Beast Race (Portuguese: Corrida dos Bichos) is a 2026 Brazilian action science fiction film directed by Fernando Meirelles (in his first Portuguese language feature since City of God), Rodrigo Pesavento and Ernesto Solis, co-written by Solis and Rodrigo Lages. Starring Matheus Abreu, Rodrigo Santoro, Isis Valverde, Bruno Gagliasso, Grazi Massafera, Seu Jorge and Leandro Firmino, it is set in a dystopian Rio de Janeiro, where the sea has dried up and the city has taken on a new geographic configuration.
The film had its world premiere at the Narrative Spotlight section of the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on 17 March. It is scheduled to be release by in 7 August on Prime Video.
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Plot
In a dark future, Rio de Janeiro faces a radical transformation after the disappearance of the sea. In this new scenario, the city hosts a brutal competition known as the "Beasts Racing" in which people from marginalized classes, called "Bichos" (slang for animals) are used by tycoons as pawns in million-dollar gambling. A courageous young man enters the racing with the goal of saving his sister's life, confronting the oppressive system and putting his own life at risk.
Cast
Matheus Abreu as Mano
