Skip to content
MovieCove
The Water Diviner

The Water Diviner

To honour a promise. To find his sons. To make his peace.

2014111 minRMidcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Director
Russell Crowe
Starring
Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Yılmaz Erdoğan, Cem Yılmaz

In 1919, Australian farmer Joshua Connor travels to Turkey to discover the fate of his three sons, reported missing in action. Holding on to hope, Joshua must travel across the war-torn landscape to find the truth and his own peace.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Water Diviner?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Water Diviner to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Water Diviner?

The Water Diviner earns 8 badges, led by Guilty pleasure and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Water Diviner worth watching?

The Water Diviner's Midcredits score is the 76th percentile of all films, from 104K ratings across 6 sources. 73% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

76th percentile

Better received than 76% of films

78th percentile among Drama76th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)67th
Approval (how many liked it)82nd

66 /100

67th percentile of all films

69th percentile among Drama66th percentile among 2010s

Critics 50 · Audience 68

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

73% liked it

82nd percentile of all films

84th percentile among Drama83rd percentile among 2010s
73% rated it 7–1027% rated it 1–6

Critics 63% · Audience 60%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 13 wins / 15 noms overall

95th percentile

104K ratings across platforms

97th percentile among Drama95th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$23M
Opening weekend$1.2M
Domestic gross$4.2M
Worldwide gross$35M

Returned 1.6× its budget — 93rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A grieving father's search for his sons after Gallipoli anchors an emotional, ambitious war drama.

Fans praised

  • Russell Crowe's heartfelt directorial debut
  • Emotional weight of a father's quest
  • Strong performances from the cast

Detractors panned

  • Historical inaccuracies and manipulative portrayal of events
  • Credibility stretched by contrived action sequences
  • Melodramatic tone undermines serious themes

What stands out

ActingDivisive70

Crowe carries the film; supporting cast solid but underused

Emotional impactDivisive70

Father-son tragedy resonates, but some find it manipulative

Atmosphere65

War-torn Turkey convincingly rendered

Cinematography65

Scenic battlefields and period detail praised

Characters60

Supporting characters underdeveloped

Plot and storyDivisive55

Emotional quest but historically loose and contrived

Pacing50

Drags in middle sections

Originality45

Familiar war-drama tropes

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 10 points higher than over-30s.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 11 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Water Diviner like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It is intense and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
MelancholicTenseHopeful
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Tender · 13% of films
Told as
Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.
ToneCrowe directs the story with sincere gravity, treating the loss and the search with respect.
The rideThe film maintains a somber, grieving mood throughout, with moments of tension during battle and escape, and a hopeful turn toward the end when the father finds his son alive.
StructureThe story moves between Connor's present-day search and flashbacks to his sons' wartime experiences and his own family life.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayConnor's mission ends with a hard-won reunion, leaving a mix of loss and renewed possibility.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestRescue
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% (this title) · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Rescue: Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeConnor's journey to Gallipoli to find his missing sons is a personal mission that becomes a rescue when he discovers one son may be alive.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% (this title) · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% (this title) · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsGrief · 6% of filmsGuilt · 3% of films
Mourns its theme: Grieves its theme, or what has been lost of it.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeA father's love drives him across the world to recover his sons, while the film explores how war shatters families and the burden of surviving.
StanceThe film grieves the war's destruction of families without glorifying conflict; it focuses on one father's private loss.

The world

Early 20th centuryRuralWildernessDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · David Hirschfelder
SettingGallipoli peninsula and Istanbul, 1919, just after WWI
MusicThe score swells with somber strings and Turkish-influenced motifs that underline the emotional journey.

Content guide

Is The Water Diviner okay for kids?

R

The Water Diviner is rated R: “Rated R for war violence including some disturbing images” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at mild (26/100), language at minimal (10/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (31/100) and frightening material at intense (70/100). Overall it is heavier than 22% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 18 other countries
  • UK15
  • CanadaR
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Belgium16
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • Hungary16
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoC
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • Russia16+
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 49% of all filmsHeavier than 22% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 45%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 19%
Profanity
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 1%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 20%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 65%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is frightening material and violence. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Water Diviner have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Water Diviner?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Russell Crowe
as Connor
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Olga Kurylenko
as Ayshe
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Yılmaz Erdoğan
as Major Hasan
Cem Yılmaz
as Sgt. Jemal
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jai Courtney
as Lt Colonel Hughes
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Ryan Corr
as Art
James Fraser
as Edward
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ben O'Toole
as Henry
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Steve Bastoni
as Omer
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Salih Kalyon
as Dr. Ibrahim
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Water Diviner?

Movies like The Water Diviner include Live and Become (2005), Lion (2016) and The Kite Runner (2007). Of the 12 closest matches, several are rescue stories, and most are films set in the Middle East.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its feel: tender. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Water Diviner?

7.8K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: parent. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.