Once Were Warriors

Once Were Warriors

Movie |

Despair | Individual

  • :
  • Genre(s): Drama
  • Language(s): English
  • Director(s): Lee Tamahori
  • Cast(s): Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile See all Cast & Crew
  • Duration: 1h 39min
  • Music: Ray Beentjes,Murray McNabb,Murray Grindlay
  • Award(s): Film 1994 (Won)
    SIYAD 1998 (Nominated) Awards List
  • Similar To: "Wuthering Heights", 180
  • Story:
    A drama about a Maori family lving 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.
    Full Story
7.9/10
IMDb

Once Were Warriors - Where to Stream?

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Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Once Were Warriors - Cast

Once Were Warriors - Crew

Once Were Warriors - IMAGE GALLERY

STORY AND RATINGS

Story
A drama about a Maori family lving 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.
Ratings

7.9/10

IMDb

AWARDS

Show more
Won
Film Award

Best Juvenile Performance | 1994 | Taungaroa

Best Director | 1994 | Lee

Best Soundtrack | 1994

Best Editing | 1994 | Michael

Best Screenplay | 1994 | Riwia

Best Film Score | 1994 | Murray

Best Film | 1994 | Robin

Best Performance in a Dramatic Role Male | 1994 | Temuera

Best Performance in a Supporting Role Female | 1994 | Mamaengaroa

Bruce C. Corwin Award

1995 | Lee

(director) | 1995 | Lee

Audience Award

1994 | Lee

International Fantasy Film Award

Best Actress | 1995 | Rena

Festival Award

Best Actress | 1994 | Rena

Best Actress Award

1994 | Rena

Nominations
SIYAD Award

Best Foreign Film | 1998

CFCA Award

Most Promising Actor | 1996 | Temuera

Best Actress | 1996 | Rena

Most Promising Actress | 1996 | Rena

SEFCA Award

Best Picture | 1996

International Fantasy Film Award

Best Film | 1995 | Lee

Film Award

Best Performance in a Dramatic Role Female | 1994 | Rena

BOX OFFICE

Budget 950,000 USD

Box Office Collection 6,700,000 USD

TRIVIA AND POPULAR DIALOGUES

Trivia

Temuera Morrison would get challenged to fight all the time by local thugs after seeing him play Jake Heke.

Film critic Roger Ebert said in a review of the film that in his opinion the acting in Once Were Warriors is so powerful, it puts the Academy Awards into perspective.

Temuera Morrison has commented that he did not expect the film to be a hit. He couldn't contemplate how anyone would want to watch a film containing such violence.

Actor Cliff Curtis initially refused the role of Uncle Bully as he found the character so repulsive, but his agent and his auntie persuaded him to do it.

Temuera Morrison fought hard to keep the role once it was offered to him, even though he struggled to master it. He knew that the role was a huge challenge and that it would be the making of him as an actor.

Popular Dialogues

"Beth Heke: Our people once were warriors. But unlike you, Jake, they were people with mana, pride; people with spirit. If my spirit can survive living with you for eighteen years, then I can survive anything."

"[to Beth] Jake Heke: Cook the man some fucking eggs!"

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Outcome
Outcome

10 Apr 2026