--- title: "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" year: 2016 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople" fi1m_id: "hunt-for-the-wilderpeople" imdb_id: "tt4698684" tmdb_id: 371645 wikidata_id: "Q22236109" fi1m_score: 82 critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 15 published: "2026-09-16" updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:48.434069+00:00" region: "CL" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) Directed by Taika Waititi · 1h 41m · Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family ## Identity Hunt for the Wilderpeople - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** hunt-for-the-wilderpeople - **IMDb ID:** tt4698684 - **TMDB ID:** 371645 - **Wikidata ID:** Q22236109 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4698684/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/371645, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22236109 **Fi1m score: 82** · Critics 75 from 15 reviews *In a sentence:* An entire wilderness, and still no escape from a child who wants to chat > Julian Dennison and Sam Neill make this wilderness comedy funny and unexpectedly moving. Taika Waititi occasionally fusses over the quirks, but the friendship is persuasive enough to earn the film’s considerable sweetness. ## Synopsis Ricky (Julian Dennison), a troubled foster child, is looking for somewhere to belong in New Zealand. Around him are Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and Hec (Sam Neill), a bushman with little enthusiasm for his role as foster uncle. Ricky wants acceptance; Hec would prefer some peace. When the boy and the man go on the run in the wilderness, they have to get along without either getting much of what he wants. Ricky depends on Hec’s knowledge of the bush, while Hec has to contend with a companion who is still a child. ## Review *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* is a warmly funny adventure that earns its sentiment, even when Taika Waititi makes too much fuss over a joke. Its chief pleasure is the company of Ricky, a troubled foster child, and Hec, the bushman who becomes his reluctant companion. Their flight into the New Zealand wilderness gives a familiar mismatched pair plenty of opportunities to irritate each other. The film lets that irritation remain part of their relationship, rather than tidying it away once affection becomes possible. Julian Dennison understands how funny a child can be when he takes himself more seriously than the adults do. He gives Ricky enough self-importance to be annoying, and enough uncertainty to make that annoyance bearable. The performance never asks us to pretend that looking after this boy would be straightforward. We laughed at Ricky’s persistence with the unresponsive Hec, then felt protective of him; Julian Dennison makes the need for company painfully clear. Sam Neill gives that persistence something solid to push against. His irritation has enough weight that the exchanges do not become a routine in which a lovable child improves an obligingly grumpy adult. Hec can be difficult without the performance continually reassuring us that he means well underneath. That restraint matters, because the film’s broader comedy supplies plenty of encouragement to like everybody, and this particular friendship needs some resistance if it is going to persuade us. Lachlan Milne’s cinematography makes the bush feel like somewhere worth getting lost in, although its appeal also softens the danger. The wilderness can seem rather hospitable for a survival adventure, and the practical difficulty of staying alive never weighs heavily enough. Neville Stevenson’s production design supports the storybook mood without competing with the landscape for attention. The surroundings suit the comic exaggeration, but anyone hoping for an arduous account of life outdoors may find the whole excursion too comfortable. The chapter divisions give the adventure a pleasingly episodic shape. Editors Yana Gorskaya, Tom Eagles and Luke Haigh keep it moving without sacrificing the exchanges that make the central pairing worth following. The music by Conrad Wedde, Lukasz Pawel Buda and Samuel Scott encourages the playful mood, though its enthusiasm sometimes makes the sweetness feel over-insisted upon. The film works more comfortably when the humour allows a little awkwardness to linger. It does not always need another nudge towards delight. Taika Waititi’s weaker moments come when a comic detour seems to interest him more than the people taking it. Some supporting characters arrive with their eccentricity too prominently advertised, and the plotting occasionally moves the companions along with suspicious convenience. These are interruptions rather than lasting damage, but they make the adventure feel more carefully arranged than its scruffy participants suggest. Within the familiar child-and-reluctant-guardian story, the two leads provide enough interest without quite so much decorative oddness. The film runs 101 minutes and has the good sense not to exhaust the central pairing. Choose it for a shared evening, especially if one person claims not to like sentimental films. There is enough bad temper here to give them something else to talk about. *Fi1m score 82, published 16 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond warmly to Hunt for the Wilderpeople, with praise centring on Julian Dennison and Sam Neill’s mismatched double act. The reviews credit their performances with giving the wilderness adventure emotional weight, while finding plenty to enjoy in Taika Waititi’s deadpan dialogue and absurd humour. His handling of comedy and sadness also earns broad approval: the growing attachment between the boy and the older man generally feels touching without becoming sugary. The disagreement concerns how much substance lies beneath that charm. Some favourable reviews acknowledge familiar storytelling or a setting that begins to feel restrictive. Slant Magazine admires the leads but finds the adventure inconsequential and its wilderness too tame. The New Yorker is the clearest dissent, finding the comedy facile, the plotting mechanical and the sentiment calculated. The spread is wide, then, but the reservations remain a minority response to the performances and humour. ## Straight answers **Is Hunt for the Wilderpeople worth watching?** *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* is worth watching, and we scored it 82. Julian Dennison and Sam Neill make the mismatched pair of foster child and reluctant bushman funny and unexpectedly moving, and the film earns its sweetness even when Taika Waititi fusses over a joke. Choose it for a shared evening, especially with someone who claims not to like sentimental films. **How long is Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and what is it rated?** *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* runs 1h 41m. It is an adventure and comedy film. **Where can I watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople in Chile?** *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Chile, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from CLF 1.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does Hunt for the Wilderpeople compare to The Kid?** *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* and [*The Kid*](https://film.one/film/the-kid) are both comedies about a makeshift family, with a reluctant man and a persistent child who come to depend on each other. Chaplin's film is the sharper and more sparing of the two, and lets hardship stay visible; Waititi's is warmer, wordier and more decorated with eccentric detours. Choose Waititi for a family evening, Chaplin if you want the story told with less fuss. **Is Hunt for the Wilderpeople based on a true story or a book?** *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* is based on a novel by Barry Crump, not on a true story. Our review does not measure how closely Taika Waititi follows the book, and the film's pleasures rest on the two lead performances rather than on any knowledge of the source. You need not have read Crump to enjoy it. **What should I watch after Hunt for the Wilderpeople?** After *Hunt for the Wilderpeople*, try [*The Kid*](https://film.one/film/the-kid) (1921, Fi1m 84): A makeshift family, stubborn affection and comedy that allows hardship to remain visible. Then [*Son of Rambow*](https://film.one/film/son-of-rambow) (2007, Fi1m 72): Two boys turn private loneliness into an unruly adventure of their own making; and [*Local Hero*](https://film.one/film/local-hero) (1983, Fi1m 86): Landscape, eccentric company and dry humour gradually unsettle a visitor’s carefully organised life. ### Reviews we read (23) - **Empire**, Dan Jolin (5/5): The film showcases Taika Waititi’s exuberant sense of humour and flair for inventive absurdity in a comically heightened world. It features strong performances, particularly from the young lead, and inventive absurdity throughout its chaptered structure. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/hunt-wilderpeople-review/) - **Film Comment**, Michael Sragow (85/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's rambunctious comedy adventure about an unlikely kinship between a troubled boy and a gruff bushman in the New Zealand wilderness. It highlights the strong performances by Julian Dennison and Sam Neill along with Waititi's deft tonal shifts and direction. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) - **Radio Times**, Stephen Carty (4/5): This charming comedy combines endearing characters with generous helpings of deadpan humour as a misfit teen and his grumpy foster uncle form a delightful double act while on the run in the New Zealand wilderness. The film is packed with amusing moments and witty exchanges. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-faqfl8/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) - **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): Warmly funny and deeply delightful, this odd-couple adventure blends action, laughs and sentiment into a modest but rich charmer with consistent good humour and sneakily touching moments. Waititi sharpens his deadpan style while populating the story with funny characters. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-sundance-review/5099228.article) - **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (4/5): This charming and offbeat comedy is an absolute pleasure and possibly the best kids’ movie since Up, with a script that borders on genius in places. A few flaws like an irritating cameo do not detract from the overall enjoyment. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) - **Little White Lies**, Anton Bitel (4/3/3): The critic finds Waititi's adaptation a charming merger of the literary and cinematic in this storybook adventure about a young Maori orphan on the run. Subversive humour prevents the sentiment from becoming too treacly. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) - **Slant Magazine**, Chuck Bowen (60/100, inferred): Waititi infuses the survival tale and coming-of-age story with absurdist wit and strong performances, particularly from Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, though the film feels inconsequential and the wilderness tamed. The director is talented but too humble and tentative. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) - **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the performances gentle and appealing but calls the comedy facile and cloying. It singles out the mechanical plot twists and calculated sentiment, though a final sequence adds some genuine emotion. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) - **IndieWire**, Sam Fragoso: Taika Waititi's film offers a charming, heartfelt story of an unlikely bond between a troubled boy and a gruff older man on the run in the bush. It mixes humor and emotion effectively in a crowd-pleasing Sundance entry. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/sundance-review-taika-waititis-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-starring-sam-neill-julian-dennison-88197/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan: The critic calls the film smart, funny and a pleasure, a hilarious and touching New Zealand odyssey. It singles out Sam Neill's anchoring performance and the irresistible story and young co-star. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-wilderpeople-review-20160620-snap-story.html) - **The Guardian**: A big-hearted picture full of small, understated moments of magic, the New Zealand-based comedy-drama is an off-kilter charmer that focuses on the emotional thrust of a mismatched buddy movie. Waititi downplays broad laughs in favor of an unaffected naturalism in the filmmaking and unpolished characters. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/18/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review-unpolished-charm) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Boyd van Hoeij: The film is a deliciously good time, a perfectly balanced blend of drama and comedy as a mismatched foster kid and bushman forge an alliance in the New Zealand wilderness. Waititi is fully in command, creating memorable, loveable characters. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hunt-wilderpeople-sundance-review-858585/) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis: The critic praises the film as charming and funny, a drama about an unloved boy who finds acceptance. It highlights the expressive lead performance and the director's clear-eyed take on human nature and movies. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review.html) - **The Times**, Kate Muir (★★★★☆): Hunt for the Wilderpeople has been a huge audience favourite at festivals, with its brand of dark New Zealand humour coupled with a boy’s own adventure story that goes off-road and off-grid. The comedy is warmhearted and ultimately moving, with Waititi never losing fondness for his characters amid the insanity. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-p9tct7rbg) - **Variety**, Dennis Harvey: The critic calls it a pleasing comedy-adventure that pays cheeky homage to early New Zealand classics. It highlights the strong cast including Sam Neill and the film's roots in Barry Crump's novel. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review-sundance-1201686843/) - **Consequence** (85/100, inferred): Waititi delivers a hilarious and endearing adventure for all ages, fueled by strong performances and a warm, nostalgic tone that feels like a fuzzy blanket. [Read](https://consequence.net/2016/06/film-review-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople/) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (4/5): The review calls it a delightfully bone-dry comedy celebrating Kiwi libertarianism and outsiders versus the system. It singles out the comedic pairing of Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as the highlight of this charming, endearing film. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/hunt-for-wilderpeople-review/) - **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (80/100, inferred): The critic describes it as a warm, surprising and thoughtful adventure romp with the feel of a modern-day fairytale that balances comedy and serious moments well. They single out the offbeat dialogue and the chemistry between the leads. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-2016-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) - **/Film**, Angie Han (8/10): The critic calls it a delightful new childhood classic with wonder, adventure, humor, and optimism. They single out the strong performances from the young lead and Sam Neill for adding emotional weight. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/542293/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review/) - **The Skinny**, Michelle Devereaux (★★★★): The critic finds it a charming, deftly told and sweet-natured coming-of-age comedy with clever quirks and strong performances, especially from Sam Neill and newcomer Julian Dennison. It notes the well-worn narrative is freshened by style and character. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/uk-festivals/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-slash) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B): The film is a lighthearted, charming mismatched buddy story with honest emotions and big laughs from its protagonists, though it feels limited by staying too long in the wilderness. [Read](https://collider.com/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-review-sundance-2016/) - **The Playlist**, Sam Fragoso (B): The critic finds it a pleasant, amicable dramedy with likable characters and humor but notes it lacks innovation and feels conventionally unconventional. They single out the young lead's performance for injecting humor and heart. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/taika-waititis-hunt-wilderpeople-starring-sam-neill-charming-wes-anderson-style-comedy-review-20160624/) - **Paste**, Kenji Fujishima (7.5): The film upends preconceptions with its sincere central relationship between the naive boy and the curmudgeonly man, delivering a disarming storybook fable that mixes whimsy with real pain. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople) ## Details - **Director:** Taika Waititi - **Director:** Taika Waititi - **Screenplay:** Taika Waititi - **Novel:** Barry Crump - **Cinematography:** Lachlan Milne - **Editor:** Tom Eagles, Luke Haigh, Yana Gorskaya - **Music:** Conrad Wedde, Lukasz Pawel Buda, Samuel Scott - **Production design:** Neville Stevenson - **Costume design:** Kristin Seth - **Producer:** Carthew Neal, Leanne Saunders, Matt Noonan - **Cast:** Sam Neill as Hec; Julian Dennison as Ricky; Rima Te Wiata as Bella; Rachel House as Paula; Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne as Kahu; Oscar Kightley as Andy; Stan Walker as Ron; Mike Minogue as Joe - **Runtime:** 1h 41m - **First release (Brazil):** 22 January 2016 - **Genres:** Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family - **Budget:** $2 million - **Box office:** $24 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1LC-RrA7NI ## Where to watch in Chile - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Amazon Prime Video: rent CLF 1.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy CLF 4.49, sd - Apple TV: buy CLF 7990.00, sd *Checked 2026-09-16.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TH, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Boy* (2010): Taika Waititi gives another child’s disappointment room beside the jokes and daydreams. - *The Kid* (1921), Fi1m 84: A makeshift family, stubborn affection and comedy that allows hardship to remain visible. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-kid.md) - *Kikujiro* (1999): An ill-matched man and boy take a journey full of awkward, reluctant kindness. - *Son of Rambow* (2007), Fi1m 72: Two boys turn private loneliness into an unruly adventure of their own making. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/son-of-rambow.md) - *Local Hero* (1983), Fi1m 86: Landscape, eccentric company and dry humour gradually unsettle a visitor’s carefully organised life. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople