- TV
The hard-hitting New Zealand classic about a violent and troubled family in South Auckland, based on Alan Duff's novel....
The hard-hitting New Zealand classic about a violent and troubled family in South Auckland, based on Alan Duff's novel. Directed by Lee Tamahori and featuring a towering performance from Temuera Morrison as Jake the Muss.
Jake and Beth (Rena Owen) Heke have been married for 18 years and have five kids. While the love is there, Jake is a terrifying man who frequently fights at the pub and in the home. The film follows several weeks in the Otara family's life, showing Jake's alcoholism and its destructive effect, as well as the indomitable spirit of Beth.
Once Were Warriors became the highest ever grossing NZ movie at the domestic box office, until it was overtaken by Roger Donaldson's The World's Fastest Indian in 2005.
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Where to watch Once Were Warriors
93 %46 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® rating
95 %29,760 reviewsAudience score rating
"The barren lives of members of an urban Maori family are rigorously exposed in this rugged and painful picture... one of the best to emerge from New Zealand in quite a while."
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Variety
Variety"Emotionally raw, visually stylish first feature, with the intensity of the best social melodrama."
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Time Out
Time Out"In his visceral first feature, Tamahori offers social realism with a savage kick, depicting Maori New Zealanders whose ties to their own history have been destroyed."
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The New York Times
The New York Times"Powerful and chilling... directed by Lee Tamahori with such narrative momentum that we are swept along in the enveloping tragedy of the family's life."
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Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert"As often happens when films are intent on getting a message across, Once Were Warriors can't stop itself from overdoing things."
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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times"Brutal, powerful and emotionally ripping."
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Empire Magazine
Empire MagazineOnce Were Warriors | Details
Award winner- Winner of nine awards at the New Zealand Film and TV Awards 1994.
- Rating
- 15, domestic abuse, sexual violence, strong violence, language, hanging scene
- Runtime
- 91
- Genre
- Drama
- Country of origin
- New Zealand
