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IMDbPro

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

  • 2016
  • PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
135K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,328
135
Sam Neill and Julian Dennison in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Trailer for Hunt For The Wilderpeople
Play trailer2:34
14 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureComedyDrama

A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.

  • Director
    • Taika Waititi
  • Writers
    • Taika Waititi
    • Barry Crump
    • Tearepa Kahi
  • Stars
    • Sam Neill
    • Julian Dennison
    • Rima Te Wiata
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    135K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,328
    135
    • Director
      • Taika Waititi
    • Writers
      • Taika Waititi
      • Barry Crump
      • Tearepa Kahi
    • Stars
      • Sam Neill
      • Julian Dennison
      • Rima Te Wiata
    • 359User reviews
    • 234Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 22 wins & 26 nominations

    Videos14

    Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Trailer 2:34
    Watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Trailer
    A Guide to the Work of Taika Waititi
    Clip 7:32
    Watch A Guide to the Work of Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi - Do Your Own Thing
    Clip 2:31
    Watch Taika Waititi - Do Your Own Thing
    Taika Look at the Waititi Way
    Clip 4:10
    Watch Taika Look at the Waititi Way
    Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Clip 0:58
    Watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Clip 0:57
    Watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Clip 0:55
    Watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople
    Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Famous
    Clip 0:54
    Watch Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Famous
    Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Raised By Wolves
    Clip 1:05
    Watch Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Raised By Wolves
    Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Hunting For Food
    Clip 0:56
    Watch Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Hunting For Food
    Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Taika Waititi Survival Gear
    Featurette 1:34
    Watch Hunt For The Wilderpeople: Taika Waititi Survival Gear

    Photos100

    Sam Neill and Julian Dennison in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Rhys Darby at an event for Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Sam Neill, Taika Waititi, Matt Noonan, Leanne Saunders, Rhys Darby, Carthew Neal, and Julian Dennison at an event for Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Sam Neill, Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby, and Julian Dennison at an event for Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Julian Dennison in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Sam Neill and Julian Dennison in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Julian Dennison in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
    Sam Neill and Julian Dennison in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sam Neill
    Sam Neill
    • Hec
    Julian Dennison
    Julian Dennison
    • Ricky Baker
    Rima Te Wiata
    Rima Te Wiata
    • Bella Faulkner
    Rachel House
    Rachel House
    • Paula Hall
    Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne
    Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne
    • Kahu
    Oscar Kightley
    Oscar Kightley
    • PC Andy Tappert
    Stan Walker
    Stan Walker
    • Ron
    Mike Minogue
    Mike Minogue
    • Joe
    Cohen Holloway
    Cohen Holloway
    • Hugh
    Rhys Darby
    Rhys Darby
    • Psycho Sam
    Troy Kingi
    Troy Kingi
    • TK
    Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi
    • Minister
    Hamish Parkinson
    • Gavin
    Stu Giles
    • Sick Man
    Lloyd Scott
    Lloyd Scott
    • Tourist
    Selina Woulfe
    • Organ Player
    Mabelle Dennison
    • Church Lady
    Sonia Spyve
    • Court Lawyer
    • Director
      • Taika Waititi
    • Writers
      • Taika Waititi
      • Barry Crump
      • Tearepa Kahi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was the first local feature to gross more than NZ$1 million in its opening weekend at the New Zealand box office.
    • Goofs
      No kiwi Hunter worth his salt would kill a pukeko for eating - they are notoriously bad eating birds, hence the cooking joke: boil a pukeko with a shoe and when the shoe is soft, throw away the bird and eat the shoe.
    • Quotes

      Hec: Me and this fat kid / We ran we ate and read books / And it was the best.

    • Crazy credits
      The credits include sections headed "Wildercrew" and "Wildercast", with the latter including the subheading "Wilderdogs".
    • Connections
      Featured in The Graham Norton Show: Danny DeVito/Ewan McGregor/Sam Neill/Miranda Hart/John Bishop/Amber Riley (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Makutekahu
      Written by Lukasz Pawel Buda (as L. Buda), Samuel Scott (as S. Scott), and Conrad Wedde (as C. Wedde)

      Native Tongue Music Publishing

      Arranged by Hamish McKeich

      Performed by Pepe Becker, Anna Sedcole, Phillip Collins, and Robert Oliver

    User reviews359

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    finished movie from Taika Waititi
    This movie is really good - I have to say I enjoyed it and would probably see it again.

    A far more developed example of what Waititi can do as a director and storyteller; the film has examples of pathos, comedy, action, drama, art film, satire, good cinematography and even a few decent VFX shots. His last film, vampire mockumentary "What We Do in the Shadows" was a lot of fun but also a narrative disappointment, despite NZ media committing to expose the film and help generate sales. Something of a misguided indulgence, "Shadows" made the mistake of letting three or four (very) minor indie celebs improvise in digital for many, many hours, then the director tried to create a concrete whole in editing and post. Didn't work. Great intro though.

    Hunt for the Wilderpeople focuses on the life of Ricky Baker - a young, overweight, orphaned juvenile offender that idealizes hip hop and creates haiku poetry as a method of externalizing emotional conflict, due to the influence of counseling and therapy sessions. Stuck in New Zealand's sub-par youth welfare system (known for endless governmental restructuring with little or no substantive improvement), Ricky ends up on a rotting farm somewhere in the rural back blocks with foster parents.

    The film clearly shows elements of the barren, social realist film of early 80s NZ, but with bigger, better cinematography, and Waititi's indie sense of the quirky and offbeat. "Quirky" can become a meaningless attribution in today's market of indie features where anybody and everybody can have a go at being "quirky" to make up for budget and spectacle, but this film also has real nuance and character development, and a quality cast that seem to get the idea of being a bit "quirky" and "meta" without forgetting that emotional investment is what an audience really needs to feel involved with the story. Rachel House is hilarious. So's the director in an excellent cameo.

    Some of the early scenes don't read as naturally as they could, and also Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne's mother in the film is referred to but is never actually seen for unknown reasons. In addition, New Zealanders might complain about the films location improbabilities, but that's been standard practice in US features for years. Cool movie!! Go see it!!
    helpful•60
    21
    • maxastree
    • Apr 10, 2016

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    FAQ1

    • What is the song when they decide to 'run'?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • New Zealand
    • Official sites
      • Madman Films (Australia)
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Yovvoyi odamlar izidan
    • Filming locations
      • Horopito, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand(car yard)
    • Production companies
      • Piki Films
      • Defender Films
      • Curious Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,205,468
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $78,439
      • Jun 26, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $31,400,336
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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