A warm, funny, and unexpectedly moving adventure-comedy with real emotional bite. It pairs a scrappy coming-of-age story with a wilderness chase, balancing deadpan humor, grief, and found-family charm in a way that feels both crowd-pleasing and distinctive.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Adventure · Comedy
Fri · 1h 41m
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata
Overview
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.
Director
Taika Waititi
Cast
Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, funny, and unexpectedly moving adventure-comedy with real emotional bite. It pairs a scrappy coming-of-age story with a wilderness chase, balancing deadpan humor, grief, and found-family charm in a way that feels both crowd-pleasing and distinctive.
Best for
Viewers who like offbeat feel-good movies with heart
Fans of buddy adventures and found-family stories
People who enjoy dry humor mixed with sincere emotion
Audiences looking for a lighter, more playful survival tale
Skip if
You want a straightforward adventure without tonal shifts
You dislike quirky humor or emotional sentimentality
You prefer high-stakes action over character-driven comedy
Overview
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of those rare movies that can be goofy, tender, and genuinely moving without losing its footing. The setup is simple and almost storybook-like: a rebellious kid and a gruff foster uncle end up on the run in the New Zealand bush, and the film turns that premise into a charming, sometimes chaotic chase that keeps revealing new layers of affection between them.
Worth noting
What makes it work is the balance. The comedy is sharp and often absurd, but it never feels like it’s mocking its characters. Instead, it finds humor in their defenses, their loneliness, and the awkward ways people learn to care for each other. The wilderness setting gives the film a sense of scale and adventure, while the emotional core stays intimate and human.
Bottom line
It’s especially rewarding if you like movies that start as a lark and gradually become something warmer and more resonant. The tone is playful, but the feelings are real, and the final stretch lands because the film has earned its sweetness. A crowd-pleaser with personality, and one of the more memorable modern coming-of-age adventures.
Top Letterboxd reviews
clownhead (4★) · 5692 likes
A Note On The Origin Of Comedy: "cauc ... cau... Caucasian? well they got that wrong because you're obviously white."
leland™ (5★) · 4594 likes
good bye cruel world burned myself to death in this barn as you can see if you look inside this barn
noelle (4.5★) · 3681 likes
“me and this fat kid / we ran, we ate, and read books / and it was the best.” :)))
demi adejuyigbe · 3504 likes
“So happy we found you, buddy. Sorry it took so long.”
Jay (4★) · 2785 likes
20 minutes in: hey its basically Up (2009) without the emotional distress! fun! 1 hour in: oh no
Themes
found family, coming of age, foster care, survival, grief and healing, mismatched companions, runaway adventure, belonging
Topics
adventure-comedy, coming-of-age, found family, deadpan humor, wilderness, road movie, heartwarming, offbeat, New Zealand cinema, dramedy