| Pike River | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Robert Sarkies |
| Written by | Fiona Samuel |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Gin Loane |
| Edited by | Peter Roberts |
| Music by | Karl Sölve Steven |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Language | English |
Pike River is a 2025 New Zealand drama film. Directed by Robert Sarkies, it stars Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm.
Based on the Pike River Mine disaster of 2010, the story follows the subsequent, years-long battle for justice led by Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse, two friends whose respective husband and son—along with 27 other workers—were killed during an underground explosion.
Pike River was shot on location in Greymouth, New Zealand, between November and December 2023. [1] [2] Speaking to Variety in May 2024, producer Vicky Pope described the film as " Erin Brockovich meets Norma Rae – New Zealand's own version, gutsy and real", and said of the casting, "We are so thrilled about the powerhouse partnership of [Lynskey] and [Malcolm] ... two incredible actresses playing two incredible women". [3]
The film premiered at the Sydney Film Festival on 7 June 2025, ahead of its theatrical release in New Zealand later in the year. [4]
Richard Phillips of the Trotskyist website World Socialist Website gave a critical review of Pike River, claiming that director Robert Sarkies did not consult all of the Pike River miners' families. He also criticised the film for omitting the Sixth Labour Government's aborted re-entry of Pike River Mine in 2021. [5]