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.
Directed by Lee Tamahori
individual
suicide
rape
strong woman
tattoo
slum
funeral
alcohol
tradition
approved school
loss of loved one
despair
indigenous
ghetto
violent husband
new zealand
maori
lack of prospects
maori tradition
teacher
youth gang
crush
domestic violence
rebellious youth
alcohol abuse
incest
unemployment
auckland
Rank
#6 in 1994·#412 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
4.0 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Rena Owen
Beth Heke
Temuera Morrison
Jake Heke
Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell
Grace Heke
Julian Arahanga
Nig Heke
Taungaroa Emile
Mark 'Boogie' Heke
Rachael Morris Jr.
Polly Heke
Joseph Kairau
Huata Heke
Cliff Curtis
Bully
Pete Smith
Dooley
George Henare
Bennett
Mere Boynton
Mavis
Shannon Williams
Toot
Crew
Lee Tamahori
Director
Riwia Brown
Screenplay
Stuart Dryburgh
Director of Photography
Brian Scadden
Visual Effects
Popular Reviews
131 reviews
Mark Hibberd
6.0★ · 08/10/25
This movie was dark, uncomfortable and disturbing and a really hard watch but also really well done and well acted. The depictions of this family dynamics felt so raw and real.
This movie was dark, uncomfortable and disturbing and a really hard watch but also really well done and well acted. The depictions of this family dynamics felt so raw and real.
1
Corbin Massey
10.0★ · 04/18/26
Wtf...
Wtf...
riri
10.0★ · 03/30/26
you're a bloody pig jake
you're a bloody pig jake
Joe Head
8.0★ · 03/20/26
jeeeez, pretty tough watch hey. Very good though
jeeeez, pretty tough watch hey. Very good though
kyle barry
9.0★ · 03/13/26
Decided to watch this at 12am. Was too traumatised to turn it off. A masterclass in new zealand filmmaking.
Decided to watch this at 12am. Was too traumatised to turn it off. A masterclass in new zealand filmmaking.
