Whale Rider

Name: Whale Rider
Genre: Drama, Family
Released: June 6, 2003
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Cliff Curtis, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 131 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	Your Score
5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 131 Ratings

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Whale Rider

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Movie Details & Credits

Newmarket Films | Release Date: June 6, 2003 | PG-13

Starring: Cliff Curtis, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton

Summary: A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill her destiny. (South Pacific Pictures)

Director: Niki Caro

Genre(s): Drama, Family

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 101 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

The genius of the movie is the way is sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

A substantial film of unexpected emotional force. And when at a certain point it seems to slip the bonds of this world and take a leap of faith into an almost mythological dimension, it breathlessly takes us along for that memorable ride. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Castle-Hughes and Paratene are nothing short of remarkable in their roles. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

what makes Caro's film a future classic is What so many movies geared toward younger audiences lack: a cool and very courageous 'tween heroine whom boys and girls of all ages can admire Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Combines straightforward coming-of-age narrative with Maori mysticism to most engaging effect. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

An inviting international audience-pleaser. Read full review

Michael Atkinson

Like the film, Pai's character is muddily conceived and ill-focused, but the coltish, tremulously delicate Castle-Hughes is a hypnotic camera subject. Read full review

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User Reviews

NorbertO.

Sep 7, 2005

I have never seen one and the same movie more than twice in the theatre before. But Whale Rider changed my mind. It really is a magnificent masterpiece and sureley made for the whole family. I watched it 7 times in the cinema and i am into it still today. Niki Caro was so lucky to find and I have never seen one and the same movie more than twice in the theatre before. But Whale Rider changed my mind. It really is a magnificent masterpiece and sureley made for the whole family. I watched it 7 times in the cinema and i am into it still today. Niki Caro was so lucky to find and choose this natural Keisha Castle Hughes. Very, very impressive the whole story and the actors and actresses. Everybody who really understand the plot of Whale Rider can't give less then 9 rating...!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

IsaacI.

May 19, 2007

A very moving and spiritual film, I feel sorry for the people who gave it a 0 or a 2, they are probably used to the killing and shooting in movies and not entitled to understand a movie which deserves a standing ovation.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Anonymous

Apr 26, 2009

I absolutely loved this movie, and thought it was a great drama. I cried my eyes out towards the end. So to you, "retroboy" who says this movie was "crap" and that those of us who enjoyed it need to get a life, I say that you need to use more punctuation and learn to spell, because it looks I absolutely loved this movie, and thought it was a great drama. I cried my eyes out towards the end. So to you, "retroboy" who says this movie was "crap" and that those of us who enjoyed it need to get a life, I say that you need to use more punctuation and learn to spell, because it looks like a ten-year-old wrote your review.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

ryancarroll88

Sep 28, 2010

Keisha Castle-Hughes put all other child actors to shame in her dramatization of Paikea, a girl whose destiny as the leader of her people is constantly subverted by the traditional ideas of her grandfather. However, as awe-inspiring and inspirational as the story to "Whale Rider" is,Keisha Castle-Hughes put all other child actors to shame in her dramatization of Paikea, a girl whose destiny as the leader of her people is constantly subverted by the traditional ideas of her grandfather. However, as awe-inspiring and inspirational as the story to "Whale Rider" is, director Niki Caro goes to unnecessary lengths to make sure you know why the movie was made, which detracts from the overall experience.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

FredC.

Dec 23, 2005

A waste of time. Tedious and muddled up. Had a hard time staying awake for this one.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Patty.P.

Oct 17, 2004

This movie sucked, it was boring and it dragged on for ages. dont rent or buy this movie. i give it 0 out of 10, it was crap.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Pornfan1337

Feb 7, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film was the biggest crap I've ever seen, the acting art of the actors was inhumanly bad underground. The story was full of prejudices against the Maorie. In addition, the story was boring. The cinematography was also poorly chosen. Unless you like characters playing around in the background with a cheap voiceover. It hurt my heart and eyes to see this film it would have been even more entertaining if I had spooned my eyes out.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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35	#35 Best Movie of 2003
46	#46 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
67	#67 Most Shared Movie of 2003