Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Performance & Direction: Pelé: Birth of a Legend Review
Last updated: February 4, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.3/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Pelé: Birth of a Legend features a noteworthy lineup led by Kevin de Paula . Supported by the likes of Leonardo Lima Carvalho and Seu Jorge , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Quick Plot Summary: Pelé: Birth of a Legend is a Drama film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. The life story of Brazilian football legend, Pele. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Ending Explained: Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Ending Breakdown: Pelé: Birth of a Legend resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Pelé: Birth of a Legend reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Pelé: Birth of a Legend?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: Pelé: Birth of a Legend
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $27.3K |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Top Cast: Pelé: Birth of a Legend
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Where to Watch Pelé: Birth of a Legend Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with AdsPelé: Birth of a Legend Parents Guide & Age Rating
2016 AdvisoryWondering about Pelé: Birth of a Legend age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Pelé: Birth of a Legend is 107 minutes (1h 47m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.3/10, and global performance metrics, Pelé: Birth of a Legend is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2016 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pelé: Birth of a Legend worth watching?
Pelé: Birth of a Legend is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7.3/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Pelé: Birth of a Legend parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Pelé: Birth of a Legend identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Pelé: Birth of a Legend?
The total duration of Pelé: Birth of a Legend is 107 minutes, which is approximately 1h 47m long.
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Critic Reviews for Pelé: Birth of a Legend
A straightforward, hearty sports biopic, is 'Pelé: Birth of a Legend'. I love football, if I'm not watching films I'm watching the beautiful game, so was looking forward to checking this 2016 flick out, as it portrays the early years of the late, great Pelé. The film isn't quite as amazing as the Brazilian baller himself, but I think it just about creates a pleasant enough 100 minutes or so. It does have the usual biopic clichés, but if we're being honest that's to be expected. Kevin de Paula and Leonardo Lima Carvalho do well as the titular character, though the standout from an acting standpoint is, in my opinion, Seu Jorge. I, to be honest, did not know of him until just over a month ago when I watched 2019's 'Marighella', I was thoroughly impressed with him in that and sames goes for this - a very capable actor. Elsewhere, Vincent D'Onofrio and Colm Meaney are involved too. My only main criticism of this is the fact that it's told in English. That obviously makes it that tad bit more watchable to English speakers like myself, so I wouldn't complain too hard, but it does slightly irritate me when the whole story is rooted, in this case, in Portuguese-speaking life and yet everyone speaks Anglais. Nothing major, granted.
**How to be Brazilian through Pele's movie** One of the wonderful movie that are classified in the biographical category. When you watch Pele: Birth of a Legend, you feel a sense of belonging to Brazil because of everyone's love for the legendary star Pele. The director and screenwriter made us feel that we belong to this story that is told through the film. The story revolves around a person named Pele, and the difficult experiences he went through in his life, including hardship and poverty for him and his miserable family, until he reached the Pele we know now. What impressed me more about the film than Pele's directing is that the director was able to produce impressive sports clips. The performance of the actors was good, especially the little Pele, who was skilled in his acting performance. A great person like Pele Many people don't know that Pele went through harsh experiences until he reached Pele who we know now. He grew up in a poor family, and the film showed us the extent of the suffering that Pele was in until he arrived from Santos to the national team. I liked the Brazilian samba music, which gave the viewer stimulation and made him feel that he was Brazilian. I felt the passion watching one shot after another. I was hooked from the first shot.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.






