Netflix’s Christian Nationalism Doc ‘Apocalypse in the Tropics’ Set for Summer Release, Fall Awards Push (Exclusive)

Apocalypse in the Tropics, a powerful Portuguese-language documentary feature about the rise and impact of Christian nationalism in Brazil, with eerie echoes of its rise and impact in America, will be eligible for recognition during the 2025-2026 awards season despite having screened at numerous major film festivals in 2024, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Indeed, the film, which was written, produced and directed by Oscar nominee Petra Costa (2019’s The Edge of Democracy), and which Netflix acquired in December 2024 after it played to strong receptions at the Venice, Telluride, New York and IDFA film festivals last fall, will receive an awards-qualifying theatrical run over the summer and will then drop on the streaming service on July 14.

Netflix also regards it as one of its top non-fiction award season priorities, along with 2025 Sundance acquisition The Perfect Neighbor.

THR’s August 2024 review of Apocalypse in the Tropics described the film as “riveting,” not least for its remarkable behind-the-scenes access to Brazilian political rivals Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as well as Silas Malafaia, a popular Evangelical TV preacher and political kingmaker, at a time of political unrest that divided the nation’s population of more than 200 million people.

“I am thrilled that the world will soon see Apocalypse in the Tropics, my new film that explores how spiritual longing can become entangled with political ambition,” Costa tells THR. “Through Brazil’s unfolding story, I invite viewers to reflect on the fragile line between faith and power — and what it means for democracy when that line begins to dissolve.”

Adds two-time Oscar winner Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B Films (12 Years a Slave and Moonlight), an executive producer of the film: “Petra Costa is a singular storyteller with her finger on the pulse and we are so excited for global audiences to experience her latest highly cinematic work.”

Costa’s co-writers on the film were Nels Bangerter, David Barker, Tina Baz and Alessandra Orofino, and her co-producer was Alessandra Orofino for Peri Productions. In addition to Kleiner and his Plan B partners Dede Gardner and Brad Pitt, EPs include Jenny Raskin, Jim Swartz, Susan Swartz, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Katrina vanden Heuvel and Meadow Fund for Impact Partners; Jeffrey Lurie and Marie Therese Guirgis for Play/Action Pictures; Felipe Estefan and Rafael Georges Zein for Luminate; Katy Drake Bettner; Kate Hurwitz; InMaat Foundation; Frida Polli; James Costa; and Trevor Burgess.