How to watch The Secret Agent in the UK – release date for Oscar-nominated film

For the second year on the trot, the line-up for Best Picture at the upcoming Oscars includes an acclaimed Brazilian film – with Kleber Mendonça Filho's The Secret Agent following I'm Still Here in making it onto the 10-strong shortlist for the highly coveted award.

Just like that earlier film, The Secret Agent is set in the 1970s and takes place against the backdrop of Brazil's military dictatorship of that era, with Narcos and Civil War actor Wagner Moura starring as a professor fleeing persecution after he finds himself embroiled in the political turmoil.

In addition to the best picture nomination – and an unsurprising corresponding nod in the best international film category – the film is also up for a further two awards at the Oscars, including the inaugural best casting gong and the best actor prize for Moura.

Moura will face tough competition from major stars including Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio for that latter honour, but he'll no doubt have plenty of support from fans of a film which has been receiving very high praise across the board.

Intrigued and wondering how you can watch The Secret Agent in the UK? Read on for everything you need to know.

How to watch The Secret Agent in the UK

The Secret Agent is not yet available to watch in the UK – but there's not too long to wait.

It will be released in cinemas from Friday 20th February, and given the boost the film has received thanks to it's Oscar nomination it should hopefully be playing at plenty of locations around the country – just check your local cinema to double check.

The UK release comes nine months after it first premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival – where star Wagner Moura was awarded the Best Actor prize and Kleber Mendonça Filho was named Best Director – and the praise for the film has only increased in the time since.

It is being distributed by Mubi in the UK, which means it will eventually also be available on that streaming platform – but we're still awaiting a date for when it will be available to watch at home. We'll keep this page updated when we hear any more information on that front.

What is The Secret Agent about?

The film is set in 1970s Brazil, against the backdrop of the country's military dictatorship of that era, and is described as "a gripping portrait of resistance and betrayal" that explores "the tension between personal conviction and political corruption".

The official logline reads: "A university professor travels from São Paulo to the seaside city of Recife during Carnival week, hoping to reunite with his son.

"He soon finds out he’s been tailed and spied on by neighbours in his new refuge, leaving him no possible escape from the tentacles of corruption."

The Secret Agent trailer

You can get a taste of what to expect from the film by watching the trailer below:

The Secret Agent is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20th February.

Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.