The Dark Horse (2016)
88%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 26 wins & 15 nominations
Led by an outstanding performance from Cliff Curtis, The Dark Horse tackles complex themes with a richly layered, unpredictable, and deeply affecting story
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel good and inspired, but also has some grit and heart, then The Dark Horse is the perfect pick. With a standout performance from Cliff Curtis as the unconventional mentor, Gen, this film takes the formula of underprivileged kids challenging the elites and turns it into something special. Sure, it might get a little corny at times, but the storytelling and performances are so powerful that you won’t even care. Plus, who doesn’t love a good chess lesson that doubles as a life strategy? Overall, The Dark Horse is a rough beauty of a picture that will leave you feeling uplifted and moved.
Production Company(ies)
Aurum Film Canal+ Polska W F S Walter Film Studio,
Distributor
Broad Green Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Gisborne, New Zealand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout, and drug use
Year of Release
2014
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:2h 4m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 1, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 12, 2016
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Kirk Torrance, Xavier Horan, Miriama McDowell, Wayne Hapi, directed by James Napier Robertson, written by James Napier Robertson, biography, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Michael Sragow, Nell Minow, Brad Wheeler, Peter Keough, Radheyan Simonpillai, Ann Hornaday, Graeme Tuckett, Hosea Rupprecht, Leslie Combemale, Mae Abdulbaki, David ‘Mad Dog’ Bradley, produced by Tom Hern, R rating, chess player, mental illness, disadvantaged children, New Zealand, inspiring, complex characters, bipolar disorder, gang, at-risk youth, family, sensitive eye, nuanced performance, diverse performer, true story, Amazon Prime
Worldwide gross: $1,862,114
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,327,172
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,374
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 253,781
US/Canada gross: $67,533
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $84,399
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,678
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,152
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,188
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,701
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NZ$3,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
James Rolleston – Mana
Kirk Torrance – Noble
Xavier Horan – Jedi
Miriama McDowell – Sandy
Wayne Hapi – Ariki
Director – James Napier Robertson
Producer – Tom Hern
Writer – James Napier Robertson
Director(s)
James Napier Robertson
Writer(s)
James Napier Robertson
Producer(s)
Tom Hern
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
26 wins & 15 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (64) | Rotten (2)
The Dark Horse is a rough beauty of a picture.
April 29, 2016
Michael Sragow
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It might get corny but for Robertson’s unaffectedly gritty settings and understanding that modest gains can be enough for checkmate.
April 15, 2016 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Curtis is 100-per-cent watchable as a puffy, mumbling shuffler whose chess lessons double as life strategies.
April 15, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brad Wheeler
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
“Dark Horse” falls into the formula of underprivileged kids challenging the elites at their own game. But the outcome is never certain.
April 14, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Keough
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Potoni can’t trust his own instincts, let alone convince others to trust him with vulnerable kids. Curtis makes you see that internal tension, raising the stakes on what would otherwise be a conventional inspirational drama.
April 14, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
Radheyan Simonpillai
NOW Toronto
TOP CRITIC
“The Dark Horse” isn’t always easy to watch, but Curtis’s quietly powerful presence makes it worthwhile.
April 14, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
This is flat-out one of the most entertaining and moving true life stories I have ever seen on a movie screen. The fact that it is a locally made film just delights me.
September 9, 2021
Graeme Tuckett
Stuff.co.nz
Cliff Curtis’s superb performance as Gen raises a sometimes saccharine genre, that of the inspirational mentor, to amazing heights…
August 27, 2021
Hosea Rupprecht
Pauline Center for Media Studies
The end result shows the best of what feature filmmaking can be.
October 22, 2019 | Rating: A
Leslie Combemale
Cinema Siren
Propped up by good storytelling and powerful performances, “The Dark Horse” is uplifting and moving without falling into the usual traps that occur with other films of its kind.
August 23, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5
Mae Abdulbaki
Movies with Mae
A hugely chunked-up Curtis, a Kiwi actor who’s worked all over the world but returned home to star in and help produce Robertson’s film, is masterly here.
August 10, 2016
David ‘Mad Dog’ Bradley
Adelaide Review
This year, Disney bypassed the feel-good sports movie, and luckily for U.S. audiences, we got a smaller but better version with The Dark Horse.
July 15, 2016 | Rating: 4 1/2/5
Lesley Coffin
The Mary Sue…
Plot
A brilliant but troubled New Zealand chess champion finds purpose by teaching underprivileged children about the rules of chess and life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Dark Horse features an outstanding performance from Cliff Curtis.
James-Napier-Robertson.jpg
