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Celluloid
Drama Berlinale 1998 · Golden Bear

Central Station

Directed by Walter Salles · 1998 ·

Short answer

Is Central Station worth watching?

Yes. Central Station (1998) earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (94%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (87%). See the 4 inputs.

85%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

94% Editorial Rating
87% Audience snapshot · excluded
80 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.2
8 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 50m
Age rating
12 (South Korea)
Cast
Fernanda Montenegro , Vinícius de Oliveira , Marília Pêra
Country
Brazil
Language
Portuguese

Also known as Central do Brasil Estación central Estación central de Brasil セントラル・ステーション 중앙역 中央车站 中央車站 Merkez İstasyonu

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists BFI Player in the United Kingdom. Check local listings for your region.

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV

Where to watch Central Station by country

Country Streaming on
South Korea Wavve
United Kingdom BFI Player

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (94/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (87%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (80/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.2/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Central Station worth watching?

    Yes — Central Station earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Salles' road movie won Berlin and introduced Fernanda Montenegro to the world stage.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (94%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (87%).

    What is Central Station about?

    A retired schoolteacher helps a boy search for his father across Brazil, forging an unlikely bond on the country's dusty roads.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Central Station

    Central Station (1998) Review: A Hard Heart Heads North

    Central Station is Walter Salles's Brazilian road movie about a jaded letter writer and an orphaned boy, powered by Fernanda Montenegro's extraordinary lead.

    Yes. It is a deeply moving road drama and one of the landmarks of Brazilian cinema, perfect for viewers who like emotional stories told with restraint and grit.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Central Station stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Central Station production still 1
    Central Station production still 2
    Central Station production still 3
    Central Station production still 4
    Central Station production still 5
    Central Station production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Central Station: frequently asked questions

    Is Central Station worth watching?

    Yes. Central Station (1998) has a Celluloid Score of 85%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Central Station?

    In the United States you can buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV. Elsewhere: Wavve in South Korea; BFI Player in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Central Station?

    Central Station runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

    What is Central Station rated?

    Central Station is rated 12 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Central Station?

    Central Station is directed by Walter Salles and stars Fernanda Montenegro, Vinícius de Oliveira, Marília Pêra.

    What is the Metascore for Central Station?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Central Station is 80 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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