Bateau Mouche: O Naufrágio da Justiça
Brazil's biggest maritime tragedy shocked the country on New Year's Eve 1988, when 55 people died on their way to see the fireworks in Rio de Janeiro. More than 150 passengers boarded the Bateau Mouche IV, unaware it was a ticking time bomb - a boat owned by a group of greedy and careless businessmen. The tragedy extended far beyond that night: dubbed "the wreck of justice," the Bateau Mouche case became a landmark of impunity and corporate fraud in Brazil, with lawsuits, filled with twists and turns, continuing to this day.
- 2025-2025
- 1 season
- HBO Max
- Documentary, Suspense
Brazil's biggest maritime tragedy shocked the country on New Year's Eve 1988, when 55 people died on their way to see the fireworks in Rio de Janeiro. More than 150 passengers boarded the Bateau Mouche IV, unaware it was a ticking time bomb - a boat owned by a group of greedy and careless businessmen. The tragedy extended far beyond that night: dubbed "the wreck of justice," the Bateau Mouche case became a landmark of impunity and corporate fraud in Brazil, with lawsuits, filled with twists and turns, continuing to this day.
Season 1 Episode Guide
3 Episodes 2025
Episode 1
Unhappy New Year
On December 31, 1988, around 150 passengers boarded the Bateau Mouche IV in Rio de Janeiro to watch the New Year's fireworks from the sea. Dressed in white and ready to celebrate, they barely noticed the warning signs around the boat. The group of businessmen, politicians, foreign tourists, journalists, famous artists, and their families sailed on to the rhythm of samba, unaware of the boat's serious safety issues. The festivities came to a sudden halt when the maritime police stopped the boat after noticing it was leaning to one side. Following a haphazard inspection, the Bateau Mouche IV was cleared and sped off toward Copacabana Beach. However, as it ventured into open water, the precarious boat encountered six-foot waves, sealing its tragic fate.
Episode 2
The Shipwreck of Justice
When the owners of the Bateau Mouche IV become the focus of a criminal investigation, survivors and the families of the 55 victims are stunned by the details of their dubious business dealings. The investigation uncovers failures by Brazilian authorities, while the resulting criminal case leads to a verdict that provokes widespread outrage. As justice proceeds slowly, an unexpected series of events further shocks those involved, turning the Bateau Mouche case into a symbol of Brazilian impunity to this day.
Episode 3
The Perfect Storm
Amid the storm, entire families are thrown into the sea without life jackets. As fireworks light up Copacabana Beach, the night is filled with the sounds of despair. Survivors struggle in the turbulent waters, desperately trying to save their loved ones. A fisherman discovers castaways and bodies off Rio de Janeiro and begins a chaotic rescue, aided by a luxury yacht. In shock, survivors are dropped off in different parts of the city, spending the night searching for family members in a grim pilgrimage among piles of bodies at the docks, beaches, hospitals, and morgues. With the rescue of the Bateau Mouche VI from the bottom of the sea, numerous serious irregularities emerge.