In 1896 the very first Brazilian film screening took place in Rio de Janeiro, and since then the carioca people have fostered a deep-rooted affection for cinema.

Home-grown Brazilian film took shape and gained prominence in the 1960s with the movement known as 'Cinema Novo', or New Cinema - from that moment, film has been a fundamental constituent and demonstrator of the cultural development and insight of the Brazilian people.

Cariocas have a particular taste for comedy, attributable in part to their light-heartedness and positive outlook on life.

There are number of intimate, art-house theatres dotted around the city, although these have suffered some decline in recent years, in part due to the availability of movie content on-line and for purchase, in addition to the presence of multi-screen cinemas in most shopping malls.