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Top 5 Italian Series on Netflix

Top 5 Portuguese Series on Netflix

In this post, we’ve compiled the Top 5 Portuguese Series on Netflix to watch now that will complement your language learning. Whether you’re into crime dramas, thrillers or comedies, there is always a great Portuguese Language television series or film waiting on Netflix.

Watching TV series and films can help you learn Portuguese faster! Watching with the subtitles can help reinforce your language learning and grow your vocabulary of the language. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn conversational phrases and pronunciations.

Most content on streaming platforms is both subtitled and captioned in various languages. Whilst subtitles are standard for a language translation of the dialogue, captions also include things like speaker differentiation and description of sound effects.

So whether you’re new to learning Portuguese, or are just looking to binge-watch some great series, here are our top 5 Portuguese series on Netflix right now. The list includes some of the most popular Portuguese series on Netflix in 2024.

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Top 5 Portuguese Series on Netflix

1. Sintonia

Crime teen drama series starring Christian Malheiros, Jottapê and Bruna Mascarenhas.

First premiered in 2019, Sintonia, a Brazilian crime series, is told through three different characters’ perspectives, exploring the interconnectedness of music, drug trafficking, and religion in São Paulo.

Created and directed by KondZilla, a Brazilian screenwriter and director, the series received good reviews from critics. Including one from the digital reviewer Decider, describing the series as a “fascinating look at life in São Paulo’s favelas, where people are creative and hopeful, despite difficult circumstances.”

Watch Sintonia on Netflix

2. Glória

Historical spy thriller series starring Miguel Nunes, Matt Rippy and Stephanie Vogt.

Based in the 1960s at the height of the Cold War, Glória do Ribatejo is a small village with gripping ‘spies, lies and secrets’. Privileged Radio Free Europe engineer, João Vidal, takes on several high-risk espionage missions that threaten world history.

Well regarded by fans with reviews describing Glória as ‘beautifully capturing the ’60s aesthetic and the feeling of Cold War paranoia’.

Did you know? Glória is the first Netflix production originating in Portugal. Additionally, Glória is the most expensive TV production in Portuguese history

Watch Glória on Netflix

3. O Mecanismo (The Mechanism)

Brazilian political drama series starring Selton Mello, Caroline Abras and Enrique Diaz.

Third on our list is O Mecanismo/The Mechanism, a drama loosely inspired by an investigation of corruption in Brazil’s oil and construction companies. Follow detective Marco Ruffo as he breaks open the case and attempts to gather enough evidence against money launderer Roberto Ibrahim.

When the series first started in 2018, The Mechanism was nominated for Best Director by the São Paulo Association of Art Critics Awards and Best Cinematography (TV) by the Associação Brasileira de Cinematografia. Since then, fans continue to praise the series for its gripping storyline and has been the first Portuguese-language series watched by many non-native speakers of the language.

Watch The Mechanism on Netflix

4. Boca o Boca (Kissing Game)

Thriller series starring Caio Horowicz, Iza Moreira and Michel Joelsas.

Set in a small Brazilian cattle-ranching town, teenagers panic when they’re threatened by the outbreak of a contagious infection transmitted by kissing. Boca o Boca/Kissing Game is popular with fans across the globe and has even bagged a high rating on the media review site Rotten Tomatoes. If you’ve ever watched the British drama Skins, you’re sure to love this Brazilian series.

Did you know? Boca o Boca translated to English means ‘mouth to mouth’

Watch Kissing Game on Netflix

5. 3%

Dystopian thriller series starring Bianca Comparato, Vaneza Oliveira and Rodolfo Valente.

Last up on our Top 5 Portuguese series on Netflix is 3%, a highly addictive Brazilian series created by Pedro Aguilera. The post-apocalyptic thriller, set in Brazil, depicts life for a lucky few (3%) selected to join an elite society. But first, they must go through an intense process to escape from the crowded slums.

Did you know? 3% was the first Portuguese-language Netflix original series

Watch 3% on Netflix

Top 5 Portuguese Series on Netflix

Popular Portuguese Series on Netflix in 2024

You can complement it with these bonus tv series. Below you can find 5 popular Portuguese series on Netflix in 2024:

Rabo de Peixe (Turn of the Tide)

Tells the story of four friends living on an island whose lives are turned upside down when a shipwreck brings a ton of cocaine to their shores. The friends see this as a risky but tempting opportunity to make money and escape their small-town lives. However, their involvement in the drug trade soon leads them down a dangerous path. It brings them face-to-face with powerful criminals and forcing them to make difficult choices. This Portuguese drama series was amongst the most watched series of all-time in Portuguese.

Bom Dia, Verônica (Good Morning, Veronica)

The story revolves around Veronica Torres. To all appearances, Veronica is an ordinary police clerk. She just has a curious and tenacious personality. Her life takes a sharp turn when she witnesses a peculiar event at the police station. This coupled with an anonymous call, ignites Veronica’s desire to uncover the truth behind neglected cases involving abused women. A personal investigation to expose corruption and fight for justice. A Brazilian thriller series on Netflix and great to learn Brazilian Portuguese.

DNA do Crime (Criminal Code)

A crime thriller series inspired by a real-life heist in Paraguay known as the “robbery of the century.” The story follows a team of federal agents trying to solve a massive robbery using innovative methods. As the title suggests, DNA evidence plays a crucial role in their investigation. The series blends real-life elements with fictional storytelling to create a thrilling narrative. The series is filled with action, suspense, and personal struggles of the characters involved.

Next Steps to Learn Portuguese with Netflix

Have you seen the top 5 Portuguese series on Netflix and want to learn a language or improve your language skills? Cactus offers a variety of great Portuguese language courses. You can complement it with free resources/articles to support your language journey.

If you are looking to learn Portuguese you can study from beginner to profient with Cactus. We offer group Portuguese lessons online and face-to-face. You can learn in many locations across the UK including Cambridge, Edinburgh, Leeds and London. Start your free trial! Learning a language has never been easier, and is a great way to uncover a different culture. Read more about Portuguese language and its variants.

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