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Sports documentary

Maiden (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Maiden (2019) movie poster

Maiden is a 2019 sports documentary directed by Alex Holmes, starring Tracy Edwards as Tracy Edwards, Bob Fisher and Frank Bough. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $3.5 million worldwide. It earned 2 award nominations, including Documentaries at the DGA Awards 2020. Critics gave it 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10.

IMDb rating
7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
98%
worldwide gross
$3.5M
award nominations
2
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Maiden (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Director
Alex Holmes
Genres
Sport , Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Maiden About?

The premise of Maiden without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 1989, Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old cook, challenges convention by captaining the first all-female crew to compete in the Whitbread Round the World Race. Facing widespread skepticism and battling against the odds, she assembles a remarkable team of women who must overcome their own doubts and the prejudices of the sailing world. Edwards risks everything to prove that women are capable of conquering the demanding and dangerous open ocean, embarking on an unforgettable journey of determination and triumph.

Maiden Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • yacht
  • all female crew
  • boat
  • one word title
  • skipper
  • charter boat
  • boat race
  • sailor
  • england
  • uruguay
  • australia
  • fremantle western australia
+38 more
  • new zealand
  • fort lauderdale florida
  • fastnet race
  • whitbread race
  • around the world race
  • year 1990
  • aquatic sport
  • extreme sport
  • outdoor sport
  • sports documentary
  • underdog sport
  • 24 year old woman
  • water sport
  • ship's cook
  • filmmaker writer director producer
  • team sport
  • sexism
  • yachting
  • sea adventure
  • female empowerment
  • trailblazer
  • southhampton england
  • betting pool
  • misogyny
  • male chauvinism
  • trophy
  • feminism
  • auckland new zealand
  • southern ocean
  • parade
  • iceberg
  • leaky boat
  • female navigator
  • boat captain
  • swim suit
  • transatlantic voyage
  • sandbar
  • yachtsman
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Cast & crew

Maiden Cast & Characters

Tracy Edwards leads the cast as Tracy Edwards, with Bob Fisher and Frank Bough. Directed by Alex Holmes; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Maiden

· 8 more
From the director

More from Alex Holmes

More films directed by Alex Holmes, best-rated first: The Last Rider, Hill, Coalition and Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story.

Full filmography
Ratings

Maiden Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Maiden 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (78).

85 /100

Maiden Echo Score Breakdown

In Maiden, the film’s most compelling attribute is its fusion of suspenseful sports narrative and emotional depth. Critics highlight the taut pacing and breathtaking sea footage, noting how the story unfolds with the intensity of a drama. User responses reflect strong emotional engagement, with many reporting tears and a sense of empowerment. Despite minor comments on the interview format, the documentary consistently maintains gripping momentum. On balance, Maiden delivers a stirring account that resonates long after viewing.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, Maiden excels in its striking cinematography and precise editing. Critics praise the suspense-laden sea shots and the vivid portrayal of treacherous conditions. User accounts note the beautifully captured eighties footage and seamless integration of archival clips. While a few remarked on occasional fuzzy visuals during interview segments, the overall production design consistently supports the film’s dramatic tension.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, Maiden offers a nuanced portrayal of Tracy Edwards and her crew. Critics describe deeply felt emotional arcs and an unvarnished character study. Many users reported genuine tears and a powerful sense of empowerment from the crew’s resilience. The interviews convey personal stakes and camaraderie, ensuring sustained audience investment.

  • Story & Flow 85

    In terms of story and flow, Maiden combines suspenseful pacing with historical context. Critics applaud the film’s taut structure and clear narrative trajectory, likening its tension to a dramatic feature. Some viewers noted a slow build during early interview sequences, but most found the progression from uncertainty to triumph compelling. Overall, the film maintains coherent pacing and engaging originality.

  • Sensory Experience 83

    When it comes to sensory experience, Maiden delivers immersive sound and visual style. Critics highlight the atmospheric sound design that amplifies oceanic tension and a complementary score that underlines key moments. Users praise the vivid color palette of sea vistas and the cohesive mix of archival audio. Together, these elements create a cohesive sensory environment.

  • Rewatch Factor 78

    In terms of rewatch factor, Maiden encourages repeat viewings through its inspiring story and emotional resonance. Critics and users both note that subtle details in archival footage and interview anecdotes reward subsequent watches. While the documentary format is straightforward, the combination of suspense and personal stakes sustains enduring appeal. The film offers lasting value for viewers.

Plot

Maiden Plot Summary

What happens in Maiden from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In this compelling documentary, Tracy Edwards unfolds a life shaped by resilience and grit, beginning with a difficult childhood in England. She loses her father to a heart attack when she is ten, and her mother’s remarriage to an abusive alcoholic forces the family to move to Wales. After being expelled from school at sixteen, she leaves home, wandering across Europe until she reaches Greece, where she becomes a stewardess aboard a yacht and learns to sail on the route to the Americas. Her growing passion for the Whitbread Round the World Race takes hold, and a chance encounter with King Hussein of Jordan inspires her to sign on as a cook and the sole woman on a crew in the 1985-86 edition of the race.

Full summary

The whole story of Maiden, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Maiden Box Office

Maiden grossed $3.5 million worldwide. $3.2 million came from the US and Canada and $326,263 (9%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.5M

US & Canada
$3.2M
International
$326.3K
US & Canada 91% Rest of the world 9%
Awards

Maiden Awards & Nominations

Maiden earned 2 award nominations, including Documentaries at the DGA Awards 2020. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Maiden Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Maiden.

Maiden | Official Trailer HD (2019)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Maiden?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name given to the second-hand yacht that Tracy Edwards purchased for the race?

Details

Maiden Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Maiden 2019” and “Мэйден”.

Also known as
  • Maiden 2019
  • Мэйден
  • 女挽狂澜
  • 첫 항해
  • Zeglarki
  • 帆船少女号
  • Мейден
  • מיידן
  • Maiden: A Donzela do Mar
  • Dones contra vent i marea

Seen Maiden?

FAQ

Maiden FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Maiden, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Maiden?

Maiden runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was Maiden released?

Maiden was released on June 28, 2019.

Who directed Maiden?

Maiden was directed by Alex Holmes.

More films by Alex Holmes

Who is in the cast of Maiden?

Maiden stars Tracy Edwards as Tracy Edwards, Bob Fisher and Frank Bough, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Maiden make at the box office?

Maiden grossed $3.5 million worldwide ($3.2 million domestic, $326,263 international).

How is Maiden rated?

Maiden has 7.8/10 on IMDb, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.

Was Maiden nominated for any awards?

Maiden received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Maiden have a post-credit scene?

No. Maiden has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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