Once Were Warriors (1994): cast, story & where to watch
1994 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1994, Once Were Warriors is a drama film directed by Lee Tamahori, running about 99 minutes. “A family in crisis, a life in chaos... Nothing is more powerful than a mother's love.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A drama about a Maori family living in Auckland, New Zealand. Lee Tamahori tells the story of Beth Heke’s strong will to keep her family together during times of unemployment and abuse from her violent and alcoholic husband.
Who’s in it. Once Were Warriors stars Rena Owen as Beth Heke, Temuera Morrison as Jake Heke, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell as Grace Heke and Julian Arahanga as Nig Heke, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Once Were Warriors has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $1.6M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Film Movement Plus, BFI Player Amazon Channel and Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Once Were Warriors page.
If you liked it. Fans of Once Were Warriors tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Once Were Warriors (1994)?
- In US, Once Were Warriors is available to stream on Film Movement Plus, BFI Player Amazon Channel and Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Once Were Warriors worth watching?
- Once Were Warriors holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Once Were Warriors?
- Once Were Warriors stars Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga and Taungaroa Emile.
- When was Once Were Warriors released?
- Once Were Warriors was released in 1994, with a runtime of about 99 minutes.