--- name: "Bret McKenzie" canonical: "https://film.one/person/bret-mckenzie" fi1m_id: "bret-mckenzie" imdb_id: "nm1235366" tmdb_id: 105584 wikidata_id: "Q910486" roles: ["Producer"] born: "29 June 1976" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_as: "producer" average_over: 0 updated: "2026-10-02T22:17:18.390657+00:00" 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." --- # Bret McKenzie ## Identity Bret McKenzie - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/bret-mckenzie - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** bret-mckenzie - **IMDb ID:** nm1235366 - **TMDB ID:** 105584 - **Wikidata ID:** Q910486 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_McKenzie, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910486, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1235366/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/105584 Producer. Born 29 June 1976 in Wellington, New Zealand. ## Details - **Work:** Producer - **Born:** 29 June 1976, Wellington, New Zealand - **Active:** 2003–present - **Also known as:** Rhymenoceros - **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 4 acting, 2 crew, 1 other - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won) - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 87 (3), 2010s 69 (3), 2020s 52 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_McKenzie, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910486, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1235366/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/105584 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Flight of the Conchords*](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md) (84) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Bret McKenzie > Bret McKenzie makes musical comedy work by keeping his acting small and letting the songs grow absurdly large. His partnership with Jemaine Clement earns our affection, even when the writing leaves too much waiting between numbers. Bret McKenzie does not announce the moment when a scene becomes ridiculous. In *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), he and Jemaine Clement play struggling New Zealand musicians in New York, letting us notice quite how little progress either is making. Their dependence on each other gives the comedy a warmth that jokes about unsuccessful performers do not automatically earn. We liked spending time with them because neither actor treats his character’s lack of prospects as a reason to sneer. When they start singing, the change in scale is funny precisely because the acting has made so little fuss. The duo’s route from a radio series in 2005 to television in 2007 makes sense of that emphasis on what we hear. McKenzie’s genre parodies draw on folk, hip-hop, rock and pop, with everyday awkwardness supplying the subject matter. The music has to be worth listening to once the joke is understood, and in *Flight of the Conchords* it usually is. Clement is the essential partner, sharing McKenzie’s willingness to leave a pause alone rather than force a laugh. As manager Murray Hewitt, Rhys Darby adds another comic presence without breaking their quiet rhythm. As creators and writers with James Bobin, however, McKenzie and Clement sometimes give that restraint too little support. The ordinary plots can be thin, and a small idea does not always deserve the time allotted to it. Casey Brown’s editing is most effective when the programme breaks into song; away from the music, the pace sometimes slackens enough to test our affection. Between numbers, we occasionally wait for something more than another demonstration of who these men are. *The Muppets* (2011), for which he worked as songwriter and music supervisor, took his music into family film-making. His songs there include ‘Man or Muppet’, a useful reminder that his screen work extends beyond his own performances. He also released the non-comedy solo album *Songs Without Jokes* (2022). That title would be less persuasive if the Conchords songs had depended entirely on their punchlines. Start with *Flight of the Conchords*; a little patience between songs is worth the trouble. ## Biography Bret McKenzie is a New Zealand actor, musician and comedian. He is one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords with Jemaine Clement. McKenzie appeared as Bret, and served as creator and writer, on the duo's self-titled HBO television series (2007–2009). He studied film and theatre at Victoria University of Wellington. McKenzie had minor roles as an elf in *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001) and *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003). As a songwriter and music supervisor, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Man or Muppet" from *The Muppets* (2011). His debut solo album *Songs Without Jokes* was released in 2022. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) ### Performed in (4) - *A Minecraft Movie* (2025), Fi1m 52, as Nitwit Onset Performer — [page](https://film.one/film/a-minecraft-movie.md) - *The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey* (2012), Fi1m 60, as Lindir — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey.md) - *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Bret McKenzie — [page](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md) - *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), Fi1m 88, as Elf Escort — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md) ### Crew (2) - *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), Fi1m 66, Songs, Music Supervisor — [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md) - *The Muppets* (2011), Fi1m 80, Songs — [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001), Fi1m 90, as Figwit (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md) ## Complete filmography (22) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *New Zealand Spy* (2026), series, as Boss - *A Minecraft Movie* (2025), as Nitwit Onset Performer — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/a-minecraft-movie.md) - *Plankton: The Movie* (2025), as Songs - *The Horne Section TV Show* (2022), series, as Bret McKenzie - *Flight of the Conchords: Live in London* (2018), Writer, Producer - *Bajillion Dollar Propertie$* (2016), series, as Huck - *Muppets Most Wanted* (2014), as Songs · Music Supervisor — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/muppets-most-wanted.md) - *Austenland* (2013), as Martin - *The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey* (2012), as Lindir — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey.md) - *Two Little Boys* (2012), as Nige - *The Outback* (2012), as Hamish (voice) - *The Muppets* (2011), as Songs — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md) - *Diagnosis: Death* (2010), as Dr. Cruise - *Just For Laughs: Over The Edge* (2009), as Bret McKegney - *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), series, as Bret McKenzie · Executive Producer, Writer, Co-Executive Producer, Main Title Theme Composer, Creator — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md) - *Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!* (2007), series, as Tim's Tennis Double - *Flight of the Conchords: A Texan Odyssey* (2006), Writer, Producer - *Futile Attraction* (2005), as Mr. Wickham - *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), as Elf Escort — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md) - *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001), as Figwit (uncredited) — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md) - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Kurt Hardwick (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Little Santa*, as Songs · Executive Producer ## Gallery - ![Bret McKenzie](https://film.one/media/person/101601/gallery-c8a1b50843a8.jpg) Bret McKenzie — Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Bret_McKenzie_Muppets_Most_Wanted_Premiere_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Bret_McKenzie_Muppets_Most_Wanted_Premiere_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![James Callis, Georgia King, Ricky Whittle, JJ Feild, Jane Seymour, Keri Russell, Bret McKenzie and Jerusha Hess (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/101601/gallery-f4cfb4fea0ff.jpg) James Callis, Georgia King, Ricky Whittle, JJ Feild, Jane Seymour, Keri Russell, Bret McKenzie and Jerusha Hess (2013) — PunkToad, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Austenland_Talent_at_Sundance.jpg/1280px-Austenland_Talent_at_Sundance.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Left to right: actor James Callis, book author and associate producer Shannon Hale, film scriptwriter Stephenie Meyer, actor Ricky Whittle, actor JJ Feild, actr (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/101601/gallery-66e89c8dd17a.jpg) Left to right: actor James Callis, book author and associate producer Shannon Hale, film scriptwriter Stephenie Meyer, actor Ricky Whittle, actor JJ Feild, actr (2013) — PunkToad, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Austenland_Talent_at_Sundance_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Austenland_Talent_at_Sundance_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bret McKenzie of New Zeeland group Flight of the Conchords performing at Cirkus in Stockholm, Sweden, May 2010](https://film.one/media/person/101601/gallery-e4d713fde67c.jpg) Bret McKenzie of New Zeeland group Flight of the Conchords performing at Cirkus in Stockholm, Sweden, May 2010 — Kim Metso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Bret_McKenzie.jpg/1280px-Bret_McKenzie.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Flight of the Conchords performing at Cirkus in Stockholm, Sweden, May 2010](https://film.one/media/person/101601/gallery-2f1bea25c3ec.jpg) Flight of the Conchords performing at Cirkus in Stockholm, Sweden, May 2010 — Kim Metso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Bret_McKenzie_-_Flight_of_the_Conchords_2010.jpg/1280px-Bret_McKenzie_-_Flight_of_the_Conchords_2010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Comedian, actor, musician and producer Bret McKenzie at the Muppets Most Wanted Premiere at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on March 11, 2014](https://film.one/media/person/101601/gallery-12f55f5a652c.jpg) Comedian, actor, musician and producer Bret McKenzie at the Muppets Most Wanted Premiere at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on March 11, 2014 — Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Bret_McKenzie_Muppets_Most_Wanted_Premiere.jpg/1280px-Bret_McKenzie_Muppets_Most_Wanted_Premiere.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won - 2012: Best Original Song (won), for *Man or Muppet* ### Other awards — 1 won - Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2012: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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/person/bret-mckenzie