Is Once Were Warriors sad?

Yes, very. More sad than 99% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Once Were Warriors violent?

Yes, very. More violent than 98% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Once Were Warriors easy watching?

No. Less comforting than 92% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Once Were Warriors scary?

Yes. More frightening than 87% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Does Once Were Warriors end with hope?

Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Once Were Warriors

Name: Once Were Warriors
Genre: Drama
Released: 1994
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 7.4
Cast: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile

Their People Once Were Warriors. But Once... Was a Long Time Ago

Directed by Lee Tamahori

Produced by Avalon Studios, New Zealand Film Commission

199499 min7.4 / 10

A harrowing, intimate portrait of domestic violence and cultural displacement that centers a mother's desperate fight to protect her family from systemic despair.

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.

Where to watch

StreamBFI Player, Film Movement Plus, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel
FreeHoopla, Kanopy
RentGoogle Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango At Home
BuyApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango At Home

Questions people ask

Is Once Were Warriors sad? Yes, very. More sad than 99% of films.
Is Once Were Warriors violent? Yes, very. More violent than 98% of films.
Is Once Were Warriors easy watching? No. Less comforting than 92% of films.
Is Once Were Warriors scary? Yes. More frightening than 87% of films.
Does Once Were Warriors end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.