Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro

Posted by James Turnbull, Wednesday, 22nd June 2005

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Standing atop Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro is a 40 metre tall monument of “Cristo Redentor” (Christ the Redeemer). Since its inception in 1921 the monument has become the symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.

The statue is standing on a circular base and is facing east (More info & ground level shots).

This post should probably go into Movie Locations but at the moment I can’t think of any movies which featured the monument. There was that great level in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 but I don’t think that counts ;-)

Thanks: Jesse, Todd Day, Bodo Möller, Ben

25 Responses to 'Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro'

  1. nixx says:

    It feature on “Orpheo Negro” by Marcel Camus.

    I also spotted the same one in Lisbon / Portugal. Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  2. Luke says:

    I was actually looking for that the other day. The only other place I can think of it being mentioned was an episode The Amazing Race…

  3. ulrich says:

    well, as far as i can remember, its in one episode of the simpsons, the game driver 2 and amazing race.

  4. Aquarius says:

    I think I saw it in one of the older James Bond movies …..

  5. Dom says:

    yup, Moonraker!

  6. Splooie says:

    I always thought it looked like he was going to jump. Don’t jump, Jesus, you have so much to live for!

  7. Russ says:

    I think it is in Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo d’Caprio too.

  8. Torr says:

    Proof of Life (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228750/) had a really logn aerial shot all around it during the credits, if I remember correctly.

  9. John Hartnup says:

    According to IMDB, Proof Of Life was not filmed in Rio de Janeiro. Parts were filmed in Equador. Maybe Equador has its own large statue of Christ on a hillside?

    A similar statue is featured in Baz Luhrman’s “Romeo + Juliet”, but again, it is not Rio.

  10. Ben says:

    Blame it on Rio!!

  11. ray hollis says:

    I think, you can see it in “L’ homme de Rio” ( That man from Rio) by Philippe de Broca and with ,a young, Jean Paul Belmondo.

  12. . says:

    I’m pretty sure it was featured at the beginning of “The Money Pit”.

    I also seem to remember it being in “Romancing The Stone”.

  13. The Burly Man says:

    Check this out for a list of movies and tv shows filmed there.

  14. Bryan says:

    There was a “Kickboxer 3“??!??

  15. Torch says:

    It was also featured in at least one episode of “Alias.” Sidney Bristow parachutes off of a cliff or somesuch, and you can see the statue in the background.

    OK, maybe “featured” is a bit of a stretch, but it was in there. Likely on a bluescreen, but whatever.

    OK, I’ll shut up now.

  16. Brad says:

    A new Viva La Bam filmed a race between Bam and his uncle. It should be airing on MTV soon.

  17. J. E. Porcher says:

    There is a movie who had some scenes shot there. It’s a brazilian movie, which was quite successful locally: “O Homem que Copiava” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367859/). And here is a still from the movie to prove there were scenes shot there: http://adorocinema.cidadeinternet.com.br/filmes/homem-que-copiava/homem-que-copiava07.jpg

    If any other comes to mind, I’ll let you know.

  18. luks_n says:

    There is a movie that definitely has it, it is “Redentor” it is a brazilian movie and it has very important scenes in the movie where the statue appears

  19. Claes says:

    I think the statue is 30 meters high .. and is from 1931 .. I use to go there almost every year .. and I liked the Brazilian song mentioned above .. ‘A Garota do Ipanema’ .. they have lovely caipirinha drinks there .. Long live Tom Jobim!

  20. vinz says:

    How about ‘Cidade de Deus’ (’City of God’), by Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund. I am not sure you see the Redentor but the whole film takes place (and was shot) in Rio.

  21. Nigerachie says:

    it was in (behind enemy lines) also, at the end of the movie, i think that is the name of the movie im not sure but it is the one where that fuy gets shot down behind enemy lines and go’s with a bunch of rebals to get him out and then a t the end of the movie he end up there by the thingy

  22. Jules says:

    It was featured on CSI: Miami as well.

  23. Mats says:

    There is an old joke regarding this statue: it states that the Christ is “open arms” because someone is pointing a gun and robbing him. Of course, this relates to Rio’s VERY violent and insecure environment.

  24. Marcel says:

    the statue in Behind Enemy Lines wasn’t Christ The Redeemer. Not only it doesn’t look like it at all (has wing and the arms are close to de body) the statue is in Bosnia.