Movies Like Whale Rider (2003)

Whale Rider is a 2003 drama, family film from Niki Caro with a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters.

Drama Family

Toy Story 5

2026

When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.

8.1

MagicScore

Minions & Monsters

2026

This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.

7.5

MagicScore

Moana

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.

6.1

MagicScore

The Death of Robin Hood

2026

Grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, Robin Hood finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.

6.3

MagicScore

Hotel Desire

2011

Antonia is a single mother who works as a hotel maid in Berlin. A normal hot summer day takes a dramatic turn when she crosses paths with a particular guest of the hotel, famous blind portrait painter Julius Pass.

6.1

MagicScore

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.

8.7

MagicScore

Kaulayaw

2024

Two college schoolmates venture into the world of cybersex to support their needs. They fulfill their fans' sexual fantasy only to realized that they too, are falling for each other.

5.8

MagicScore

From Straight A's to XXX

2017

When a change of circumstances leaves Miriam unable to pay her college tuition, she makes a surprising decision: to start performing in adult films, using the pseudonym Belle Knox. Miriam lies to her family and her friends at school, keeping her double life a secret. But soon rumours spread and Miriam becomes the subject of vicious online attacks and unwanted attention. Miriam fights back: she talks to the media, saying her new line of work empowers her as a feminist. But her confident stand has unintended consequences. Miriam is shunned by her conservative family and her colleagues in the adult film world. One impulsive decision has quickly spiralled out of control - and Miriam's problems are just beginning.

5.9

MagicScore

Salitan

2024

A suspicious wife follows her husband in Bali. She meets a dashing man who captures her heart. She soon wants her husband to really have an affair to alleviate the guilt she is feeling.

4.7

MagicScore

#10

Pyaar Prema Kalyanam

2026

When a bride refuses to leave her family home after marriage, her husband must find out if he can adjust to life under his in-laws' roof.

7.0

MagicScore

#11

Mourning Wife

2001

Director Daisuke Goto, the master of the cinematic Pink Eiga, is back with this retelling of the classic film noir, The Postman Always Rings Twice. A married woman, tasked with running her handicapped husband’s failing printing business, meets a drifter and they fall in love. Soon a plan to murder the husband is put into motion and the forces of fate begin to show their hand. Featuring bravura filmmaking, fantastic performances and steamy sex, the Mourning Wife is a worthy follow up for any fan of Daisuke Goto’s masterpiece A Lonely Cow Weeps at Dawn.

4.5

MagicScore

#12

Country Hooker

1974

A couple of musicians are on their way to a show at a country bar. Along the way, they pick up a couple of sexy hitchhiking ladies and decide to pull over for a pitstop. Eventually, they make it to the bar and uncover that the deep voiced country singer that also plays there is also a pimp who uses the "waitresses" to make him some extra cash. It is up to our musician heroes to put an end to the singer and his operation.

3.9

MagicScore

#13

Michael

2026

The story of Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music. His journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career.

8.7

MagicScore

#14

The Invite

2026

Joe and Angela's marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down?

7.4

MagicScore

#15

The Devil Wears Prada 2

2026

Andy Sachs returns to Runway as Miranda Priestly navigates a new media landscape and Runway's position within. The duo reconnect with former assistant Emily Charlton, now the head of a luxury brand that possesses funding which could ensure Runway's survival.

7.1

MagicScore

#16

Interstellar

2014

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

8.5

MagicScore

#17

The Punisher: One Last Kill

2026

As Frank Castle searches for meaning beyond revenge, an unexpected force pulls him back into the fight.

8.3

MagicScore

#18

Zootopia 2

2025

After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia's history, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a great mystery when Gary De'Snake arrives and turns the animal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.

7.7

MagicScore

#19

Rita

2024

Rita, who finds herself alone when husband Ariel works abroad. They both find solace and sexual satisfaction in other people. When Ariel comes back, they both act like nothing happened. But will this keep their marriage from falling apart?

6.3

MagicScore

#20

Vishwanath & Sons

2026

Sanjay Vishwanath is an acclaimed professional handgunner in his 40s with a major stake in fame and wealth. When he comes across a woman named Maddy in her 20s, their dynamic poses many issues that they must come to terms with.

8.4

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Whale Rider?

The top films similar to Whale Rider by MovieMagicScore are Toy Story 5 (8.1), Minions & Monsters (7.5), Moana (6.1). Each shares drama/family themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Whale Rider worth watching?

Whale Rider holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10 from 427 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Whale Rider?

Whale Rider (2003) is a drama, family film directed by Niki Caro, starring Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton.

Where can I find more recommendations like Whale Rider?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more drama recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Toy Story 5 Movies like Minions & Monsters Movies like Moana Movies like The Death of Robin Hood Movies like Hotel Desire Movies like The Shawshank Redemption

About movies like Whale Rider

This ranked list pairs Whale Rider (2003), a drama and family film from Niki Caro, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Keisha Castle-Hughes take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

← Back to Whale Rider