Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Name: Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Comedy
Released: June 24, 2016
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 81
Cast: Julian Dennison, Rachel House, Rima Te Wiata, Sam Neill

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 225 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 225 Ratings

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Hunt For The Wilderpeople

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Movie Details & Credits

Orchard, The | Release Date: June 24, 2016 | PG-13

Starring: Julian Dennison, Rachel House, Rima Te Wiata, Sam Neill

Summary: Raised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in theRaised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options: go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family. [The Orchard]… Expand

Director: Taika Waititi

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 101 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Dan Jolin

Sep 13, 2016

A bit "Up," a bit "Moonrise Kingdom," a bit "Midnight Run," even… Taika Waititi’s latest is an oddball treat of a mismatched-buddy pursuit move. Read full review

Edward Douglas

Jun 22, 2016

The best thing the director has going for this one is the talented young actor playing Ricky Baker, as he constantly tries to emulate his tough "gangsta" heroes like Tupac Shakur. (He even names his dog "Tupac.") Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Jul 7, 2016

Long story short: Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a terrific movie and you should do whatever you can to see it. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Jun 23, 2016

Hunt for the Wilderpeople takes a troika of familiar story types — the plucky kid, the crusty geezer, the nurturing bosom — and strips them of cliché. Charming and funny, it is a drama masquerading as a comedy about an unloved boy whom nobody wants until someone says, Yes, I’ll love him. Read full review

Josh Kupecki

Jul 13, 2016

What elevates this conventional tale is how Waititi tells it. With sharp, nimble humor, and one-liners that come a mile a minute, Wilderpeople is a sweet story told with biting wit and an editing style that keeps things going at a rapid pace. Read full review

Tom Russo

Jun 29, 2016

Polished? Not exactly. Poignant? Definitely. Read full review

The Guardian Nigel M Smith

Jan 27, 2016

As the proceedings grow increasingly more far-fetched, the story starts to feel thinner, any semblance of reality increasingly abandoned. What keeps Hunt for the Wilderpeople afloat are the full-blooded characters that populate it. Read full review

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User Reviews

HectorInTheMorn

Jul 7, 2016

This is actually one of the best films of this year! the message was strong throughout, the acting was great, the cinematography is great, the story is great, the pacing is great, the characterization was great, and the directing was magnificent too. This movie will maybe gat academy awardThis is actually one of the best films of this year! the message was strong throughout, the acting was great, the cinematography is great, the story is great, the pacing is great, the characterization was great, and the directing was magnificent too. This movie will maybe gat academy award nominations!… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Ivan665

Mar 14, 2017

Its a better adventure than the Hobbit. The drama is there, along with the retardedly fun moments. This movie will fill your soul with adventure, fun and sadness. Watch it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

superrev

May 11, 2020

this movie it's really funny i watch it laughing all time it's one of my favourite fims i suggest it.
you must see this film if you like comedy.
age +12

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Sep 24, 2016

Writer/director Taika Waititi's last film was "What We Do in the Shadows," a zany vampire satire. This one is more grounded in reality, but it still has a few flights of fancy. It centers around a troubled boy in foster care who's sent to live with a couple in the New Zealand countryside.Writer/director Taika Waititi's last film was "What We Do in the Shadows," a zany vampire satire. This one is more grounded in reality, but it still has a few flights of fancy. It centers around a troubled boy in foster care who's sent to live with a couple in the New Zealand countryside. When tragedy strikes, he and his crusty "uncle" (Sam Neill) set out on an extended adventure in the bush, which causes a massive manhunt. There's a quirky charm to the characters and a wacky edge to the story that makes is sweetly charming. Add in a fun soundtrack and some lovely scenery for the type of delightfully enjoyable little film that's hard to come by these days. NOTE: Look for the director in a cameo as the minister.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Bias

Nov 4, 2016

I'm listening to Strange Magic, right frickin now. That's probably of no consequence to you, but I'm enjoying it and can't help mentioning it. I also enjoyed this film last night quite a bit and I now want to say there is some 'strange magic' in this work, but I won't because that would seemI'm listening to Strange Magic, right frickin now. That's probably of no consequence to you, but I'm enjoying it and can't help mentioning it. I also enjoyed this film last night quite a bit and I now want to say there is some 'strange magic' in this work, but I won't because that would seem as if I was planning this all along. I happened to come by the song in a youtube video is all.

Show the film to your kids, so they can learn about Tupac and about living in the bush in NZ. Story of a lost boy found by a family on a farm near the woods. I'm a fan of Waititi's since I laughed my lungs out with 'What We Do in the Shadows' and definitely suggest this film too for some lighthearted yet touching viewing. Touching viewing. See what I did there? Grammar Magic!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Slovenly_Muse

Aug 23, 2018

Taika Waititi displays his unique brand of offbeat, affectionate charm in this touching film about love, loyalty, freedom, and found family.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bobmeier

Jul 29, 2016

I went to see this because of the great reviews on Metacritic. I never heard of this movie..it wasn't mentioned in places like Film Comment, or anywhere else. What people raved about totally escaped me...while it was watchable, it was more like a Disney family film than great movie bait.I went to see this because of the great reviews on Metacritic. I never heard of this movie..it wasn't mentioned in places like Film Comment, or anywhere else. What people raved about totally escaped me...while it was watchable, it was more like a Disney family film than great movie bait. Totally forgettable. If it was BAD it wouldn't be forgettable. This is a movie you see and forget instantly.… Expand

1 of 20 users found this helpful119

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