Whale Rider
“In the ways of the ancients she found a hope for the future.”
Synopsis
A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Whale Rider (2002) Original Trailer [HD]
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-11-10
Top Cast
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Keisha Castle-Hughes
Paikea Apirana
Rawiri Paratene
Koro
Vicky Haughton
Nanny Flowers
Cliff Curtis
Porourangi
Grant Roa
Uncle Rawiri
Mana Taumaunu
Hemi
Rachel House
Shilo
Taungaroa Emile
Willie
Tammy Davis
Dog
Mabel Wharekawa-Burt
Maka
Rawinia Clarke
Miro
Tahei Simpson
Miss Parata
Roi Taimana
Hemi's Dad
Elizabeth Skeen
Rehua
Rutene Spooner
Parekura
John Sumner
Obstetrician
Jane O'Kane
Anne
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
June 6, 2003
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$8M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$41.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
5.17x
+$33.4M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Niki Caro
- Screenplay & Story
- Niki Caro
- Original Score
- Lisa Gerrard
- Original Title
- Whale Rider
- Country of Origin
- Germany, New Zealand
- Spoken Languages
- Maori, English
- Runtime
- 1h 41m
- Production Budget
- $8M
- Worldwide Gross
- $41.4M
- Production Studios
- South Pacific Pictures, Pandora Film, ApolloMedia, New Zealand Film Production Fund, New Zealand Film Commission, NZ on Air, Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Niki Caro
Niki Caro, Witi Ihimaera, Joan Scheckel, Gavin Strawhan
Lisa Gerrard
Leon Narbey, Sigmund Spath
David Coulson
John Barnett, Tim Sanders, Frank Hübner, Linda Goldstein Knowlton
Department Leadership Roster
Niki Caro
Director
Niki Caro
Screenplay
John Barnett
Producer
Lisa Gerrard
Original Music Composer
Leon Narbey
Director of Photography
David Coulson
Editor
Tim Sanders
Producer
Frank Hübner
Producer
Grant Major
Production Design
Kirsty Cameron
Costume Design
Mark Harris
Stunt Coordinator
George Maihoefer
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Whale Rider.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Whale Rider.
My Movies
Master List In Progress
多伦多电影节人民选择奖
Toronto Film Festival Audience Award 多伦多国际电影节历届人民选择奖（观众票选最高奖）。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:43:39 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Whale Rider
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Whale Rider about?
A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
Who directed Whale Rider?
Whale Rider was directed by Niki Caro.
Who stars in Whale Rider?
The principal cast of Whale Rider includes Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Grant Roa.
When was Whale Rider released and how long is it?
Whale Rider was released in 2003 with a total runtime of 1h 41m.
What was the box office and production budget of Whale Rider?
Whale Rider had a reported production budget of $8M and grossed $41.4M at the worldwide box office (5.17 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Whale Rider?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Whale Rider was composed by Lisa Gerrard.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Whale Rider?
Whale Rider holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); CA: 14A; DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).