Movies like Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors (2019)
The best movies like Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors (2019) are Whale Rider (2003), Born to Dance (2015) and The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989). If Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors hooked you, these 20 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe World's Fastest Indian (2005)7.7/10 from 947 votes
- NewestMoana (2026)Released 2026
Whale Rider (2003)
A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBorn to Dance (2015)
Coming of age tale told through the eyes of 'Tu', an ambitious young man from Auckland who dreams of being a professional hip-hop dancer.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989)
Xixo is back again. This time, his children accidentally stow away on a fast-moving poachers' truck, unable to get off, and Xixo sets out to rescue them. Along the way, he encounters a couple of soldiers trying to capture each other and a pilot and passenger of a small plane, who are each having a few problems of their own.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBlue Hawaii (1961)
Just discharged GI Chad Gates returns to Hawaii, where he becomes a tour guide, defying his mother's wishes for him to join the family business.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (2022)
A close examination of the Whakaari / White Island volcanic eruption of 2019 in which 22 lives were lost, the film viscerally recounts a day when ordinary people were called upon to do extraordinary things, placing this tragic event within the larger context of nature, resilience, and the power of our shared humanity.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTracker (2010)
A guerilla fighter from the South African Boer war called Arjan (Winstone) takes on a manhunt in New Zealand for Maori seaman Kereama (Morrison), who is accused of murdering a British soldier. What follows is a cat and mouse pursuit through the varied landscape of New Zealand with both hunter and huntee testing their bushcraft and wits against that of the other. Gradually they grow to know and respect one another but a posse, led by the British Commanding officer is close behind and his sole intention is to see the Maori hang.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Salt Path (2025)
The profound story of husband and wife Raynor and Moth Winn, who embark on a 630-mile trek after being forcibly removed from their home. Hoping that in nature they will find solace and a sense of acceptance, they walk through the beautiful but rugged coastlines of South West England - a journey that is exhilarating, challenging, and liberating in equal measure. THE SALT PATH is a powerful portrayal of home, and how it can be lost and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe World's Fastest Indian (2005)
The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle—a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBabylon 5: The River of Souls (1998)
A group of Soul Hunters come to Babylon 5 demanding the return of something that was stolen from them.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Dish (2000)
A group of maverick scientists on a remote Australian sheep farm are the globe's only hope for obtaining the epic images of man's first steps on the moon.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGood Vibrations (2012)
The story of music legend Terri Hooley, a key figure in Belfast's punk rock scene. Hooley founded the Good Vibrations store from which a record label sprung, representing bands such as The Undertones, Rudi and The Outcasts.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisStreetDance 3D (2010)
In order to win the Street Dance Championships, a dance crew is forced to work with ballet dancers from the Royal Dance School in exchange for rehearsal space.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisStreetDance 2 (2012)
After suffering humiliation by the crew Invincible, street dancer Ash looks to gather the best dancers from around the world for a rematch.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008)
In the remote and forgotten wilderness of Lake Natron, in northern Tanzania, one of nature's last great mysteries unfolds: the birth, life and death of a million crimson-winged flamingos.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
The eccentric and childish Pee-wee Herman embarks on a big adventure when his beloved bicycle is stolen. Armed with information from a fortune-teller and a relentless obsession with his prized possession, Pee-wee encounters a host of odd characters and bizarre situations as he treks across the country to recover his bike.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMoana (2026)
Teenage Moana answers the Ocean's call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNothing Like a Dame (2018)
BBC Arena's documentary on the Dames of British Theatre and film featuring Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench and Joan Plowright on screen together for the first time as they reminisce over a long summer weekend in a house Joan once shared with Sir Laurence Olivier.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRip Girls (2000)
A teen-age girl and her father come to an island on Hawaii, they find a closer relationship to each other and think about changing the island. During her adventures, Sydney finds friends, a new hobby with her fantastic photography, and the truth about her mother.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors?
The closest matches to Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors are Whale Rider (2003), Born to Dance (2015) and The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989). Below are 17 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors?
Start with Whale Rider (2003), the closest match to Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors.
What is the highest-rated movie like Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors?
The World's Fastest Indian (2005), rated 7.7/10 by 947 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors?
Moana (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors?
Yes: Whale Rider (2003), Born to Dance (2015) and The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989).
How are movies similar to Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Walking in the Footsteps of the Ancestors, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.