Wagner Moura’s Career: From ‘Narcos’ to ‘Dope Thief’

Wagner Moura is a Brazilian actor, director, and musician who has captivated audiences around the world with his powerful and immersive performances. He first became a major star in his home country, known for his incredible versatility and the raw intensity he brought to the screen in acclaimed films. Moura possesses a unique ability to fully inhabit his characters, whether they are charismatic leaders, troubled heroes, or complex historical figures.

His international breakthrough came with a role that made him a household name globally, showcasing his dedication to his craft and his willingness to undergo incredible transformations for a part. Since then, he has seamlessly transitioned between Brazilian productions and major Hollywood blockbusters, always choosing interesting roles that challenge both himself and the audience. As he continues to take on new projects like the upcoming series ‘Dope Thief’, his career remains one of the most exciting to follow.

‘Woman on Top’ (2000)

In the romantic comedy ‘Woman on Top’, Wagner Moura plays Rafi, a supporting character in the story. The film stars Penélope Cruz as Isabella Oliveira, a talented Brazilian chef who moves to San Francisco after discovering her husband’s infidelity. In her new city, she becomes a local celebrity by hosting her own popular cooking show.

Moura’s character Rafi is part of the musical group that Isabella’s ex-husband leads back in Brazil. The role was one of his earlier appearances in a film with international distribution. It placed him in a lighthearted story that celebrated Brazilian culture, music, and cuisine for a global audience.

‘Behind the Sun’ (2001)

In the critically acclaimed drama ‘Behind the Sun’, Wagner Moura has a significant role as Matheus. The film, set in the barren Brazilian backcountry in 1910, tells the story of two families locked in a violent, generations-old feud over land. The conflict is governed by a strict code of honor that dictates a cycle of retaliatory killings.

Matheus is the younger brother of one of the men who is next in line to be killed as part of the feud. His character is a pivotal part of the family dynamic, and the story is often seen through his perspective. The film was praised for its beautiful cinematography and powerful storytelling, and it helped bring more international attention to Brazilian cinema.

‘The Three Marias’ (2002)

In the Brazilian drama ‘The Three Marias’, Wagner Moura plays the character Jesuíno Cruz. The film is a modern tragedy inspired by traditional folklore, following a woman named Maria who seeks revenge after her husband and sons are murdered. She enlists her three daughters, all also named Maria, to hire assassins to carry out her vengeful plan.

Moura’s character is one of the hitmen hired by one of the daughters to fulfill the family’s bloody quest. His role is part of the gritty and violent world that the women enter as they pursue their vendetta. The film is a dark and stylized tale of retribution and family bonds.

‘Carandiru’ (2003)

In the powerful drama ‘Carandiru’, Wagner Moura portrays the character Zico. The film is based on a true story and depicts the daily lives, struggles, and humanity of the inmates at São Paulo’s notorious Carandiru Penitentiary, which was the site of a brutal massacre in 1992. The narrative is told from the perspective of a doctor who arrives to start an AIDS prevention program.

Zico is one of the many prisoners whose personal story is featured in the film. He is involved in a complicated relationship with another inmate, which leads to a dramatic and violent confrontation. Moura’s performance contributed to the film’s rich tapestry of characters, which helped humanize the men inside the prison walls before the tragic event.

‘God Is Brazilian’ (2003)

In the comedy ‘God Is Brazilian’, Wagner Moura has a main role as Taoca. The film follows God, who has decided to take a vacation after thousands of years of work. Before he leaves, he must find a saint to run the world in his absence, so he travels to the vibrant and chaotic northeast of Brazil to find a suitable candidate.

Taoca is a clever and opportunistic fisherman who encounters God and becomes his guide on the quest to find a holy person. Moura brings a lively comedic energy to the role, serving as the everyman foil to the divine being. The film is a humorous and affectionate look at Brazilian culture and faith.

‘The Man of the Year’ (2003)

Wagner Moura stars in the crime film ‘The Man of the Year’ as Suel. The movie tells the story of a regular man named Maiquel who, after impulsively killing a local bully, is unexpectedly celebrated as a hero by his community. This newfound fame propels him into a dangerous and unwanted career as a professional hitman.

Suel is a low-level criminal who becomes friends with Maiquel. His character is part of the criminal underworld that the protagonist gets drawn into. The film is a dark satire that explores themes of violence, fame, and how society can glorify the wrong kinds of heroes.

‘The Middle of the World’ (2003)

In the road drama ‘The Middle of the World’, Wagner Moura plays Romão. The film is based on a true story and follows a man, his wife, and their five children as they travel from their small village in northeastern Brazil to Rio de Janeiro by bicycle in search of a better life and a decent job.

Moura’s character is part of the large family undertaking the incredible 2,000-mile journey. The film captures the hardships, determination, and unwavering hope of the family as they face poverty, exhaustion, and the vastness of their country. It is a touching and realistic portrayal of a family’s quest for dignity.

‘Nina’ (2004)

In the dark and stylized film ‘Nina’, Wagner Moura has a role as a character who is credited as Blind Man. The movie is a surreal and modern adaptation of the classic novel ‘Crime and Punishment’, centering on a young woman named Nina who lives in poverty and is tormented by her cruel, elderly landlady.

The film uses a mix of live-action and animation to create a nightmarish and claustrophobic world reflecting the main character’s troubled state of mind. Moura’s character is one of the many strange figures that Nina encounters in this oppressive urban landscape.

‘Lower City’ (2005)

Wagner Moura delivered a powerful performance in the drama ‘Lower City’ as Naldinho. He and his best friend Deco are two small-time hustlers who own a small boat, making a living by transporting cargo in the vibrant port city of Salvador. Their lives are completely changed when they give a ride to a beautiful and mysterious stripper named Karinna.

A passionate and volatile love triangle develops between the three, which severely tests the bond between the two friends. Moura portrays Naldinho’s internal conflict and jealousy with great intensity. The film was highly acclaimed for its gritty realism and the powerful performances of its three lead actors.

‘Elite Squad’ (2007)

In the explosive crime film ‘Elite Squad’, Wagner Moura stars as Captain Roberto Nascimento. The movie provides a brutal and intense look at the operations of BOPE, the elite special forces unit of the Rio de Janeiro military police, as they wage a violent war against drug traffickers in the city’s favelas.

Captain Nascimento is a hardened and dedicated officer who is looking for a successor so he can leave the front lines and spend time with his family. Moura underwent intense physical and tactical training for the role, delivering a commanding performance that made the character a cultural icon in Brazil. The film was a massive commercial success and sparked widespread debate about police violence.

‘Ó Paí, Ó: Look at This’ (2007)

In the musical comedy ‘Ó Paí, Ó’, Wagner Moura appears as the character Boca. The film is set during the last day of Carnival in the historic Pelourinho neighborhood of Salvador, Bahia. The story follows the lives of the residents of a tenement building as they deal with personal dramas, social issues, and the vibrant energy of the festival around them.

The film is an energetic celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture, music, and community. Moura’s character is part of the large ensemble of residents, and the movie is known for its lively soundtrack and authentic depiction of life in Salvador during its most famous celebration.

‘Basic Sanitation, the Movie’ (2007)

In the comedy ‘Saneamento Básico’, Wagner Moura plays Joaquim. The film is about a small community of Italian immigrants in southern Brazil that is trying to get a new sewer system built. When they find out the town hall only has funds for a fictional movie production, they decide to make their own monster movie to get the money they need.

Joaquim is one of the amateur filmmakers who gets involved in the absurd project. Moura shows his comedic talents as the community members, who have no experience in filmmaking, hilariously struggle to write a script, create a monster, and shoot their movie. The film is a charming story about creativity and community spirit.

‘Elite Squad: The Enemy Within’ (2010)

Wagner Moura reprised his iconic role as Roberto Nascimento in ‘Elite Squad: The Enemy Within’. This sequel picks up several years after the first film, with Nascimento now in a high-ranking position overseeing the police force. The story shifts its focus from the war on drug dealers to the systemic corruption within Rio’s political and law enforcement systems.

Nascimento finds himself fighting a new enemy, the powerful militias made up of corrupt police officers and politicians who have taken over the favelas. Moura’s performance explores the character’s psychological toll and disillusionment as he confronts an even more dangerous and insidious foe. The film became the highest-grossing movie in Brazilian history and was praised for its sharp political commentary.

‘VIPs’ (2010)

In the biographical drama ‘VIPs’, Wagner Moura stars as Marcelo da Rocha. The film is based on the incredible true story of a man who was a master impersonator. From a young age, Marcelo had a talent for pretending to be other people, a skill that eventually led him to pull off one of Brazil’s most audacious cons.

Moura portrays Marcelo as he successfully impersonates a series of powerful figures, including the son of an airline owner. The role required him to capture the charisma, cleverness, and underlying loneliness of a man who could be anyone but himself. The film explores the thrill and the emptiness of living a life built on elaborate deceptions.

‘The Man from the Future’ (2011)

In the science fiction romantic comedy ‘O Homem do Futuro’, Wagner Moura plays the lead role of João, who is also known as Zero. He is a brilliant but bitter physicist who is still haunted by the memory of being publicly humiliated by the love of his life at a college party twenty years earlier.

One of his experiments goes awry, and he accidentally creates a time machine that sends him back to that fateful night. Moura plays both the cynical older scientist and his younger, more naive self as he tries to alter the past. The film is a fun and clever story about second chances and the unexpected consequences of changing history.

‘Father’s Chair’ (2012)

Wagner Moura stars as Theo in the drama ‘Father’s Chair’. Theo is a successful doctor who has prioritized his career over his family. His life is thrown into turmoil when his 15-year-old son, who he barely knows, runs away from home. This event forces him to abandon his work and embark on a desperate journey to find the boy.

The search takes Theo through different regions of Brazil, and along the way, he is forced to confront his own failures as a father and a husband. Moura delivers a deeply emotional performance as a man who must rediscover himself and what is truly important in his life through the painful process of searching for his son.

‘Elysium’ (2013)

In the dystopian science fiction film ‘Elysium’, Wagner Moura plays the character Spider. The movie is set in a future where the wealthy live on a luxurious space station called Elysium, while the rest of humanity struggles on a ruined and overpopulated Earth. Spider is a cunning and resourceful black market operator who lives on Earth.

He provides illegal passage to Elysium for those desperate enough to try to reach its advanced medical technology. Spider becomes a crucial ally to the film’s hero, Max, played by Matt Damon, by helping him get the equipment he needs to challenge the oppressive system. Moura brought a charismatic and energetic presence to his first major English-language role.

‘Futuro Beach’ (2013)

In the drama ‘Futuro Beach’, Wagner Moura portrays the lifeguard Donato. After he fails to save a man from drowning at a popular beach in Brazil, he begins a relationship with the victim’s friend, a German man named Konrad. Donato decides to leave everything behind and move to Berlin with him.

The film is a visually striking and contemplative story told in three parts, exploring themes of love, identity, and displacement. Moura’s performance captures his character’s profound sense of searching and the emotional journey of a man caught between two worlds, his past life in Brazil and his new, uncertain future in Germany.

‘Bald Mountain’ (2013)

In the crime drama ‘Serra Pelada’, Wagner Moura plays the character Lindo Rico. The film is set in the 1980s and tells the story of two friends from São Paulo who travel to the Amazon rainforest with dreams of striking it rich at the infamous Serra Pelada gold mine, the largest open-air mine in the world.

Lindo Rico is a powerful and ruthless gangster who controls the territory. The two friends quickly discover that the mine is a brutal and lawless place, and their friendship is tested by greed and violence. Moura portrays the dangerous local boss who becomes a major obstacle for the protagonists.

‘Rio, I Love You’ (2014)

In the anthology film ‘Rio, I Love You’, Wagner Moura stars as Gui in the segment titled “Inútil Paisagem”, which translates to “Useless Landscape”. The movie is a collection of short stories from different directors, each exploring a different aspect of love and life in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.

Moura’s segment is a unique and poetic story told almost entirely through a phone conversation. His character is a man who is navigating a difficult moment in his relationship, and the segment is set against the beautiful backdrop of Sugarloaf Mountain. The role showcases his ability to convey deep emotion through a primarily vocal performance.

‘Trash’ (2014)

In the adventure drama ‘Trash’, Wagner Moura plays the character José Angelo. The film follows three teenage boys who live and work in a massive landfill in Rio de Janeiro. Their lives take a dangerous turn when they discover a wallet containing a key and cryptic information that links a corrupt politician to a massive crime.

José Angelo is the man who owned the wallet, and his story is revealed through flashbacks as the boys try to piece together the mystery. Moura’s character is the catalyst for the entire plot, a man who tried to expose corruption and entrusted the evidence to be found after his death. The boys are then pursued by dangerous police as they try to uncover the truth.

‘Narcos’ (2015–2016)

Wagner Moura delivered a globally acclaimed performance as Pablo Escobar in the hit series ‘Narcos’. The show chronicles the rise and fall of the infamous Colombian drug lord and the law enforcement agents who worked to bring him down. Moura portrayed Escobar’s entire journey, from his beginnings as a small-time smuggler to his reign as one of the wealthiest and most violent criminals in history.

To prepare for the role, Moura moved to Colombia, learned Spanish, and gained a significant amount of weight. His transformation was extraordinary, capturing Escobar’s charisma, ambition, and terrifying brutality. The performance earned him international stardom and a Golden Globe nomination, and it remains one of the most iconic portrayals in recent television history.

‘Marighella’ (2019)

In addition to directing, co-writing, and producing the film ‘Marighella’, Wagner Moura also has a small voice role as an interrogator. The movie is a biographical drama about Carlos Marighella, a Brazilian writer and politician who led an armed resistance movement against the military dictatorship that ruled the country in the 1960s.

The film is a passion project for Moura, marking his directorial debut. It is a powerful and unflinching look at a controversial period in Brazilian history, focusing on the last few years of the revolutionary’s life. The story follows Marighella as he and his group of young fighters try to disrupt the authoritarian regime through acts of sabotage and resistance.

‘Wasp Network’ (2019)

In the spy thriller ‘Wasp Network’, Wagner Moura plays the character Juan Pablo Roque. The film is based on a true story and follows a group of Cuban intelligence officers who, in the 1990s, infiltrated anti-Castro exile groups in Miami. Their mission was to gather information on terrorist plots being planned against their country.

Juan Pablo Roque is a Cuban pilot who defects to the United States and becomes a key informant for the FBI, while secretly remaining loyal to his government. Moura portrays the complex life of a man living a dangerous double life, torn between his mission, his new life in America, and the woman he falls in love with.

‘Sergio’ (2020)

Wagner Moura stars as the titular character in ‘Sergio’, a biographical drama about the life of United Nations diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello. The film focuses on the final and most dangerous assignment of his career in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003, in the chaotic aftermath of the American invasion.

The story shifts between his efforts to bring stability to post-war Iraq and key moments from his past, including his complex personal life and his work in other conflict zones. Moura gives a nuanced performance as the charismatic and dedicated diplomat, capturing his unwavering commitment to humanitarianism in the face of immense political challenges.

‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)

In the animated adventure ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’, Wagner Moura provides the voice for the character known as the Wolf. The film follows the swashbuckling cat hero who discovers he has used up eight of his nine lives. To get them back, he embarks on a quest to find the mythical Last Wish.

The Wolf is a terrifying and relentless bounty hunter who pursues Puss throughout his journey. He is later revealed to be the physical embodiment of Death itself, coming to claim Puss’s final life. Moura’s chilling and menacing vocal performance made the character one of the most memorable and celebrated animated villains in years.

‘Shining Girls’ (2022)

In the mystery thriller series ‘Shining Girls’, Wagner Moura plays the role of Dan Velasquez. The show stars Elisabeth Moss as a newspaper archivist in Chicago whose journalistic ambitions were derailed after she survived a brutal assault. Years later, she learns that a recent murder is linked to her own case, and she teams up with a reporter to investigate.

Dan is the seasoned and troubled reporter who helps the main character track down her attacker, a mysterious man who appears to travel through time. Moura portrays Dan with a mix of world-weariness and determination, becoming a crucial partner in the hunt for a killer who seems to defy reality.

‘The Gray Man’ (2022)

In the action-packed spy film ‘The Gray Man’, Wagner Moura plays the character Laszlo Sosa. The movie centers on a highly skilled CIA operative known as Sierra Six who uncovers dark agency secrets, making him a target for a sadistic former colleague who places a massive bounty on his head.

Laszlo Sosa is a skilled and eccentric forger who lives in Prague. He is an old contact of Sierra Six who is hired to help create new identities for the operative and his associate. Moura’s character provides a brief but memorable moment of comic relief and assistance in the global manhunt.

‘Civil War’ (2024)

In the intense thriller ‘Civil War’, Wagner Moura has a leading role as Joel. The film is set in a near-future America that has been torn apart by a devastating civil war. The story follows a small group of military-embedded journalists as they make a dangerous journey across the country to Washington D.C. before rebel factions descend on the White House.

Joel is a seasoned and adrenaline-seeking journalist who is covering the conflict alongside a renowned war photographer. Moura’s performance captures the character’s addiction to the thrill of the front lines, as well as the psychological toll of documenting horrific events. He serves as a mentor figure to a younger aspiring photojournalist who joins their team.

‘Dope Thief’ (2025)

Wagner Moura stars in the crime series ‘Dope Thief’ as the main character, Manny Carvalho. The show premiered on Apple TV+ on March 14, 2025, and is based on a novel set in Philadelphia in the 1970s. It follows a man who decides to make a living by exclusively robbing drug dealers, operating under his own strict set of rules.

Manny is a clever and skilled thief who thinks he can outsmart the city’s criminal underworld by targeting those who cannot go to the police. The series explores his high-stakes heists and the dangerous consequences that arise when he inevitably gets in over his head. The role showcases Moura’s ability to portray charismatic and morally complex antiheroes.

Let us know your favorite Wagner Moura performance in the comments below.