Lomu

"The world knew the legend... few knew the man."

2026 1h 47m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 1

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A Tongan/Kiwi warrior who could run 100 metres in under 11 seconds. He was the youngest All Black to put on the jersey and still holds the record for the most tries scored in World Cup history.

“The world knew the legend... few knew the man.”

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Cast

Jonah Lomu
Self (archive footage)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gavin FitzGerald
Languages: English, Maori
Countries: United Kingdom, New Zealand

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Maori.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, New Zealand.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Gavin FitzGerald, shot by Dominic Fryer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Iseult Howlett shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The world knew the legend... few knew the man.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt21990160 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gavin FitzGerald directs. Dominic Fryer behind the camera. Iseult Howlett cuts. Produced in United Kingdom, New Zealand. Dialogue in English, Maori.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Maori.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, New Zealand.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Gavin FitzGerald, shot by Dominic Fryer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Iseult Howlett shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Marketing tagline: "The world knew the legend... few knew the man.".
8IMDB entry: tt21990160 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Dominic Fryer
Editing: Iseult Howlett
Runtime: 107 min · 1h 47m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Lomu (2026)

Also by

Gavin FitzGerald

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2026-09-14
★ 7/10
Using quite a surprisingly comprehensive collection of family archive to augment his televised activities, this takes us on quite an intimate tour of the life of one of New Zealand's most successful and charismatic rugby union players. Originally of Tongan descent, this young man sprouted head and shoulders above many of his classmates and soon demonstrated that he had not only the bulk but also the sureness of foot and the speed to impress on the pitch. Spotted at a relatively early age, his career begins to excellerate and that famous black jersey beckons just in time for the Rugby World Cup in South Africa (1995). Meantime, other aspects of his personal life are introduced including his fondness for the high life, his marriages and his relationship with a mother whose adherence to her own cultural and traditional values didn't always sit well with her son's independent approach to life, love and the pursuit of success. What is also made clear here is that despite world fame and celebrity, the cash was being generated by Rugby League and that his remaining loyal to his amateur code wasn't going to turn him into a millionaire any time soon - especially as he had a penchant for sports cars. He is in full flight when the doctors drop their bombshell and despite considerable medical efforts, and the formidable determination of Lomu himself, it becomes clear that his failing kidney function is going mean a transplant is required and that is doubtless going to affect way more than just his career. The footage of his rugby playing days is impressive, but it's more the access to him and his family that helps this documentary to stand out more. We watch a flawed and vulnerable family man who is dedicated to his sport, respectful of his past and very much up for living his future to the full - especially when his children arrive on the scene, so this delivers more than just a video chronology and the contributors more than just your usual assemblage of journalists offering platitudes and superlatives. What we end up with by the conclusion is a much more rounded assessment of the life of a characterful man who shook his sporting world, inspired many across the world and died far too young.

Production companies