The best Brazilian telenovelas of all time
The top 3 according to 28 votes from people: Vale Tudo · Avenida Brasil · Roque Santeiro. (Updated Sep 12, 2026.)
The top ten of the ranking of the 60 best telenovelas that Globo published for its 60th anniversary (voted by 60 journalists and experts), plus the ratings classics that complete the list.
Automatically translated (original in Português). See the original
Top 20
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1
Vale Tudo
1988. Gilberto Braga, Aguinaldo Silva and Leonor Bassères; 'Who killed Odete Roitman?' and a Brazil of corruption. Number one in the ranking.
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2
Avenida Brasil
2012. João Emanuel Carneiro; Nina's revenge on Carminha brought the country to a standstill.
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3
Roque Santeiro
1985. Dias Gomes and Aguinaldo Silva; banned in 1975 and released ten years later, with the widow Porcina.
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4
The Next Victim
1995. Silvio de Abreu; a string of murders guided by the Chinese horoscope.
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5
A Favorita
2008. João Emanuel Carneiro; Flora and Donatela, and the mystery of which one was the villain.
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6
The Clone
2001. Glória Perez; Jade, Lucas, Morocco and human cloning; a hit in dozens of countries.
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7
Tieta
1989. Aguinaldo Silva, from Jorge Amado; Betty Faria returns rich to Santana do Agreste.
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8
Terra Nostra
1999. Benedito Ruy Barbosa; Italian immigrants on São Paulo's coffee farms.
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9
Pantanal
Manchete, 1990. Benedito Ruy Barbosa; the telenovela that took viewers from Globo, remade by Globo itself in 2022.
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10
Dancin' Days
1978. Gilberto Braga; Sônia Braga and disco fever.
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11
Mulheres Apaixonadas
2003. Manoel Carlos; domestic violence, alcoholism and elder abuse.
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12
Que Rei Sou Eu?
1989. Cassiano Gabus Mendes; a satire of Brazil set in the imaginary European kingdom of Avilan.
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13
O Bem-Amado
1973. Dias Gomes; mayor Odorico Paraguaçu and his cemetery; Brazil's first colour telenovela.
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14
Family Ties
2000. Manoel Carlos; Vera Fischer, Carolina Dieckmann and the head-shaving scene.
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15
The Slave Isaura
1976. Gilberto Braga; Lucélia Santos as the white slave; exported to dozens of countries.
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16
Gabriela
1975. Walter George Durst, from Jorge Amado; Sônia Braga in Ilhéus.
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17
Selva de Pedra
1972. Janete Clair; Regina Duarte, Francisco Cuoco and an episode with 100% of Rio's audience.
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18
Por Amor
1997. Manoel Carlos; Regina Duarte swaps her daughter's dead baby for her own.
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19
The Cattle King
1996. Benedito Ruy Barbosa; Antônio Fagundes and the struggle for land.
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20
Senhora do Destino
2004. Aguinaldo Silva; Maria do Carmo searches for the daughter kidnapped by villain Nazaré Tedesco.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (6)
Avenida Brasil é a melhor novela do século, a Carminha é inesquecível 😂
Vale Tudo em primeiro, perfeito. Quem matou Odete Roitman parou o Brasil em 1988.
O Clone com a música do Marrocos tocando na cabeça até hoje
Pantanal tanto a de 1990 quanto o remake de 2022 são lindas.
A Favorita foi a última novela que acompanhei todo dia
Vale Tudo continua a melhor novela de todos os tempos.