The Secret Agent

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The Secret Agent

R

In Theaters Nov 26

2h 38m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

History

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66 Reviews

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Brazil, 1977. Marcelo, a technology expert in his early 40s, is on the run. Hoping to reunite with his son, he travels to Recife during Carnival but soon realizes that the city is not the safe haven he was expecting. Winner of Best Director and Best Actor in Cannes.

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In Theaters Nov 26

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Critics Consensus

A thematically rich and visually arresting political thriller, The Secret Agent blends grindhouse stylization with biting social commentary to weave a vividly dangerous yet darkly human tale.

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Kleber Mendonça Filho

Director

Wagner Moura

Marcelo Alves

Udo Kier

Hans

Gabriel Leone

Bobbi

Maria Fernanda Cândido

Elza

Hermila Guedes

Claudia

Soham Gadre

Chicago Reader

Filho crafts his central characters as fully fleshed out people, keeping their humanity grounded in their friendships, relationships, and fantasies in close quarters.

Oct 16, 2025

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Kyle Smith

Wall Street Journal

The 1970s production design is a wonder in itself.

Oct 16, 2025

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Dwight Brown

DwightBrownInk.com

An epic that starts with a very expressive scene. A masterpiece.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 13, 2025

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Jeff York

The Establishing Shot

The details throughout, from the costumes to the production design to the Panavision lensing, give this period piece a vivid sense of authenticity, almost as if it was all filmed during the 1970s as well.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 26, 2025

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Dionar Hidalgo

Algo Más Que Cine

Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent is a hypnotic blend of political paranoia and tropical surrealism. Wagner Moura’s restrained intensity grounds a film that turns Brazil’s dark history into a feverish, dazzling act of cinematic rebellion.

Rated: 8/10

Oct 24, 2025

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Alan Ng

Film Threat

The Secret Agent will stay with you long after the credits, reminding us that courage often hides in the quiet acts of ordinary people forced to live extraordinary lives.

Rated: 8/10

Oct 22, 2025

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The Secret Agent: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

Brazil, 1977. Marcelo, a technology expert in his early 40s, is on the run. Hoping to reunite with his son, he travels to Recife during Carnival but soon realizes that the city is not the safe haven he was expecting. Winner of Best Director and Best Actor in Cannes.

Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Producer: Emilie Lesclaux, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Wagner Moura, Brent Travers
Screenwriter: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: CinemaScópio Produções, Arte France Cinema, Black Rabbit Media, MK2 Films, Vitrine Filmes
Rating: R (Strong Bloody Violence|Language|Some Full Nudity|Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, History
Original Language: Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 2h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1