Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for Hunt for the Wilderpeople PG-13 Released Jun 24, 2016 1h 41m Comedy Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 209 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A boy (Julian Dennison) and his foster father (Sam Neill) become the subjects of a manhunt after they get stranded in the New Zealand wilderness.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The charmingly offbeat Hunt for the Wilderpeople unites a solid cast, a talented filmmaker, and a poignant, funny, deeply affecting message.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (209)
Kambole Campbell One Room With A View 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. Rated: 4/5 Aug 25, 2018 Full Review Angie Han Slashfilm 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. Rated: 8/10 Jun 13, 2017 Full Review Richard Brody The New Yorker Gentle and appealing performances can't rescue this facile and cloying comedy. Dec 29, 2016 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Broken into ten cheeky episodic chapters and boasting beautiful natural beauty, you will find a fun experience that may feel familiar, yet is wholly unique. Rated: 4/5 Oct 18, 2024 Full Review Joe Lipsett Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast Waititi's long-in-development adaptation of the Crump's classic has a style and wit all of its own. Neill is delightfully grumpy, but it is Dennison who steals the show. The over the top buffoonery of the final chase is a bit much, though Rated: 4/5 Mar 26, 2024 Full Review Jennifer Bisset CNET The balance between humanity and comedy is what Taika Waititi does best. Apr 20, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+)
Kafe R Started off great and i was really enjoying it - then it just fell off a cliff. Like they all suddenly lost interest Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Thematic Elements, Some Language and Violent Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Australian English with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/07/25 Full Review Nick R Hilarious and heartfelt. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/02/25 Full Review Andrew M This is one of the best acted movies ever. It deals with taboo subjects with aplomb. Seeing it a second speeds in the understanding. Spoiler alert! The aunt in the spend an only a few minutes in the movie but casts a spell though out the world show. The dog named TupacThe rapper, is too much. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/30/25 Full Review Brad S. R Very entertaining and occasionally moving, but the pieces should've amounted to more than they did. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/25 Full Review Vitor O It's a charming, affectionate and funny film in equal measure, with great performances from Sam Neill and Julian Dennison in the lead roles. Here, Taika Waititi's style is on full display. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Hunt for the Wilderpeople

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Movie Clip - Hunting for Food Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Movie Clip - Hunting for Food 0:55 Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Movie Clip - Raised by Wolves Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Movie Clip - Raised by Wolves 1:04 Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Movie Clip - Famous Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Movie Clip - Famous 0:53 Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Trailer 1 Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Trailer 1 2:34 View more videos
Wild Oats % 38% Wild Oats Watchlist Zoolander No. 2 22% 20% Zoolander No. 2 Watchlist TRAILER for Zoolander No. 2 Now You See Me 2 34% 53% Now You See Me 2 Watchlist TRAILER for Now You See Me 2 The Sasquatch Gang 46% 57% The Sasquatch Gang Watchlist Water 0% 70% Water Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A boy (Julian Dennison) and his foster father (Sam Neill) become the subjects of a manhunt after they get stranded in the New Zealand wilderness.
Director
Taika Waititi
Producer
Carthew Neal, Leanne Saunders, Taika Waititi, Matt Noonan
Screenwriter
Taika Waititi
Distributor
The Orchard
Production Co
Defender Films, Piki Films
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Language|Violent Content)
Genre
Comedy, Adventure
Original Language
Australian English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.2M
Runtime
1h 41m
Most Popular at Home Now