Whale Rider
Newmarket Films | Release Date: June 6, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
80
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews
Positive:
28
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger 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
100
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
One of the best performances -- and movies -- of the year so far. Read full review
90
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Evokes its spirituality with deft strokes and wonderful humor. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesKenneth 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
90
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Seduces us with its leisurely pace and felicitous details into believing that something miraculous is afoot in a mundane rural community.
90
Chicago ReaderFred Camper
Utterly fresh and beguiling. Read full review
89
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Castle-Hughes and Paratene are nothing short of remarkable in their roles. Read full review
88
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Caro gives the fablesque story -- based on a 1,000-year-old Maori legend -- both a contemporary and timeless quality, anchored by newcomer Castle-Hughes' powerful and haunting performance. Read full review
88
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
The rhythms of Whale Rider are hypnotic as the ebb tide, haunting as the song of the humpback sea mammal, bracing as the ocean spray. It's a movie that rewards the patient viewer. Read full review
88
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
One may gripe that the tale at times seems familiar, yet that familiarity is also part of the movie's power: Here's a story from halfway around the world that somehow connects with the hearts of viewers of almost any culture. Read full review
88
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
You can say nothing of Castle-Hughes except that she's already a movie star: The camera loves her and we do, too. Read full review
88
Rolling StonePeter Travers
A film of female empowerment that resonates deeply. Read full review
83
Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaula Nechak
The real find in this lovely family film is Castle-Hughes, who makes Pai's confusion, emotional fragility and devotion palpable. Read full review
80
Dallas ObserverGregory Weinkauf
Once in a while a film comes along that is as sound, smart, sweet and significant as can be, and Whale Rider is such a film. Read full review
80
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
Wickedly absorbing. Read full review
80
VarietyDennis Harvey
Combines straightforward coming-of-age narrative with Maori mysticism to most engaging effect. Read full review
80
NewsweekDavid Ansen
While Whale Rider is a doozy of a female-empowerment fantasy, it’s mercifully free of any feminist smugness. Read full review
80
L.A. WeeklyErnest Hardy
Writer-director Niki Caro, who adapted the screenplay from the novel, has crafted a script replete with both crowd-pleasing touches and subtle but powerful insights into all the characters. Read full review
80
TV Guide MagazineKen 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
80
The Hollywood ReporterSheri Linden
The film boasts a terrific newcomer in the lead role, exquisite widescreen photography and a powerful sense of place. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldConnie Ogle
There is magic here, enough to make Whale Rider worthy of the audience-choice awards it has earned at film festivals worldwide. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
An inviting international audience-pleaser. Read full review
75
New York PostLou Lumenick
An excellent way to teach children that movies don't begin and end with Hollywood blockbusters. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Like last year's Inuit sensation ''The Fast Runner,'' the Maori drama Whale Rider is based on a folk myth, and it's told with an elemental timelessness that feels like a swan dive into prehistory. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Pai is resourceful and in harmony with the natural world in a way that will charm and enthrall young viewers. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Story itself is richly rewarding and uplifting -– the coming-of-age tale of a girl who must defy the odds to achieve her goals. There's plenty of humor to keep the overall tone light. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
The Canadian film "Atanarjuat" travelled back to the past to meet an ancient legend on its own ground and treated the tale realistically. Whale Rider whisks its legend up into the present, and then adds a touch of lyricism. Read full review
70
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Though there's a formula at the film's core, Whale Rider still has the good taste to make that formula go down easy. Read full review
50
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Whale Rider is one long, sensitive downer capped by an uplifting finale. A martyr fantasy that turns victorious -- it's a surefire recipe for arthouse crowd-pleasing. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
By the end, a sense settles in that Whale Rider could have accomplished as much -- and been considerably more powerful -- as a 25- minute short. Read full review
50
Village VoiceMichael 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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