The film depicts extensive physical and psychological violence against gangsters, drug dealers, minors, innocent families, and includes scenes of rape and harassment.

A quantitative content analysis of City of God counted numerous instances of violence throughout the movie. The study found that violent scenes are not limited to confrontations between armed rivals; they also include aggression toward women, children, and uninvolved civilians. The portrayal is persistent, appearing from the opening minutes to the final reel, which creates an overwhelming sense of danger and instability. Researchers concluded that the film’s unflinching depiction serves as a commentary on the cycles of poverty and crime that trap residents. While some viewers find the violence difficult to watch, the study argues that such realism is necessary to convey the true nature of life in the favela and to provoke reflection on societal responsibility.