A chicken attempts to escape from an impending meal, only to find itself pursued by an armed gang within the vibrant yet perilous Favela known as Cidade De Deus ("City of God"). The fleeing chicken stumbles between this ruthless gang and a young man named Rocket, who harbors the belief that the gang is after his life. This dramatic moment triggers a flashback that transports us back to the late 1960s.
In this era, the Favela is a recently constructed housing project, positioned far from the lively heart of Rio De Janeiro, suffering from a severe lack of basic amenities like electricity and running water. Three desperate amateur thieves who go by the name of the "Tender Trio" - Shaggy (Jonathan Haagensen), Clipper (Jefechander Suplino), and Goose (Renato De Souza) - embark on a series of heists targeting local business owners. Their brotherhood is not devoid of morality; they share a portion of their loot with the impoverished locals who, in turn, offer them a protective shield. A group of young boys idolizes these thieves, and one ambitious boy, Li'L Dice (Douglas Silva), persuades them to rob a motel.
The gang, motivated to avoid bloodshed, designates Li'L Dice as the lookout, handing him a gun with orders to fire a warning if the police appear. However, in a moment of recklessness, Li'L Dice fires not as a warning but as an executioner, resulting in a tragic massacre. This unfortunate event draws the attention of law enforcement, prompting the trio to disperse. Clipper seeks refuge in the church, Shaggy is fatally shot during an attempted escape, and Goose meets his demise at the hands of Li'L Dice after a betrayal centered around stolen money. Thus, the saga of the Tender Trio meets a harrowing conclusion.
As Li'L Dice flees the Favela, he begins a new chapter in life, still engaging in petty crimes alongside Benny (Phellipe Haagensen) to maintain a steady income. Eventually, realizing the lucrative potential of the drug trade, he transforms into Li'L Zé (Leandro Firmino Da Hora). With Benny by his side, he crushes the competition, with the exception of one remaining dealer: Carrot (Matheus Nachtergaele), alongside his manager Blackie.
In the ensuing years, the Favela evolves into a chaotic urban jungle amidst the 1970s. Rocket, now mingling with a group of hippies, develops feelings for a girl named Angelica (Alice Braga). However, his romantic pursuits are repeatedly thwarted by a troublesome gang of petty thieves known as "The Runts." Meanwhile, Li'L Zé has fortified his grip on the drug trade, instilling fear and eliminating rivals, all while seeking to assert dominance over Carrot's territory.
As tensions escalate, Rocket finds employment at a supermarket while Benny contemplates a fresh start outside the Favela. During a farewell gathering, chaos ensues, and the distraught Zé accidentally orchestrates the death of his only moral anchor, Benny. Following this tragic turn, Zé's tyranny grows unchecked, leading him to commit heinous acts, including the brutal assault of Knockout Ned (Seu Jorge) and the violation of his girlfriend, stoking the fires of vengeance.
The conflict escalates as Knockout Ned, driven by the desire for revenge against Zé, resists his tyranny with the help of Carrot, igniting a violent war for supremacy within the Favela. The turmoil deepens as both factions amass an army of soldiers, propelled by forgotten vendettas. In a crucial moment, Zé commands Rocket to immortalize his gang through photographs, ultimately leading to Rocket's unveiling to the outside world through a published scoop.
As the grip of violence tightens, Rocket finds himself at the center of a chaotic gunfight involving the police and criminal factions. With the shocking culmination of the drug war, Zé is captured, but a tragic twist awaits him. As the Runts position themselves to commandeer the criminal enterprise, Rocket grapples with a significant choice—whether to expose the corruption within the police force or seize a chance at fame through Zé's demise.
In a calculated decision, Rocket opts to reveal Zé's lifeless body to the world, concluding the narrative as the Runts take their place in the Favela, penning a chilling list of targets to eliminate as they vie for control over the drug domain, as the Red Brigade looms ominously in their sights.
