

Whale Rider
In the ways of the ancients she found a hope for the future.
A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
TMDB
7.0/10
467 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $8M
- Box office
- $41.4M
- Language
- Maori
- diving
- becoming an adult
- grandparent grandchild relationship
- tradition
- loss of loved one
- ocean
- whale
- empowerment
- new zealand
- maori tradition
- chief
- modern society
Top billed cast











Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereSundance Film Festival18 Jan 2003
- PremiereTribeca Film Festival7 May 2003
- Theatrical (limited)PG-136 Jun 2003
- TheatricalPG-1329 Aug 2003
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalPG20 Feb 2003
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalPG8 May 2003
CanadaCA
- Premiere14AToronto International Film Festival9 Sept 2002
CzechiaCZ
- TheatricalU19 Feb 2004
FinlandFI
- PremiereHelsinki International Film Festival21 Sept 2003
- TheatricalK-1224 Oct 2003
FranceFR
- TheatricalU24 Aug 2003
GermanyDE
- Theatrical (limited)625 Jul 2003
IrelandIE
- Digital / OTTPG11 Jul 2003
ItalyIT
- Theatrical21 Nov 2003
JapanJP
- Digital / OTTPG1213 Sept 2003
MexicoMX
- Theatrical (limited)16 Jul 2004
Frequently asked questions
Whale Rider was released on 30 January 2003.
Audience reviews
1- C7/10
CinemaSerf
2/13/2026
In a cinematic world where tens of millions can be dropped on big names, endless CGI and mediocre writing it’s nice to come across something that strips back the story and the characterisations to something more natural. This is one such film. The Whangara people have lived their way, in their community, since long before New Zealand came into being as a nation and all based on the legend of “Paikea” and his chieftai…
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