The runaway film success of 2025, Tinā, has hit another milestone by taking $6,498,469 at the New Zealand box office, overtaking Niki Caro’s Whale Rider, and securing the fifth spot on the Top Ten Most Successful Kiwi Films list.
Tinā made waves across the Pacific, with the widest ever release for a New Zealand film. Released across 132 locations (Aotearoa, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa), its impressive debut also claimed the third-highest opening week of all time for a local film, just behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Sione’s 2: Unfinished Business.
Annie Murray, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) CEO, says the incredible response to Tinā shows just how deeply audiences connect with stories that reflect their own lives and communities.
“Breaking into the top five most successful New Zealand films of all time, and surpassing a beloved classic like Whale Rider, is no small feat. Tinā’s success in Aotearoa, combined with cinematic release in Australia and the United States, proves a distinctly local story can resonate globally. Its themes of grief, community, hope, and love speak to the human condition. Crucially, Tinā also shows that commercial and critical success are not mutually exclusive. When we invest in stories that speak to who we are, audiences show up in force.”
Tinā ’s director, producer, and writer, Miki Magasiva, continues to be overwhelmed by how strongly the film has performed.
“What a huge milestone for the team, and we’re incredibly proud to reach this significant achievement. We want to sincerely thank everyone who helped us bring this film to life.”
These sentiments were echoed by co-producer, Dan Higgins, “To surpass the legacy of Whale Rider is both humbling and surreal. The success of Tinā belongs to our extraordinary cast and crew, and to the audiences who filled cinemas in their hundreds of thousands—this milestone is truly yours.”
The film has been distributed in New Zealand and Australia by Madman Entertainment, Andrew Cozens, General Manager NZ, has been impressed with how local audiences have embraced the film.
“Tinā has shown the magic of the big screen is alive and well, capturing the hearts of New Zealand audiences with its incredible 24-week uninterrupted run. It has crossed cultural and generational lines to become a true phenomenon - with many audiences making repeat visits to the cinema."
Since its release, Tinā has carved out a place in New Zealand film history, landing at number five on the Top Ten Most Successful Kiwi Films list:
- Hunt For the Wilderpeople (2016) – $12,207,699
- Boy (2010) – $9,322,000
- The World’s Fastest Indian (2005) – $7,059,147
- Once Were Warriors (1994) – $6,801,471
- Tinā (2025) – $6,498,469
- Whale Rider (2003) – $6,496,371
- Sione’s Wedding (2006) – $4,075,000
- What Becomes of the Broken Hearted (1999) – $3,201,000
- What We Do in the Shadows (2014) – $2,595,000
- Footrot Flats (1986) – $2,400,000
A moving and uplifting drama, Tinā follows Mareta, a grieving Samoan teacher who finds unexpected purpose at an elite school. With standout performances from Anapela Polataivao and rising star Antonia Robinson, the film also features Beulah Koale and Nicole Whippy.
Directed, written, and produced by Miki Magasiva, Tinā was produced by Dan Higgins and Mario Gaoa. The film was made with investment from the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, and NZ On Air, with financing support from Kiwibank Limited. Madman Entertainment is distributing the film in New Zealand and Australia, and Rialto Distribution have acquired the global rights, including the United States.