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Gaming fans might be shocked to realize that a commercial for the Xbox Series X that starred Halo‘s Master Chief as a space DJ cat was actually directed by the Oscar-winning Taika Waititi. It’s hardly the first of the talented writer/director’s works that have caused movie fans and the industry to take notice.
Waititi’s movies have ranged from incredibly personal works that highlight his home country of New Zealand to hilarious blockbusters that have relaunched stagnant franchises and made the director a sought-after name in Hollywood who will even be helming his own Star Wars film. In such an eclectic filmography, which projects stand out as the best Taika Waititi movies?
Updated July 9, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Taika Waititi is among the most exciting filmmakers working in Hollywood today. Whether directing a Marvel blockbuster or a quirky indie comedy about vampires, each Waititi project is a unique experience that could have only come out of the brain of this creator from New Zealand. Although certain traits are present in all of his movies, Waititi loves to stretch himself wide, resulting in a diverse filmography with various distinct peaks. With Thor: Love and Thunder arriving in theaters across the world, the director is back in the public discourse, but how does the MCU film hold up alongside Taika Waititi’s greatest movies?
8 Eagle Vs. Shark (2007) – 56%
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 67% |
|---|---|
| Where to Stream | N/A |
Taika Waititi wrote and directed his debut feature film, 2007’s Eagle vs. Shark which was based on the character of Lily from star Loren Horsley. She’s a shy songwriter with a crush on a local video game store employee.
Waititi teamed with frequent collaborator Jemaine Clement in the other main role, furthering the pair’s ongoing creative relationship from other projects like Flight of the Conchords with fellow New Zealand comedian and musician, Bret McKenzie. The film suffered from unfair comparisons to other alternative comedies like Napolean Dynamite but has since developed a cult following.
7 Thor: Love And Thunder (2022) – 69%
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 86% |
|---|---|
| Where to Stream | Currently in Theaters |
Nowadays, Thor is one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Taika Waititi deserves a lot of credit for revitalizing the Norse god following two middling solo outings. A critical and commercial success, Thor: Ragnarok cast a vast shadow over Asgard, so it is hardly surprising that the movie’s sequel, Love and Thunder, largely tries to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps. Consequently, the 2022 film feels considerably less fresh than Ragnarok.
Still, the MCU and Waititi can be forgiven for deciding to not mess with a good thing, and Thor: Love and Thunder is still an entertaining space romp filled with larger-than-life personalities who all really enjoy a good one-liner. The director has made a career out of exploring dark humor and morbid camp, but out of all of his movies, this superhero flick struggles the most in balancing its jovial tone with its more serious moments. Criticisms aside, Love and Thunder is still an ambitious space opera that reaches some spectacular highs, along with introducing moviegoers to Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor.
6 Jojo Rabbit (2019) – 80%
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 94% |
|---|---|
| Where to Stream | N/A |
Viewers were a little surprised by Taika Waititi’s role in 2019’s Jojo Rabbit, which was an adaptation of Caging Skies by Christine Leunens that followed Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a young boy in Nazi Germany who is forced to question his indoctrinated beliefs when he discovers his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic.
Waititi played a darkly comedic Adolf Hitler, a figment of Jojo’s imagination who represented the years of forced Nazi ideals as Jojo struggled with his newly-discovered house guest and their developing friendship. The film was well-received by fans and critics alike, both for its unique blend of dark comedy and important commentary on the hatred that fueled the second World War.
5 Boy (2010) – 88%
While Eagle vs. Shark was Taika Waititi’s directorial debut, he had begun working on the screenplay for 2010’s Boy, which he refined over the next few years before he began filming on the New Zealand-set movie. Boy follows young Māori child, Alamein (James Rolleston), who is also known as “Boy.” Though, he’s quick to tell anyone that he shares his name with his father who suddenly comes back into his life after years away.
Waititi plays Boy’s father as the film explores their relationship following the tragic loss of the family’s mother, leaving the older brother to take care of his younger sibling, Rocky. Boy was praised by both fans and critics for its deeply touching story and well-developed characters, not to mention the always stunning locales of New Zealand.
4 Bonus: Doctor Strange (2016) – 89%
| Director of Full Movie | Scott Derrickson |
|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 86% |
| Where to Stream | Disney+ |
While Scott Derrickson directed 2016’s Doctor Strange, which introduced the titular Sorcerer Supreme to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Waititi did write and direct the mid-credit scene that teased the meeting between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange that would occur in Waititi’s own MCU entry.
The uncredited scene served to introduce Doctor Strange into the larger world of the MCU which followed similar traditions in previous Marvel film debuts that either teased a new character or featured a cameo from previously established heroes. This served to further flesh out the shared cinematic universe. Waititi’s scene from Doctor Strange did appear in the following film, though it was expanded and recut.
3 Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – 93%
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 87% |
|---|---|
| Where to Stream | Disney+ |
Taika Waititi joined the pantheon of great directors in the MCU when he signed on for the third entry in the Thor franchise, which had formerly been very Shakespearean dramas that separated themselves from the rest of the MCU’s film slate. 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok took a more comedic approach that was instantly recognizable to fans of Waititi’s earlier films.
Waititi even joined the film as a cast member to personally voice the character, Korg. This choice helped bring the character to a brand new audience which helped revitalize the franchise, alongside the inclusion of the fan-favorite Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a loose adaptation of the Planet Hulk storyline. Ragnarok was such a success both financially and among fans that Taika Waititi was brought back for Thor: Love and Thunder.
2 What We Do In The Shadows (2014) – 96%
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 87% |
|---|---|
| Where to Stream | Kanopy |
Taika Waititi reteamed with Jemaine Clement for 2014’s What We Do In The Shadows, which followed a documentary team as they filmed a group of ancient vampires who are living together in Wellington, New Zealand, as they attempt to enjoy the nightlife, avoid the hilariously clueless police, and feed on the local populace. The hilarious take on the over-saturated genre was a refreshing look at vampires that also included an unforgettable look at werewolves, featuring a great cameo from Rhys Darby, who also starred on HBO’s Flight of the Conchords.
What We Do In The Shadows proved to be so popular with fans that it led to a TV adaptation on FX that followed a new group of vampires as they settled in America. There was even a spin-off series that followed the police officers from the movie called Wellington Paranormal.
1 Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016) – 97%
2016’s Hunt For The Wilderpeople was written and directed by Taika Waititi. The film was based on Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump, which followed similar themes of abandonment and loss as 2010’s Boy. Troubled young orphan, Ricky (Julian Dennison), and his widowed adoptive father figure, Hec (Sam Neill), escape into the wilderness to avoid Ricky’s return to the foster system and Hec’s possible trouble with the law.
The film featured amazing performances from a well-constructed cast that were further showcased by Waititi’s increasing skill behind the camera. It all came together for a nearly perfect critical rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
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