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‘Apocalypse in the Tropics’ Arrives on Netflix as Bolsonaro Faces Trial

It uncovers how evangelical politics propelled Jair Bolsonaro to power during a surge in global populism

Former Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva campaigns in Petra Costa’s documentary “Apocalypse in the Tropics,” which examines Brazil’s political crisis.
President Jair Bolsonaro, candidate for the election, pending an interview on SBT television in Sao Paulo, in Brazil.
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Overview

  • “Apocalypse in the Tropics” begins streaming on Netflix on July 14 after its July 11 San Francisco premiere, coinciding with Jair Bolsonaro’s trial for attempting to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election.
  • Director Petra Costa documents the pivotal role of televangelist Silas Malafaia and a rapidly expanding evangelical electorate in Bolsonaro’s 2019 election victory and governance.
  • The film draws parallels between Bolsonaroism and Trumpism as President Donald Trump publicly defended Bolsonaro on Truth Social, framing him as a champion of “the people.”
  • Over the past four decades, the share of Brazilians identifying as evangelical Christians has surged from 5% to 30%, amplifying the influence of Brazil’s Christian caucus.
  • Through historical context—from US-backed interventions to Brasilia’s founding principle of church-state separation—the documentary traces the evolution of Brazil’s religious-political landscape.