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Once Were Warriors

1994·Movie
1h 39min·R
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Metacritic776.7Rotten Tomatoes93%95%
IMDb7.9Metacritic776.7Rotten Tomatoes93%95%

Once Were Warriors fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Brutally violent and tense

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence9
  • Tension8
  • Fast Pace8

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics10
  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor4
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, family, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological moviesMelancholic movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

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.
New Zealand CinemaMaori CultureDomestic AbuseFamily DramaSocial RealismAlcoholismUrban LifeCultural Identity

Crew

Directed by:
Lee Tamahori
Written by:
Riwia Brown, Alan Duff
Produced by:
Don Selwyn, Robin Scholes
Composed by:
Ray Beentjes, Murray Grindlay, Murray McNabb

Sequels and Prequels

GoodWatch81
Poster for Once Were Warriors

Media

Questions about Once Were Warriors

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Once Were Warriors legally?

KanopyHooplaFilm Movement+BFI Player

Once Were Warriors is included with a subscription to Film Movement+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Once Were Warriors worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 82/100 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 77). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Once Were Warriors rated?

RViolenceStrong languageDrug useDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, drug use, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Once Were Warriors?

1 h 39 min

Once Were Warriors runs 1 h 39 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Once Were Warriors?

Critics85
Audiences80

Yes. Critics average 85 and audiences 80 out of 100, so both groups see Once Were Warriors much the same way.

Was Once Were Warriors a box office hit?

Budget$950,000
Box office$7 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $950,000 to make and earned $7 million worldwide, 7.1 times its budget.

What language is Once Were Warriors in?

EnglishMāori

It was made in English, with some Māori. Produced in New Zealand.

In how many countries can I watch Once Were Warriors?

22AEATAUCACHDEDKEGESFIFJFRGBGG+8

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Once Were Warriors in 22 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

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 storytelling tropes for Once Were Warriors, including Mama Bear, Faux Affably Evil, The Caretaker.