Whale Rider
“In the ways of the ancients she found a hope for the future.”
A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
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Your review
Cast
17 people
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Paikea Apirana
Known for
Game of Thrones
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Rawiri Paratene
Koro
Known for
Man-Thing
Rapa Nui
Vicky Haughton
Nanny Flowers
Known for
In My Father's Den
Cliff Curtis
Porourangi
Known for
INVINCIBLE
Fear the Walking Dead
Grant Roa
Uncle Rawiri
Also in
Separation City
Lowdown Dirty Criminals
Mana Taumaunu
Hemi
No other roles listed
Rachel House
Shilo
Known for
Moana
Soul
Taungaroa Emile
Willie
Known for
Once Were Warriors
Chief of War
Tammy Davis
Dog
Known for
Black Sheep
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
Mabel Wharekawa-Burt
Maka
Also in
Not Even
Crooked Earth
Rawinia Clarke
Miro
No other roles listed
Tahei Simpson
Miss Parata
Also in
The Matrix Reloaded
Home
Niki Caro Director · Witi Ihimaera Author Lisa Gerrard Composer
Worldwide gross $41M · Budget $8M · United States release June 6, 2003
Box office
Budget
$8,000,000
Worldwide gross
$41,400,000
Gross vs. budget
5.2×
Production
South Pacific Pictures
Production
Pandora Film
Production
ApolloMedia
Production
New Zealand Film Production Fund
Production
New Zealand Film Commission
Production
NZ on Air
Production
Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen
Production
Germany · New Zealand
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Māori
Release dates
Canada · September 9, 2002
Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
New Zealand · January 30, 2003
Theatrical
United States · June 6, 2003
Limited theatrical
United States
January 18, 2003 · Premiere · Sundance Film Festival
May 7, 2003 · Premiere · Tribeca Film Festival
August 29, 2003 · Theatrical
Australia
May 8, 2003 · Theatrical
Czechia
February 19, 2004 · Theatrical
Finland
September 21, 2003 · Premiere · Helsinki International Film Festival
October 24, 2003 · Theatrical
France
August 24, 2003 · Theatrical
Germany
July 25, 2003 · Limited theatrical
Ireland
July 11, 2003 · Digital
Italy
November 21, 2003 · Theatrical
Japan
September 13, 2003 · Digital
Mexico
July 16, 2004 · Limited theatrical
South Korea
October 8, 2004 · Theatrical
Spain
September 23, 2003 · Premiere · San Sebastián Film Festival
June 11, 2004 · Theatrical
Thailand
October 14, 2004 · Limited theatrical
United Kingdom
February 20, 2003 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.