New Bandits, a relatively new TV series forAmazon Prime Video, is the perfect example of a show that fits into a particular genre, this time being the Brazilian Western. The series premiered on July 08, 2025, receiving very positive reviews from both critics and audiences alike, makingNew Banditsan underrated gem in theAmazon Prime Video TV show catalog. It revolves around a man who attempts to fulfill his father’s legacy by becoming the leader of a ruthless pack of bandits.
Once one of the most popular genres in cinematic history,some of Hollywood’s most iconic movies are Westerns. Westerns also hasn’t been confined to just the United States over the years, as many countries have adopted their own version of the Western, adapting the genre’s stylistic embellishes into something that is relevant to their own audiences. One country in particular has thrived on the Western genre throughout its film history; Brazil.
New Bandits Falls Into The Brazilian Western Subgenre “Nordestern”
New Banditsfirmly places itself with the Nordestern genre, Brazil’s answer to the iconic Western. Set in the back country of Northeastern Brazil known as the sertão, Nordesterns emerged in the 1960s, around the same time as the Spaghetti Western, Europe’s take on the genre, whose movies were primarily made by Italian directors. The sertão was the perfect setting for Brazilian Westerns, sharing a lot of geographical, social, and political similarities to the genre’s typical settings, which allowed the Nodestern to emerge.
Set in that same northeast desert,New Banditsis a fantastic addition and update to the Nordestern genre.New Banditscarries on the legacy of the Cangaceiros, the emergence of groups of bandits in the northeast region from the end of the 19th century into the early 20th. With the series focusing on a group of bandits in modern-day Brazil, it is only logical that the series would draw inspiration from an essential part of sertão history.
Other Great Nordestern Movies & TV Shows
Some True Classics In The Genre
New Banditsobviously isn’t the only Nordestern worthy of a watch, as there is a massive catalog of movies and shows that are part of the Brazilian genre. Some of the best films in the Nordestern genre areGlauber Rocha’sBlack God, White DevilandAntonio das Mortes, Guel Arraes’A Dog’s Will, Lima Barreto’sThe Bandit, and the 2019 filmBacurau, which shared the Jury Prize during its premiere at the 2019Cannes Film Festival.
If recent releases likeBacurauandNew Banditsare any indication, there is still a lot left to be explored within the genre.
Black God, White Devilis one of the most monumental films in Brazil’s history, being named the second-best Brazilian film ever by the Brazilian Film Critics Association in 2015, second only to 1931’s masterpiece;Limite. It’s the perfect encapsulation of what makes the Nodestern such a pivotal part of Brazil’s film industry and, if recent releases likeBacurauandNew Banditsare any indication, there is still a lot left to be explored within the genre.
