Once Were Warriors
1994, English. Directed by Lee Tamahori.
Their people once were warriors. But once... was a long time ago.
In a violent relationship, it takes a mother’s strength to save herself and her children from the man she loved. Once Were Warriors is a violent love story set against a contemporary urban backdrop.
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
Start now and it ends at ….
Worth the Hype
Clear your evening for this.
7.4/10 from 521 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch Once Were Warriors
Once Were Warriors is streaming on Film Movement Plus and BFI Player in India.
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BFI Player Amazon Channel
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Amazon Video
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Apple TV StoreAvailability in India as of 11 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Part of a series
Once Were Warriors: watch order
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 2 September 1994
- Country
- New Zealand
- Written by
- Riwia Brown
- Budget
- $950K
- Box office
- $6.7M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What Once Were Warriors is based on
Once Were Warriors is based on Once Were Warriors (1990) by Alan Duff, published by Tandem Press.
1990
Once Were Warriors
By Alan Duff
Published by Tandem Press
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
After Once Were Warriors
What comes next in the series.
If you liked Once Were Warriors
Snowtown
2011 · 6.3/10
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In My Father's Den
2004 · 6.9/10
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The Nightingale
2018 · 7.0/10
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Rhymes for Young Ghouls
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Out of the Blue
1981 · 7.0/10
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2024 · 6.2/10
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This Boy's Life
1993 · 7.1/10
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The Road Dance
2022 · 6.7/10
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Holler
2021 · 6.0/10
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The Last Samurai
2003 · 7.6/10
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Once Were Warriors: quick answers
What comes after Once Were Warriors?
Next in the series: What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? (1999).
Is Once Were Warriors worth watching?
Our verdict is Worth the Hype: Clear your evening for this. It scores 7.4/10 from 521 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is Once Were Warriors?
Once Were Warriors runs 99 minutes (1h 39m).
Does Once Were Warriors have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Once Were Warriors. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Once Were Warriors parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Once Were Warriors is rated R in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is Once Were Warriors on?
Once Were Warriors is streaming on Film Movement Plus and BFI Player in India. (Checked 11 November 2026.)
What movies are like Once Were Warriors?
If you liked Once Were Warriors, try Snowtown, In My Father's Den, The Nightingale.
Who directed Once Were Warriors?
Once Were Warriors (1994) was directed by Lee Tamahori and stars Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell.
What is Once Were Warriors based on?
Once Were Warriors is based on Once Were Warriors (1990) by Alan Duff, published by Tandem Press.