There is nothing quite as exciting as a high-stakes heist with the cops in hot pursuit. Just one month after the release of the well-received second season of the hit Brazilian crime thriller series, Criminal Code. Netflix has announced that the series will officially be returning for a third season, according to Deadline. The streamer can sometimes dally on its renewal decisions. However, the fact that it has opted for such a swift resolution can only point to how impressive the series has been. With a score of 89% on the aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes, the impressive performance of Criminal Code with audiences certainly factored in the renewal decision. The crime thriller has seen its second season break into the Netflix Top 10 on home turf in Brazil, and in other territories such as Argentina, Portugal, and Nigeria.
Created by Heitor Dhalia, Netflix’s Portuguese crime thriller follows a team of investigators, centered around strong-headed lone wolf detective Benício (Rômulo Braga) and his new partner Suellen (Maeve Jinkings), who are on the hunt for perpetrators of a big heist near the Triple Frontier – the tri-border area where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet. The show takes inspiration from a real-life heist (known as the “robbery of the century”) that took place in 2018 in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, The series is a captivating thriller that goes beyond the gun fights and explores the underbelly of organized crime in Brazil. Speaking about the new season, Haná Vaisman, Director of Scripted Series at Netflix Brazil, paid tribute to “the tireless dedication of Paranoïd and the talents of our writers, directors, producers, and cast.” Vaisman does go on to add that Criminal Code signals of Netflix’s commitment to Brazilian originals. “Continuing to invest in these complex narrative worlds is also a way to reinforce our commitment to Brazilian audiovisual storytelling and to support stories that grow alongside the audience.”
‘Criminal Code’ Has Cracked the Code of Keeping Its Audience’s Attention
The story line for Criminal Code Season 2 saw the action revolve around a prison break that freed the Ambassador (Nico García Hume). Isaac (Alex Nader) and his Phantom Gang are responsible, and this brings down the full might of the Federal Police, as Suellen and Benício lead the hunt even while battling their own demons by the time Season 2 wraps its run. Having reached No. 1 in Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English Shows in both Brazil and globally, totaling more than 6 million views, in the first week of its release back in 2023. Ahead of Season 2’s arrival, Dhalia discussed what appealed to the show’s audience. “Crime series must respect the codes of the universe we portray; this is one of the secrets that captures the audience’s attention,” he said at the time. “We researched and deeply understood the crime universe, working with real consultants, police from all forces, and former criminals, ex-bank robbers, and ex-international traffickers.”
The crime thriller is produced by Paranoïd, with Season 2 created by Dhalia, alongside Bernardo Barcellos and Leonardo Levis. Dhalia serves as director, with episodes also directed by Pedro Morelli and Felipe Vellas. Manoel Rangel and Egisto Betti also produce. Besides the aformentioned cast members, Criminal Code Season 2 also stars Pedro Caetano, Thomás Aquino, Daniel Blanco, Letícia Tomazella, and Jorge Paz.