Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
95%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: 22 wins & 25 nominations
The charmingly offbeat Hunt for the Wilderpeople unites a solid cast, a talented filmmaker, and a poignant, funny, deeply affecting message.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is like a breath of fresh air in the world of family films. It’s got everything you could want – adventure, humor, heart, and even a little bit of tragedy. Plus, it’s set in the beautiful wilderness of New Zealand, which is basically like Middle Earth anyway. And let’s not forget Rhys Darby’s hilarious appearance in the third act. It’s like Rushmore in the bush, or should I say Bushmore? All in all, it’s a must-see for everyone, whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart.
Production Company(ies)
Piki Films, Defender Films, Curious Film
Distributor
The Orchard
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Horopito, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including violent content, and for some language
Year of Release
2016
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 41m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
Hunt for the Wilderpeople, starring Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, directed by Taika Waititi, written by Taika Waititi, comedy, adventure, PG-13 rating, box office gross $5.2M, reviewed by Elissa Suh, Kambole Campbell, Angie Han, Richard Brody, Dennis Harvey, Tim Grierson, Brian Eggert, Toussaint Egan, Matt Brunson, Jason Adams, Olly Richards, Heidy Morales, solid cast, talented filmmaker, poignant, funny, deeply affecting message, New Zealand wilderness, manhunt, foster father, boy, stranded, thematic elements, some language, violent content, English (Australia), Carthew Neal, Leanne Saunders, Matt Noonan, The Orchard
Worldwide gross: $23,915,910
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $29,476,325
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,553
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,214,430
US/Canada gross: $5,205,468
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,415,732
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,738
US/Canada opening weekend: $78,439
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $96,676
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,946
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Julian Dennison – Ricky
Rima Te Wiata – Bella
Rachel House – Paula
Rhys Darby – Psycho Sam
Taika Waititi – Minister
Director(s)
Taika Waititi
Writer(s)
Taika Waititi
Producer(s)
Carthew Neal, Leanne Saunders, Taika Waititi, Matt Noonan
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
22 wins & 25 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (207) | Top Critics (55) | Fresh (200) | Rotten (7)
The always funny Rhys Darby makes a third act appearance as Hunt for the Wilderpeople treks deeper into the unrestrained realm of adventure comedy with absurd glee.
March 13, 2020
Elissa Suh
StageBuddy.com
TOP CRITIC
Hunt for the Wilderpeople transforms a fairly unremarkable tale of adoption into a wild and wonderful fantasy, yet again proving that New Zealand may as well just be Middle Earth.
August 25, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kambole Campbell
One Room With A View
TOP CRITIC
It has all the makings of a new childhood classic: it’s got wonder and adventure and loads of humor, and ultimately winds up on the side of optimism – but it also has moments of genuine tragedy and danger.
June 13, 2017 | Rating: 8/10
Angie Han
Slashfilm
TOP CRITIC
Gentle and appealing performances can’t rescue this facile and cloying comedy.
December 29, 2016
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
[Its] sheer good-naturedness pulls off a not particularly inspired crusty-old-coot-thawed-by-young-scamp concept, maintaining an agreeable tonal balance despite occasional wobbles between spoof, sentimentality and silliness.
December 29, 2016
Dennis Harvey
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Warmly funny and deeply delightful.
December 29, 2016
Tim Grierson
Screen International
TOP CRITIC
Achieves a pitch-perfect balance of silly humor and compassionate characters, proving both oddly funny and profoundly moving despite some very clichéd archetypes propelling the story.
April 11, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
The truly rare family film that’s safe for kids, funny and acerbic enough for adults, and surprising enough to keep everyone absorbed.
October 22, 2021
Toussaint Egan
Polygon
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is excellent when it focuses solely on the relationship between – and the misadventures of – its two central figures. It’s less captivating when the attention turns to several doltish supporting characters.
August 18, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
It’s like Rushmore in the bush – yes, it’s Bushmore
July 6, 2021
Jason Adams
The Film Experience
A little bit Rambo, a little bit The Goonies, and as good a time as you can ever hope to have in the cinema.
April 22, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Olly Richards
NME
Bombastic chases, dark humour, and poignantly truthful moments make Hunt For The Wilderpeople more meaningful than many other big name action or comedies out there. Definitely a film that everyone should see.
February 21, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Heidy Morales
Hye’s Musings…
Plot
Reclusive country folk Bella and Hector become foster parents to Ricky, a problem child from the city. After some adjustment, things go reasonably well. However, Bella’s death means that Hector must now look after Ricky himself, and they haven’t been getting along. Moreover, her death causes Child Services to decide to send Ricky back to the orphanage. Ricky refuses to go back and runs away, ultimately sparking a national manhunt for him and Hector.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rhys Darby, who plays Psycho Sam in the film, makes a third act appearance that adds to the absurd glee of Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Taika-Waititi.jpg
