🌴 Apocalypse in the Tropics (2025): Cast, Plot, Release Date & What to Expect from Brazil’s Most Urgent Political Documentary

🌴 Apocalypse in the Tropics: Faith, Power, and Politics Collide in Brazil's Most Urgent Documentary

Streaming Globally on Netflix – July 14, 2025Directed by Academy Award® Nominee Petra Costa

What happens when the lines between church and state begin to blur? Apocalypse in the Tropics is the searing new documentary from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa (The Edge of Democracy) that dares to ask one of the most pressing questions of our time: When does a democracy end, and a theocracy begin?

Premiering globally on Netflix on July 14, 2025, this thought-provoking and visually gripping film uncovers the deep-rooted and rising influence of evangelical Christianity in Brazil’s political system — and what it could mean for democracies worldwide.

🇧🇷 The Premise: Brazil as a Cautionary Mirror

At the heart of Apocalypse in the Tropics lies Brazil — the world’s largest Catholic country turned evangelical battleground. The documentary traces how evangelical leaders have risen from fringe preachers to major political powerbrokers, culminating in the election of Jair Bolsonaro, whose presidency was deeply supported by these religious factions.

Featuring exclusive interviews with:

• 🔹 Silas Malafaia – Televangelist and Bolsonaro ally

• 🔹 Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – Brazil’s former and current left-wing president

• 🔹 Political analysts, religious scholars, and grassroots activists

Costa weaves together archival footage, historical context, and on-the-ground reporting to deliver a chilling portrait of a nation grappling with faith-fueled nationalism.

🎥 Behind the Camera: Petra Costa’s Sharp Lens

Known for her intimate, poetic, and politically charged storytelling, Petra Costa has become one of Brazil’s most fearless documentarians. Following her critically acclaimed The Edge of Democracy, which explored the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and Brazil’s democratic collapse, Apocalypse in the Tropics continues her exploration into how institutions unravel under ideological pressure.

Premiering at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024 to wide acclaim, the film drew comparisons to The Act of Killing and The Great Hack for its unflinching look at the weaponization of belief systems in modern governance.

🧭 Why This Film Matters Now

As evangelical influence grows not just in Brazil but globally — from the U.S. to parts of Africa and Eastern Europe — Apocalypse in the Tropics offers a stark warning about the fragility of democratic systems in the face of religious extremism dressed in political clothing.

With societies increasingly polarized, the film asks:

🔸 What does true separation of church and state look like?

🔸 Can democracy survive when policy is dictated by divine prophecy?

🔸 What happens when morality becomes a political weapon?

📅 Key Dates

• July 11, 2025 – Limited theatrical release

• July 14, 2025 – Streaming worldwide on Netflix

📣 Final Thoughts

Apocalypse in the Tropics is not just about Brazil — it's about all of us. It’s a warning, a reflection, and a question that every democratic society must face: Who holds the power — the people, or those who claim to speak for God?

This is a must-watch documentary for anyone interested in global politics, religion, and the future of democracy.

👉 Add it to your watchlist now on Netflix.

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