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Trailer

Once Were Warriors

1994Movie1 h 39 minR

Drama
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Metacritic776.7Rotten Tomatoes93%95%

A brutally violent, deeply moving drama movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances and world-building.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Their People Once Were Warriors. But Once... Was a Long Time Ago

In a violent relationship, it takes a mother’s strength to save herself and her children from the man she loved. Once Were Warriors is a violent love story set against a contemporary urban backdrop.

Feels like

  • New Zealand Cinema
  • Maori Culture
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Family Drama
  • Social Realism
  • Alcoholism
  • Urban Life
  • Cultural Identity

Cast

16 of 16

Crew

Directed by
Lee Tamahori
Written by
Riwia Brown
Produced by
Robin Scholes
Music by
Murray Grindlay, Murray McNabb

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 2, 1994 · 1 h 39 min · R

Released
September 2, 1994
Runtime
1 h 39 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
Māori
Made in
New Zealand
Budget
$950,000
Box office
$7 million
Available in
22 countries

Tropes

Mama Bear, Faux Affably Evil, The Caretaker +9

  • Mama Bear
  • Faux Affably Evil
  • The Caretaker
  • The Stoner
  • Only Sane Woman
  • Token Good Teammate
  • Pet the Dog
  • Mood Whiplash
  • Heel Realization
  • Alleged Car
  • No-Holds-Barred Beatdown
  • Villainous Breakdown

12 of 64 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Once Were Warriors?"

Questions about Once Were Warriors

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Once Were Warriors?

KanopyHooplaFilm Movement+BFI Player

In the United States, Once Were Warriors streams on Film Movement+ and BFI Player, and it is free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 13 other countries.

Is Once Were Warriors worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 77).

Will I feel good after watching Once Were Warriors?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is Once Were Warriors plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Once Were Warriors use?

Mama BearFaux Affably EvilThe CaretakerThe StonerOnly Sane WomanToken Good TeammatePet the DogMood WhiplashHeel RealizationAlleged CarNo-Holds-Barred BeatdownVillainous Breakdownand 52 more

TV Tropes lists 64 tropes for it, including Mama Bear, Faux Affably Evil, and The Caretaker.