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Action thriller

Bacurau (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Bacurau (2020) movie poster

Bacurau is a 2020 action thriller directed by Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho, starring Udo Kier as Michael, Silvero Pereira and Sônia Braga. It runs 2 hours 11 minutes and earned $3.6 million worldwide on a $7.7 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best International Film at the Spirit Awards 2021. Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
93%
worldwide gross
$3.6M
award nomination
1
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Bacurau (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 11m (131 min)
Genres
Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi , Drama
Original language
Portuguese
Budget
$7.7M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Bacurau About?

The premise of Bacurau without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In a remote Brazilian town, the community mourns the loss of their matriarch. Soon after, they discover their village has disappeared from all maps and is under surveillance by a mysterious drone. A group of ruthless mercenaries appears, seeking to drive the residents out. The townspeople are forced to unite and fight back against the invaders in a fierce and unexpected struggle for their survival and the preservation of their way of life.

Bacurau Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • village
  • revenge
  • male full frontal nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • funeral
  • drone
  • murder
  • hunter becomes hunted
  • male nudity
  • sex scene
  • modern western
  • neo western
+38 more
  • victim fights back
  • hunted turns hunter
  • pernambuco cinema
  • gay character
  • young boy
  • male pubic hair
  • title spoken by character
  • one word title
  • teacher
  • drugs
  • place name in title
  • location in title
  • near future
  • brazil
  • drought
  • water shortage
  • truck
  • water truck
  • accident
  • coffin
  • title appears in writing
  • binoculars
  • view through binoculars
  • death
  • singing
  • bus
  • shower
  • nudity
  • doctor
  • gun
  • school
  • classroom
  • schoolteacher
  • map
  • politician
  • political campaign
  • book
  • flying saucer
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Cast & crew

Bacurau Cast & Characters

Udo Kier leads the cast as Michael, with Silvero Pereira as Lunga and Sônia Braga. Directed by Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho; 17 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Bacurau Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Bacurau 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in story & flow (55).

80 /100

Bacurau Echo Score Breakdown

In terms of overall impact, Bacurau excels in its visual and political inventiveness but is hampered by uneven narrative structure. The film integrates genre conventions with anticolonial commentary through striking imagery and deliberate pacing, creating an experience that feels timely and thought-provoking. While some reviewers noted disjointed set pieces and inconsistent momentum, others praised its capacity to provoke reflection. On balance, Bacurau presents a compelling cinematic statement that remains distinctive despite occasional structural lapses.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of direction and cinematography, Bacurau delivers bold visual flourishes through 1970s-style CinemaScope framing and inventive genre transitions. The production design of the town and props reinforces its anticolonial themes, while the editing sustains a deliberate rhythm. The result is a cohesive aesthetic that enhances narrative focus.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, Bacurau balances potent ensemble performances with some uneven characterization. The villagers exhibit compelling solidarity and nuanced reactions to external threats, but the antagonists often lack clear motivations and depth. Despite memorable central figures, these shortcomings limit the emotional stakes at times.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, the film presents a mixture of meticulous world-building and episodic set pieces that sometimes feel disconnected. Early scenes establish a vivid context, but intermittent shifts in tone and purpose hinder sustained narrative momentum. While the climax provides a satisfying payoff, the uneven progression leads to occasional disengagement with the overall story arc.

  • Sensory Experience 90

    When it comes to sensory experience, Bacurau engages through a vibrant score, striking sound design, and hallucinatory visuals. The soundtrack complements the desolate landscape, and drone-like audio flourishes heighten tension. Visually, the film’s color palette and psychotropic effects reinforce its thematic intensity. Overall, the sensory elements remain both immersive and consistent.

  • Rewatch Factor 85

    In terms of rewatch potential, Bacurau offers memorable sequences and thematic layers that invite repeated viewing. The unfolding political allegory and subtle visual motifs reveal new details on subsequent watches, and the film’s blend of suspense and satire sustains interest. While some structural unevenness may persist, its distinct style rewards revisits.

Plot

Bacurau Plot Summary

What happens in Bacurau from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a dystopian future, the residents of Bacurau, a struggling rural community in the fictional Serra Verde of western Pernambuco, come together to mourn the loss of Carmelita, an esteemed elder regarded as the heart of their village. Her granddaughter, Teresa, returns home after years away not just for the funeral, but also to deliver essential medicine to her family. However, as the days unfold, Bacurau is thrust into a series of peculiar and unsettling occurrences. The village mysteriously vanishes from digital maps, mobile networks fail, and residents are alarmed by the sighting of a UFO-like drone. Adding to the intrigue, a pair of motorcyclists from southern Brazil stroll through town.

Full summary

The whole story of Bacurau, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Bacurau Box Office & Budget

Bacurau grossed $3.6 million worldwide on a $7.7 million budget, 46% of what it cost. $58,115 came from the US and Canada and $3.5 million (98%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.6M

46% of its budget back

US & Canada
$58.1K
International
$3.5M
Budget
$7.7M
US & Canada 2% Rest of the world 98%
Awards

Bacurau Awards & Nominations

Bacurau earned 1 award nomination, including Best International Film at the Spirit Awards 2021.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Bacurau Trailers & Videos

9 videos: 3 trailers, 1 clip and 5 featurettes.

All 9 videos
Official U.S. Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer #2
  • Clip
  • Featurette TIFF 2019 Directors Q&A
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Bacurau?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What event brings Teresa back to her hometown?

Cars

Cars in Bacurau

29 cars on screen, including the 1986 Chevrolet D-11000 and the 2011 Chevrolet Montana.

All 29 cars
  • 1986 Chevrolet D-11000 in Bacurau 1986 Chevrolet D-11000 Important role
  • 2011 Chevrolet Montana in Bacurau 2011 Chevrolet Montana Important role
  • 2009 Fiat Stilo in Bacurau 2009 Fiat Stilo Important role
  • 2000 Ford Cargo in Bacurau 2000 Ford Cargo Important role
Details

Bacurau Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “Bacurau: Tierra de Nadie” and “Nighthawk”.

Also known as
  • Bacurau: Tierra de Nadie
  • Nighthawk
  • 바쿠라우
  • バクラウ 地図から消された村:2019
  • Bakurau
  • Бакурау
  • 巴克劳
  • באקוראו
  • Thị Trấn Bí Ẩn
  • 殺戮荒村
  • バクラウ 地図から消された村
  • باكوراو

Seen Bacurau?

FAQ

Bacurau FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Bacurau, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Bacurau?

Bacurau runs 2 hours 11 minutes (131 minutes).

When was Bacurau released?

Bacurau was released on March 6, 2020.

Who directed Bacurau?

Bacurau was directed by Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho.

More films by Juliano Dornelles

Who is in the cast of Bacurau?

Bacurau stars Udo Kier as Michael, Silvero Pereira as Lunga and Sônia Braga, among 17 credited actors.

How much did Bacurau make at the box office?

Bacurau grossed $3.6 million worldwide ($58,115 domestic, $3.5 million international) on a budget of $7.7 million.

How is Bacurau rated?

Bacurau has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic and 77% on TMDB.

Was Bacurau nominated for any awards?

Bacurau received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Bacurau have a post-credit scene?

No. Bacurau has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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