Whale Rider (2003): cast, story & where to watch
2003 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 2003, Whale Rider is a drama and family film directed by Niki Caro, running about 101 minutes. “In the ways of the ancients she found a hope for the future.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
Who’s in it. Whale Rider stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea Apirana, Rawiri Paratene as Koro, Vicky Haughton as Nanny Flowers and Cliff Curtis as Porourangi, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, Whale Rider has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $41.4M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Whale Rider page.
If you liked it. Fans of Whale Rider tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Whale Rider (2003)?
- In US, Whale Rider is available to stream on fuboTV and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Whale Rider worth watching?
- Whale Rider holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and family. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Whale Rider?
- Whale Rider stars Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis and Grant Roa.
- When was Whale Rider released?
- Whale Rider was released in 2003, with a runtime of about 101 minutes.