
Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
7 Prisoners
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gritty Brazilian drama has language, violence.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
7 Prisoners
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Mateus (Christian Malheiros) and three fellow young men from the impoverished Brazilian countryside accept work in Sao Paulo, leaving their homes and families behind in 7 PRISONERS. What they don't know is that the boss of the junkyard where they'll work, Luca (Rodrigo Santoro), traffics in men and will quickly imprison them on the preface that they owe him money for food, rent, and transportation. Police and other locals are aware of the scheme and have threatened the men's families back home, making escape impossible. The men band together and Mateus strikes a deal with Luca to up productivity in return for letting them leave after six months. Instead, Luca takes Mateus under his wing and slowly converts him into an assistant.
Is It Any Good?
Formidable performances and a heart-wrenching story drive this disturbing drama from Brazil. The dynamics of the enslaved men in 7 Prisoners offer a study in human psychology. We see how slyly the foreman takes the smartest among them under his wing, slowly turning him against his own former companions. Rodrigo Santoro infuses Luca with a pulsing fury just beneath the surface, while Christian Malheiros' Mateus exudes a credible blend of cleverness and confusion. Their moods are matched by a cinematography bathed in shady blues and greens, punctuated by starkly sunlit cityscapes and junkyard scenes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the decisions Mateus makes in 7 Prisoners. Why doesn't he try to escape or double-cross Luca?
Does human trafficking happen in real life? Where could you go for more information?
Why are the men tempted into these jobs? What's important about Luca taking their documents and not giving them a contract?
How is Sao Paulo depicted in contrast to the rural countryside seen at the beginning of the film?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 12, 2021
- Cast: Rodrigo Santoro , Christian Malheiros , Vitor Julian
- Director: Alexandre Moratto
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors, Black actors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: Language, some violence, and sexual references.
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate