Taika Waititi is a name that’s been getting a lot of traction in the industry in recent years. Due to massive hits like the MCU blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok and the Academy Award-winning Jojo Rabbit, he has become a force to be reckoned with in mainstream Hollywood. However, before all that hype, Waititi was first a rather obscure filmmaker who was known for making quirky, local independent films which really captured the heart of his motherland, New Zealand. Taika is also often cited as being one of the filmmakers who brought New Zealand cinema to the forefront of the world. How did this small-town Maori comic become a Marvel master who is working on Flash Gordon remakes and Star Wars films?
From being a part of the five-man comedy troupe, So You’re A Man, and the Billy T Award-winning comedy duo The Humourbeasts with fellow actor and comedian Jemaine Clement, Waititi then ventured out into the filmmaking world by making several short films. His second short film, titled Two Cars, One Night, earned him a nomination for Best Live Action Short Film at the 76th Annual Academy Awards in 2004. Since then, he has acted in over 15 films and has directed six feature-length films, along with writing and directing episodes of the beloved Flight of the Conchords, along with producing and directing episodes of What We Do in the Shadows, a series adapted from his film. With two of his upcoming projects, Thor: Love and Thunder and the sports comedy-drama Next Goal Wins, slated to be released this year and next year respectively, we’re taking a look at Waititi’s entire feature directorial filmography, ranking them from worst to best.
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6 Eagle Vs. Shark
Hoyts Distribution
Waititi’s feature directorial debut tells the quirky story of two unlikely social outcasts that find their way through love in the middle of a series of conflicts and delusions. Though written by Taika, the story was a collaborative effort conceived by both him and his then-partner, Loren Horsley (who also stars in the film). While having a unique twist on the usual rom-com tropes, Eagle Vs. Shark suffered heavy comparisons to Jared Hess’ Napoleon Dynamite, a feel-good film which was released three years prior. It was evident that Taika was still finding his niche in this film by adapting various themes and styles used by other filmmakers. However, what made this movie stand on its own was its strong writing. Waititi and Horsley had a great grasp on the characters, knowing them through and through. Plus, having Jemaine Clement (who would go on to be Taika’s frequent collaborator) elevated the film through his eccentric performance.
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5 Boy
Transmission Films / Madman Entertainment / Kino Lorber
Waititi’s second feature directorial venture is a heartwarming coming-of-age tale about an 11-year-old boy and his relationship with his criminal father, who returns home in search of his bag of money buried in the grounds of the area. The film is based on his 2004 Academy award-winning short film Two Cars, One Night and, according to Waititi, the first draft of this screenplay was written back in 2005 before he began working on Eagle Vs. Shark. Aside from writing and directing, Taika also starred in the film, playing the narcissistic ex-convict father of the titular character, “Boy.” The film expands on Waititi’s ability to see the humor out of the mundane and ordinary. Plus, having the story told from the eyes of a child allowed him to include quirky visual fantasies while still remaining as grounded and realistic as possible.
4 Jojo Rabbit
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Following the success of Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi’s next film was a risky one - a coming-of-age dramedy set in Nazi Germany about a young boy (and his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler) who finds out about a Jewish girl hiding in the attic of their home. Jojo Rabbit is a film that would probably never get made had Taika not proven that he is a very bankable filmmaker. Aesthetically, the film is reminiscent of Wes Anderson, but filled with Waititi’s wit, charm, and signature style of taking a bland situation (often from a child’s perspective) and making it funny. However, aside from being just another comedy, Jojo Rabbit is also filled with a lot of heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments, especially from a phenomenal Scarlett Johansson. Taika also stars in this one, this time playing the role of the Nazi leader himself in a warped, subversive take on Hitler which reveals how much of an ignorant buffoon the mosnter really wa. The film was met with rave reviews, earning Waititi an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards.
3 Thor: Ragnarok
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Marvel Cinematic Universe needs no introduction at this point, as they’re essentially the biggest blockbuster franchise in cinema today. However, there was a dire need to save the God of Thunder after the rather disappointing Thor: The Dark World. Enter,Taika Waititi, who, prior to this, had only made a handful of local independent films in New Zealand. The iconoclastic comical director was a ridiculous risk on the part of producers, but who would’ve thought that he was exactly what the franchise needed? Infusing his signature quirky humor into a mainstream cinematic formula, Thor: Ragnarok proved to be a massive success, becoming the highest-grossing and the best of the Thor films. It perfectly balanced the action with humor, telling a story about a broken family with their world at stake as Hela, the sister of Thor, arrives to destroy Asgard. In addition to this, Waititi also played double duty serving as director as well as performing motion capture and providing the voice to one of the best comic reliefs in the MCU, the lovable being made of rock, Korg.
2 What We Do in the Shadows
Madman Entertainment / Unison/Paladin
Widely regarded as one of his best works, What We Do in the Shadows first came into fruition back in 2005 as a short film directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. The feature-length film further expands on the idea of what it’s like to live as a vampire, or more so what vampires do behind closed doors in the banality of their day-to-day life. That premise alone allows for comedy to flow naturally, and both Clement (who shares writing and directing credits) and Waititi take every opportunity to deliver pure entertainment, never once missing a batty beat. The movie takes full advantage of its mockumentary style of filmmaking, which takes this bizarre and macabre concept into a certain realm of realism. In addition to that, What We Do in the Shadows has also been made into a great television series that premiered on FX in 2019.
1 Hunt For the Wilderpeople
Piki Films / Madman Entertainment
Waititi’s fourth feature film is a unique adventure with a whole lot of heart. Hunt for the Wilderpeople tells the story of a foster child and his newly widowed and grizzled guardian who are being hunted by law enforcement after running into the New Zealand bush. The film mostly takes place in the bush and primarily focuses on these two characters, so even the slightest misstep from them would ultimately botch the entire project. Thankfully, that’s not the case here as the leads, played by Sam Neill and an adorable and brilliant Julian Dennison, do a phenomenal job and carry the narrative flawlessly. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of the best coming-of-age tales of all time, and one that feels like Waititi has perfected over the years since Boy. The film was also the first to gross more than NZ$1 million on its opening weekend at the New Zealand box office, and perfectly combines Waititi’s penchant for comedy and action through a heartwarming childlike sense of wonder.
