Streets and avenues of São Paulo have served as a backdrop for national and international productions. In some cases it may go unnoticed by the viewer, but in others the São Paulo setting is really part of the plot. Here we bring together the movies, series and reality shows (and more!) that were shot in São Paulo.
Bruno Mars in São Paulo
How can we forget Bruno Mars’ visit to Brazil in 2023? In addition to the concerts held in São Paulo, the Hawaiian singer created a thank-you video on the streets of SP.
In the footage, Bruno appears on stage, but also walking through the streets of the city’s West Zone and on the terrace of the Hotel Fasano São Paulo Jardins, which is not accessible to guests. The video is one of the artist’s most viewed, with almost 60 million plays.
Blind Marriage reality show party
After three seasons of the reality show, Netflix brought together the cast of all the editions for a celebratory party at the spin off Blind Wedding: After the Altar.
The special took place at the bar-restaurant Abaru by Priceless, located on the rooftop of the Alexandre Mackenzie building in central São Paulo.
The Good Side of Being Betrayed
Among the films and series in São Paulo is the Brazilian feature O Lado Bom de Ser Traída .
In it, the protagonist and accountant Babi (Giovanna Lancellotti) has her first date with her charming affair and judge Marco (Leandro Lima) at the counter of a mysterious bar with low lights and steel doors. The address in question is SubAstor Bar do Cofre, located in the basement of Farol Santander.
Essay on blindness
The film, based on the novel by José Saramago, was directed by Brazilian Fernando Meirelles and features Hollywood stars such as Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo.
Various parts of São Paulo, such as the Minhocão, appear in scenes from the fictional city in the plot.
2 Rabbits
One of those Hollywood-style action movies, 2 Coelhos is directed by Afonso Poyart and is also one of the films and series set in the city of São Paulo.
The good and bad sides of the city appear amid scenes of explosions, special effects that simulate comic books and much more. You can recognize many places in the film, such as Copan, Roosevelt Square and city streets.
Carandiru
One of the bloodiest films in Brazilian cinema and also a classic is by director Hector Babenco.
It portrays the story of the Carandiru Massacre, an episode in the former São Paulo House of Detention, which became known because of the name of the neighborhood in the city’s North Zone.
The Marriage of Romeo and Juliet
In the list of films and series set in São Paulo, the rivalry between Corinthians and Palmeiras takes on a comedic air in Bruno Barreto’s feature.
Romeo is a die-hard Corinthian, while Juliet has even been a muse for Palmeiras. While living this “forbidden” romance, they pass by Allianz Parque and Pacaembu.
The best things in the world
The film’s director, Laís Bodanzky, is already known for showing the streets of São Paulo on screen.
In this movie, middle-class teenagers from São Paulo go through the fun and serious moments that are common at this stage of life. Several neighborhoods in the West Zone appear in the scenes, such as Sunset Square.
The Smell of the Drain
Selton Mello‘ s character, Lourenço, owns an antique shop in the traditional Mooca neighborhood.
The expressions of São Paulo fill much of the movie which is much more dialog-based than action-based. The “boteco” that the character frequents is also the face of the city center.
Sense8
It was Netflix’s first major recording in the city.
Some of the scenes in the final episode of the series used the LGBT Pride Parade, which takes place annually on Avenida Paulista, as a backdrop.
3%
Netflix’s first original Brazilian series was also shot in São Paulo.
The scenes were filmed in the Corinthians Arena, due to the futuristic design of the building, which matches the post-apocalyptic future of the plot.
Black Mirror
In the episode ‘Striking Vipers’, from season 5 of the Netflix series, there are some famous places in São Paulo, with scenes at the Santa Ifigênia Viaduct and the Copan building.
Tuning
Directed by KondZilla, a well-known director of funk music videos, the series tells the story of three young people living in the same favela in São Paulo. Through the interconnection of religion, traffic and music, it shows life in the communities.
Conquest
In 2019, the city welcomed the Conquest team, a series produced by actor Keanu Reeves. The closure of Avenida Paulista with the actors and crew caused a stir.
Other parts of the city, such as Vale do Anhangabaú, the Memorial da América Latina and Praça Pedro Lessa, also appear in the plot.
