Over the past two decades, largely thanks to the global success of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, New Zealand has become a busy hub for filmmaking. Although the country’s industry is relatively small and remote, a handful of internationally recognized directors have shaped film culture far beyond the island chain. Directors such as Jane Campion, Peter Jackson, Andrew Niccol and, notably, Taika Waititi stand out for their influence. This article ranks the films directed by Taika Waititi.
Waititi began his career in comedy and theatre as a performer, then moved into filmmaking with short films including the Oscar-nominated Two Cars, One Night and an early version of What We Do in the Shadows. He later directed episodes of the HBO musical sitcom Flight of the Conchords, invited by friend and co-star Jemaine Clement. As a writer-director, Waititi became known for his deadpan Kiwi humour, eccentric characters, and a gift for finding the absurd in everyday situations—especially within strained family relationships.
With eight feature films to his name and many more film and TV projects in development, Waititi has been extremely active, often appearing in his own films and in projects by close collaborators. In this edition of Ranked, we evaluate each of Taika Waititi’s feature directorial efforts from worst to best, taking into account critical response, audience connection, and the distinctiveness of his voice. These are the Taika Waititi films, ranked.
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8. Next Goal Wins (2023)
Next Goal Wins Review
Heartfelt and well-intentioned, Next Goal Wins nevertheless requires a tolerance for Waititi’s eccentric style and his fondness for colourful cameos. Adapted from a 2014 documentary of the same name, the film follows American Samoa—the worst international football team—as they try to score goals and rebuild under the direction of a short-tempered European coach, Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender).
The central question is whether a feature adaptation was necessary when a documentary already told this story. The film retells familiar beats while leaning into sports-movie conventions. The Polynesian cast delivers solid performances, and the self-deprecating humour lands at times, producing a few feel-good moments. Still, this entry feels uneven and ultimately less essential within Waititi’s body of work.
7. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor: Love and Thunder Review
Thor: Love and Thunder delivers jokes and rom-com elements but struggles to balance tone as successfully as Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is drawn back from his carefree adventures to confront Gorr the God-Butcher (Christian Bale), while Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) returns as the Mighty Thor as she battles cancer.
The film highlights some performances—Portman and Bale stand out—and offers memorable set pieces, including a striking black-and-white sequence in the Shadow Realm. However, it unevenly distributes screen time: comic relief Korg receives heavy focus while characters like Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie are sidelined. Overall, it’s entertaining in places but inconsistent as a whole.
6. Boy (2010)
Taika Waititi’s breakthrough second feature focuses on a Maori community and centers on Boy (James Rolleston), a child who escapes into a vivid imagination and a love of Michael Jackson. When his absent and unreliable father (played by Waititi) returns, Boy must reconcile the longing for connection with the disappointment of a parent who has let him down.
James Rolleston anchors the film with a natural and affecting performance, carrying both the humour and the heartbreak. Waititi treats heavy themes—grief, abandonment, and resilience—with a matter-of-fact tenderness, balancing bittersweet moments with levity. While Boy sits lower on this ranking, it remains an award-winning, heartfelt film that helped establish Waititi’s voice.
5. Eagle vs Shark (2007)
Waititi’s feature debut reads at first like an offbeat romantic comedy but gradually reveals a sensitive understanding of depression and emotional isolation. Lily (Loren Taylor) and Jarrod (Jemaine Clement) are awkward, endearing misfits who forge a connection through unexpected circumstances, including an animal-themed costume party and a road trip to confront Jarrod’s past.
Beneath its quirky surface, the film explores the challenges of communication, mental health, and the difficulty of forming meaningful relationships. Its oddball tone won’t suit every viewer, but its honesty and warmth make it a memorable early example of Waititi’s ability to mix humour with emotional depth.
4. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Jojo Rabbit Review
An Academy Award winner that proved divisive, Jojo Rabbit turns satire on the mundanity of evil. The film follows Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a German boy who idolizes Hitler and joins the Hitler Youth until his worldview is upended when he discovers Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), a Jewish teenager hiding in his attic.
Waititi’s portrayal of Jojo’s imaginary friend Adolf Hitler shifts from a misguided older-brother figure to a jealous bully and finally a pathetic presence as Jojo matures. The film balances absurdist comedy with genuine heartbreak and tackles its subject with a surprising lightness and moral clarity, using satire to examine fanaticism and indoctrination.
3. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok Review
Waititi revitalised the Thor franchise with Ragnarok, injecting irreverent humour, vibrant visuals inspired by comic art, and a sense of playful invention. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, alongside a stellar supporting cast—including Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett and Jeff Goldblum—benefits from Waititi’s knack for energetic, character-driven comedy.
The film combines big-budget spectacle with grounded comedic beats, yielding memorable supporting turns such as Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie and Waititi’s own Korg. It mixes jokes with a larger narrative about colonialism and displacement, all while delivering some of the MCU’s most enjoyable moments.
2. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Waititi’s most widely accessible film is a mockumentary about vampires who live together and allow a documentary crew to capture their mundane domestic routines. The result is a consistently funny and inventive comedy that transforms supernatural horror tropes into everyday roommate squabbles.
A household of bickering vampires—Viago (Waititi), Vladislav the Poker (Jemaine Clement) and Deacon (Jonathan Brugh)—navigate chores, clashing personalities, and a rare night out in Wellington, where they encounter rival werewolves and absurd situations. The film’s strength lies in rendering the uncanny ordinary, pairing sharp jokes with fully-realised characters and pitch-perfect comic timing.
1. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
At the top of the list is Hunt for the Wilderpeople, a warm, funny, and heartfelt fable about outcasts who find family in unexpected places. After a personal tragedy, foster kid Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) flees into the New Zealand bush with his gruff foster uncle Hec (Sam Neill), while a determined social worker (Rachel House) pursues them.
Ricky and Hec are quintessential Waititi characters—misfits who do not fit into polite society yet discover empathy and bonding through shared trials. The film’s storybook structure, quotable dialogue, and darkly comic set pieces—such as a memorably irreverent funeral scene—combine to create a moving, endlessly quotable adventure. It is the most fully realised synthesis of Waititi’s humour and heart.
Do you agree with this ranking of Taika Waititi’s films? Does his offbeat comic sensibility resonate with you, or does it grate? Should he continue directing Hollywood blockbusters, focus on smaller New Zealand projects, or pursue a mix of both? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow @thefilmagazine for more curated movie lists.