'

Once Were Warriors

Play trailer

Once Were Warriors

R

Released Feb 24, 1994

1h 42m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

An unemployed Maori living in the Auckland slums, Jake Heke (Temuera Morrison) has a terrible temper that he takes out on family and strangers alike. His wife, Beth (Rena Owen), takes regular beatings after he's been at the pub, and his kids do what they can to sidestep trouble. Nig (Julian Arahanga), the eldest, is joining a street gang; Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) has been placed in a foster home; and Grace increasingly retreats to the pages of her journal.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Once Were Warriors isn't an easy watch, but the raw power of its story -- and the performances of an excellent cast -- reward viewers who rise to the challenge.

Read Critics Reviews

Jami Bernard

New York Daily News

Once Were Warriors has more to say than the traditional TV-movie about spousal abuse. But some viewers will have to pay a price: This is a movie that requires strength and fortitude to sit through.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 21, 2017

Full Review

John Hartl

Seattle Times

Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, who plays Grace, had never acted before, and neither have a couple of the other key players. But under the careful direction of television veteran Lee Tamahori, they all do credible and forceful work.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 21, 2017

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

A gritty, powerful first feature by Lee Tamahori.

Feb 21, 2017

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Lee Tamahori's feature film debut offers a cross-section of abuses, making it a searing portrait of self-destructive behaviors, toxic codependency, and gut-wrenching tragedy.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 26, 2022

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

One of the finest films ever made on New Zealand soil has lost none of its raw emotional power and unbearable psychological intensity.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 23, 2020

Full Review

Roger Hurlburt

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Once Were Warriors is a savage and dismaying tale of a venerable culture in decay and a film difficult to recommend.

Feb 21, 2017

Full Review

Read all reviews

Dani G

I know it's a classic, I know it's indie cinema, but this movie really looks cheap. And a lot of bad acting. A harsh theme, though, but I had much higher expectations

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Nicholas B

It's brutal and carries more than an air of authenticity about it. This one's all about the emotional aspects, which are brilliantly realised through both the performances and the tragedy of what unfolds. The shortcomings arise from the screenplay, which is head above water for a motion picture, for the most part. Unfortunately, most of what unfolds conforms to the tele-movie screenplay template, which can't match the emotional strength of its cinematic content. Definitely not a waste of time though. It redeems itself well enough to be worth anyone's time.Either way,it won't leave you soon after the credits roll.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

Full Review

Wyndham M

Brilliant film with amazing performances

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/21/25

Full Review

Audience Member

such a good movie, especially for NZ! Love it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the greatest films ever made in my opinion. The performances from the 2 leads were magnificent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/24

Full Review

Jonathan K

Brutally hard to watch, in the same vein as movies like Dogtooth, Kids, or Bully, but perhaps the worst of them all in that it doesn't pull punches in its graphic display. Yet dare I say the gravity of it is all the more powerful as a result. This is a devastating and tragic family story and a story of a mother's resilience and strength. Deeply affecting even despite its production quality given its 30 year age. The one is not for the faint of heart, but heart is what it rewards with. A powerful story of a people's spirit and its will to survive.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/02/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Lee Tamahori

Director

Rena Owen

Beth Heke

Temuera Morrison

Jake Heke

Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell

Grace Heke

Julian Arahanga

Nig Heke

Taungaroa Emile

Boogie Heke

Gummo

39%

73%

Gummo

Watchlist

A Shot at Glory

67%

65%

A Shot at Glory

Watchlist

The Winter Guest

63%

75%

The Winter Guest

Watchlist

Death and the Maiden

82%

81%

Death and the Maiden

Watchlist

Where the Day Takes You

80%

73%

Where the Day Takes You

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

An unemployed Maori living in the Auckland slums, Jake Heke (Temuera Morrison) has a terrible temper that he takes out on family and strangers alike. His wife, Beth (Rena Owen), takes regular beatings after he's been at the pub, and his kids do what they can to sidestep trouble. Nig (Julian Arahanga), the eldest, is joining a street gang; Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) has been placed in a foster home; and Grace increasingly retreats to the pages of her journal.

Director: Lee Tamahori
Producer: Robin Scholes
Screenwriter: Riwia Brown, Alan Duff
Distributor: Fine Line Features, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Fine Line Features, Finestkind
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 24, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now