Maiden (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Alex Holmes
- Genres
- Sport , Documentary
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Classics
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
-
Director Alex Holmes
- Tracy Edwards as Tracy Edwards
- Bob Fisher as themselves
- Frank Bough as themselves
- Pat Edwards as themselves
Also Starring in Maiden
· 8 more- Bruno Du Bois Themselves
- Nancy Harris Themselves
- Angela Heath Themselves
- Howard Gibbons Themselves
- Jeni Mundy Themselves
- Jo Gooding Themselves
- John Chittenden Themselves
- Mikaela Von Koskull Themselves
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.
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).
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.
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IMDb 7.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 98% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 97%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 82 Metascore
User score 8.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
16 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$3.5M
- US & Canada
- $3.2M
- International
- $326.3K
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
-
DGA Awards 2020 1 nomination- Nominated Documentaries – Alex Holmes
-
BAFTA 2020 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer – Alex Holmes
Maiden Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Maiden.
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name given to the second-hand yacht that Tracy Edwards purchased for the race?
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?
Movies Like Maiden
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Young Woman and the Sea, Morning Light and True Spirit.
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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