities such Recife,Gramado,Santa Catarina,you all see the narrow vision about Rio,and Rio and Rio,that State is down,and does not represents the rest of my country.All this Stereotypes,”funkeros”,that does not have Swing(you gringo,never visit”the quarteirão do soul”,on City of Belo Horizonte).

    Reply

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