City of God’s negative plot can negatively affect viewers’ image of Brazil, but its landscape imagery may increase visiting intention.

A study examining the effects of films with negative plots found that viewers’ cognitive and affective evaluations of a destination tend to become less favorable after watching such movies. In the case of City of God, the constant focus on violence and poverty reinforced stereotypes about Brazil as a dangerous place. Interestingly, the same research also showed that the film’s vivid depictions of Rio’s landscapes—its beaches, mountains, and urban scenery—can counteract that effect to some degree. Scenes that highlight the city’s natural beauty were associated with higher intentions to visit, suggesting that visual elements of place can influence travel attitudes independently of narrative tone.