Once Were Warriors

93%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

95%

Audience Score

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.

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Where to Watch

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Once Were Warriors on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Once Were Warriors

What to Know

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

Critics Reviews

View All (46) Critics Reviews

Once Were Warriors | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

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

Once Were Warriors | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

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

Once Were Warriors | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

A gritty, powerful first feature by Lee Tamahori.

Feb 21, 2017

Full Review

Once Were Warriors | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

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

Once Were Warriors | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

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

Once Were Warriors | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

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

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

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 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/02/24 Full Review Kirsten W This movie is powerful. A friend told me about it and said it made her cry harder than she'd ever cried. So I really wanted to watch it and I cried, hard. I saw it again years later and I was thinking it didn't get me this time. And then i realized tears were streaming down my cheeks. i think the minor roles were spectacular. The singing felt like it was from performers who haven't gotten their full credit in life. It's a powerful film. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/26/24 Full Review Christian T An absolute masterpiece, loved this hard hitting movie when it first came out, and is still as good nowadays. Purely for adults only. Do not underestimate how emotionally charged this film is. Temeura Morrisons crowning moment Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review David M This is CINEMA!!!La pelicula es una cinta con un desarrollo de trama excepcional para la epoca (1994), despues de tantos años sigue siendo la presentación más impactante de abuso doméstico y de los efectos del alcoholismo jamás realizada para muchos.Una historia que impacta, conmueve en parte a la crudeza retratada en la historia contada por e director Lee Tamahori Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/24 Full Review Ariki B Amazingly powerful and a true snapshot of the time and challenges it depicts. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/02/23 Full Review Patrick D An absolute masterpiece. Number 1 on my list of Best Movies of All Time. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Once Were Warriors

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Lee Tamahori Director Rena Owen Beth Heke Temuera Morrison Jake Heke Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell Grace Heke Julian Arahanga Nig Heke Taungaroa Emile Boogie Heke

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home

38% 73% Gummo 67% 65% A Shot at Glory 63% 75% The Winter Guest 82% 81% Death and the Maiden 22% 44% The Invisible Circus Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News

13 Pacific Islander Movies that Showcase the Richness and Diversity of Pasifika Cinema Jordana Brewster is the New "Mrs. Smith" Director Lee Tamahori Charged With Solicitation

Photos

View All Once Were Warriors photos