11 Wagner Moura Movies and TV Shows That Rate at Least a 7

✦ Edited and fact-checked by Randy Harward, our Entertainment Editor with 25 years covering entertainment and TV.

11 best Wagner Moura movies and TV shows according to IMDb

Wagner Moura is currently at the apex of his career, successfully transitioning from a Brazilian powerhouse to a globally celebrated leading man. While many of us first met him during his star-making turn as Pablo Escobar in “Narcos,” he has spent the last two decades building a filmography that features 59 acting credits and a growing list of directorial and producer roles.

By 2026, he has become a primary face of prestige cinema. We’ve watched him level up with complex leading turns that move far beyond the drug dealer stereotypes he once feared, culminating in a 2026 Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Whether he is voicing a terrifying villain or portraying a bedraggled journalist, his linguistic and physical dedication to his craft is pure gold.

11. “Dope Thief” (2025) | 7.0

In this gritty Apple TV+ crime drama, Moura stars alongside Brian Tyree Henry as a pair of low-rent Philly thieves who bite off more than they can chew. When their scheme to rob drug dealers by posing as DEA agents goes sideways, they find themselves hunted by a global narcotics empire. Executive produced by Ridley Scott, the series highlights Moura’s incredible chemistry with his co-stars and his ability to make small-time characters feel unbelievably big-time.

10. “Civil War” (2024) | 7.0

In this intense Alex Garland vision, we follow a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach Washington, D.C. Moura delivers a standout performance as Joel, a bedraggled and adrenaline-fueled journalist navigating a fractured landscape. The film serves as a chilling exploration of political polarization and the high cost of documenting the truth in a war zone.

9. “The Man from the Future” (2011) | 7.0

We love seeing Moura’s range, and this sci-fi rom-com proves he can handle whimsical high-concept plots just as well as gritty dramas. He plays Zero, a brilliant scientist who accidentally travels back 20 years to the night he was publicly humiliated by the love of his life. It is a charming romp that showcases his comedic timing and a softer side we don’t always see in his intense political roles.

8. “The Secret Agent” (2025) | 7.3

This political thriller served as a homecoming for Moura, addressing the heavy themes of Brazil’s military dictatorship. Playing a man caught in a web of surveillance, Moura’s performance was so moving it earned him Best Actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and a 2026 Golden Globe. The film has dominated the awards circuit as Brazil’s official international feature submission, solidifying his status as a world-class leading man.

7. “Shining Girls” (2022) | 7.4

In this mind-bending Apple TV+ series, Moura plays Dan Velasquez, a veteran journalist who teams up with a trauma survivor to hunt down a time-traveling serial killer. We found his chemistry with Elisabeth Moss to be electric, providing a grounded, human heart to a supernatural mystery. His portrayal of a father and reporter battling his own demons adds a layer of vulnerability that makes the investigation feel deeply personal.

6. “Carandiru” (2003) | 7.6

Long before he was a global household name, Moura appeared in this harrowing drama about the 1992 massacre at the Carandiru Penitentiary. The story is told through the eyes of a doctor treating inmates, revealing the overcrowded and inhumane conditions of the prison system. Moura plays Zico, part of a sprawling ensemble cast that captures the tragic and vibrant lives of the men behind bars.

5. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022) | 7.8

We have to talk about the whistle. Moura provided the voice for the Wolf (also known as Death), creating one of the most terrifying and celebrated animated villains in recent memory. His chilling, predatory performance turned a kids’ movie into a profound meditation on mortality. It is a testament to his talent that he can steal an entire film using nothing but his voice and a hauntingly melodic whistle.

4. “Elite Squad” (2007) | 8.0

This was the breakout moment that changed everything. As Capitão Nascimento, the leader of an elite police squad in Rio de Janeiro, Moura portrays the brutal reality of urban warfare and systemic corruption. The film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and became a cultural phenomenon in Brazil. His intense, uncompromising performance turned Nascimento into an anti-hero icon and put Moura on the international map.

3. “Elite Squad: The Enemy Within” (2010) | 8.0

Sequels rarely outshine the original, but this one comes incredibly close by expanding the scope from the streets to the halls of political power. Now working in a high-level government position, Nascimento realizes that the real enemy is the corrupt politicians benefiting from the chaos. It is a smarter, more cynical, and deeply impactful follow-up that remains one of the highest-rated Brazilian films of all time.

2. “Narcos” (2015–2016) | 8.7

The role that defined his early international career required Moura to learn Spanish from scratch and gain significant weight to play the infamous Pablo Escobar. While some native speakers debated his accent, we were captivated by his pure gold acting and his ability to make a monster feel human. His performance earned him his first Golden Globe nomination in 2016 and remains the gold standard for portraying the Medellín cartel leader.

1. “Narcos: Mexico” (2018–2021) | 8.3

Though he only appears briefly to reprise his role as Escobar, the impact of his character looms large over the entire series. This expansion of the “Narcos” universe explores the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s, shifting the focus to the origins of the Mexican drug war. The series maintains the high-octane tension and prestige production value that Moura helped establish, earning its spot at the top of our list.

Wagner Moura movies and TV shows FAQ