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Trailer

Cobra Verde

1987Movie1 h 51 min

Drama
70
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb6.9Letterboxd3.6/5Metacritic557.6Rotten Tomatoes83%76%

A violent, bleak adventure movie about history and politics.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or uplift.

Movies with

Story

A fearsome 19th century bandit, Cobra Verde cuts a swath through Brazil until he arrives at the sugar plantation of Don Octávio Countinho. Not knowing that his new guest is the notorious bandit and impressed by his ruthless ways, Don Octávio hires Cobra Verde to oversee his slaves. But when Cobra Verde impregnates Don Octávio’s three daughters, the incensed plantation owner exiles the outlaw to Africa where he is expected to reopen the slave trade. Following his trans-Atlantic journey, Cobra Verde exploits tribal conflicts to commandeer an abandoned fortress and whips an army of naked warriors into a frenzied bloodlust as he vies for survival.

Feels like

  • Historical Adventure
  • 19th Century
  • Slavery
  • Political Intrigue
  • Social Commentary
  • Violent
  • Bleak
  • Colonialism
  • Exile

Cast

8 of 8

Crew

Directed by
Werner Herzog
Written by
Werner Herzog, Bruce Chatwin
Produced by
Salvatore Basile, Walter Saxer, Kofi Yerenkyi
Music by
Popol Vuh

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 3, 1987 · 1 h 51 min · Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content

Released
December 3, 1987
Runtime
1 h 51 min
Content
Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content
Genres
Adventure, Drama
Original language
German
Also spoken
English, Ewe, Portuguese
Made in
Germany, Ghana
Available in
17 countries

Tropes

African Chant, Amazon Brigade, Badass Boast +8

  • African Chant
  • Amazon Brigade
  • Badass Boast
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • The Caligula
  • Villain Protagonist
  • Heel Realization
  • Epic Movie
  • Darkest Africa
  • Mighty Whitey
  • Kavorka Man

From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream Cobra Verde?"

Questions about Cobra Verde

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Cobra Verde?

PhiloThe RokuKanopyShout! Factory TVFandorPlexFawesomeCineverse

In the United States, Cobra Verde streams on Philo, Fandor, Shout! Factory, and Cineverse, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Kanopy, Shout! Factory TV, Plex, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. It also streams in 11 other countries.

Is Cobra Verde worth watching?

70
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 70 (IMDb 6.9, Letterboxd 3.6 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 83%, and Metacritic 55).

Will I feel good after watching Cobra Verde?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 5 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is Cobra Verde in English?

GermanEnglishEwePortuguese

No, it was made in German, with some English, Ewe, and Portuguese.