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 Michael.

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.

7.5

MagicScore

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

The Sheep Detectives

2026

George Hardy is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can't possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.

7.8

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

Damage

1992

The life of a respected British politician at the height of his career crumbles when he becomes obsessed with his son's lover.

6.6

MagicScore

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

2026

Having thwarted Bowser's previous plot to marry Princess Peach, Mario and Luigi now face a fresh threat in Bowser Jr., who is determined to liberate his father from captivity and restore the family legacy. Alongside companions new and old, the brothers travel across the stars to stop the young heir's crusade.

8.2

MagicScore

Toy Story 4

2019

Woody has always been confident about his place in the world, devoted to taking care of his kid—whether that's Andy or Bonnie. But after Bonnie creates a reluctant new toy called "Forky", a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends challenges everything Woody believes about loyalty, purpose, and what it truly means to be a toy.

7.5

MagicScore

Blast

2026

Follows a family trained to protect the powerless who become the most dangerous obstacle of all.

7.0

MagicScore

Your Fault: London

2026

Nick and Noah are both embarking on life-changing adventures that are threatening to pull them apart—Nick in business with his father and Noah starting a fresh chapter at Oxford University. Now living separate lives, and meeting new people, they find themselves entangled in temptations, rivalries, and betrayals and their bond is tested like never before. As secrets unravel and temptation rises, they must fight to hold onto each other—or risk losing everything.

7.6

MagicScore

#10

Swapped

2026

A small woodland creature and a majestic bird, two natural sworn enemies of the Valley, magically trade places and set off on an adventure of a lifetime to switch back. Their journey soon uncovers a greater threat—one that could endanger not only their species, but the entire valley they call home.

9.0

MagicScore

#11

Toy Story

1995

Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.

8.0

MagicScore

#12

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

#13

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

#14

Hoppers

2026

Scientists have discovered how to 'hop' human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals. Animal lover Mabel seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world beyond anything she could have imagined.

8.2

MagicScore

#15

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

#16

The Shadow's Edge

2025

Macau Police brings the tracking expert police officer out of retirement to help catch a dangerous group of professional thieves.

7.8

MagicScore

#17

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.

6.9

MagicScore

#18

Peddi

2026

In 1980s rural Andhra Pradesh, a spirited villager unites his community through sports to defend their pride against a powerful rivals.

6.1

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?

6.0

MagicScore

#20

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

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Whale Rider?

The top films similar to Whale Rider by MovieMagicScore are Toy Story 5 (7.5), Michael (8.7), The Sheep Detectives (7.8). 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 Michael Movies like The Sheep Detectives Movies like Salitan Movies like Damage Movies like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

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.

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