Top Ten Best Taika Waititi Movies: It's Impossible To Prepare For The Emotional Impact That Taika Waititi Brings To Each Of His Movies
Taika Waititi/(About this sound) is a New Zealand film and television director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and comedian. He was born on August 16, 1975, and is known professionally as Taika Waititi,(About this sound). He has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award.
Author:Elisa MuellerReviewer:Iram MartinsOct 09, 2021900 Shares128.5K Views
Taika Waititi/(About this sound) is a New Zealand film and television director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and comedian. He was born on August 16, 1975, and is known professionally as Taika Waititi,(About this sound). He has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award. Both Boy (2010) and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) were both New Zealand's highest-grossing movies.
Waititi was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for his short film, Two Cars, One Night, released in 2004. With Jemaine Clement, he co-wrote, co-directed, and acted in the horror-comedy film What We Do in the Shadows (2014), which was later turned into a TV series of the same name (2019–present). The show has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in Primetime.
His most recent directorial efforts include the blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and the dark comedy Jojo Rabbit (2019), both of which he also wrote and acted as a fictional Adolf Hitler. Jojo Rabbit was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, which it won. Waititi was also nominated for a Grammy for the music he created for the film. He also portrays the character IG-11 in the television series The Mandalorian (2019–present), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.
Waititi was a member of the five-member ensemble So You're a Man while at Victoria University, which had some success touring New Zealand and Australia. In 1999, he and Jemaine Clement formed the comic team The Humourbeasts, which won New Zealand's top comedy award, the Billy T Award. Waititi started producing comedic short films for New Zealand's annual 48-hour film festival, among a range of other creative pursuits.
He received an Academy Award nomination in 2005 for his short film, Two Cars, One Night. He famously pretended to fall asleep as the nominees were being announced during the awards ceremony. Eagle versus Shark, his debut feature film, was released in limited release in the United States in 2007. Lily is played by Loren Horsley, Waititi's then-real-life girlfriend. Waititi wrote and directed one episode of Flight of the Conchords and directed another that year.
Jojo Rabbit 2019
Waititi's most recent film, Jojo Rabbit, maybe the first of his directing and screenplay efforts to win an Academy Award, but I don't believe we should let that accolade overshadow this one. Jojo Rabbit recounts the tale of Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a young German child growing up during World War II, and is based on the 2008 Christine Leunens book Caging Skies.
Jojo is so fascinated with his country's ruler, Adolf Hitler, that he's made an imaginary buddy that looks like him. Jojo, like his buddy York, is eager to help his nation in any way he can, so he joins the Hitler Youth (Archie Yates). When Jojo learns that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is concealing a Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic, his life takes a turn for the worst.
Jojo Rabbit revisits several of the topics that have been explored in earlier films, including the discomfort of growing up and finding one's place in the world among life's absurdities. This, like Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, is told from the viewpoint of a young boy who feels he is ready for adulthood but soon learns there is more to becoming an adult than he thought.
While Jojo Rabbit accomplishes all of this in a flashier, sleeker way than some of his past works, the date of the film's release and its treatment of the subject matter with Waititi portraying a silly, stupid Hitler and the mocking of Nazi Germany are a little too casual for comfort. Jojo Rabbit isn't the first film to deal with children growing up during war-torn, tumultuous periods in history, and it doesn't make a compelling argument for being regarded as one of the finest.
JOJO RABBIT | Official Trailer [HD] | FOX Searchlight
Eagle Vs. Shark 2007
Waititi's early filmography consisted entirely of short films, including the one that served as inspiration for What We Do in the Shadows. Then came 2007, when his first feature film, Eagle vs. Shark, was released. Jarrod and Lily, two somewhat awkward twenty-something Australians, fall in love just as Jarrod is about to return home to murder his childhood bully in this unusual indie starring Jemaine Clement and Loren Taylor. To be clear, Jarrod doesn't necessarily have the wherewithal or skill to murder a man, but he's so hell-bent on doing so that seeing him try to properly prepare for the task is half the pleasure of Eagle vs. Shark.
The other part of the pleasure of watching Eagle vs. Shark (and what makes it such a wonderful, watchable film) is seeing how it handles these two geeky heroes as they attempt to deal with all of the huge emotions that come with being in a relationship when you have a large personality. Both Lily and Jarrod have suffered significant personal loss, and they have retreated into their own semi-fantastical worlds to deal with rejection, loneliness, and sorrow. One of the most beautiful aspects of this film is seeing them go through a second coming-of-age (of sorts) as their youthful love reveals new dimensions.
Eagle Vs. Shark (trailer)
What We Do In The Shadows 2014
It would be a shame to place What We Do in the Shadows anywhere else on this list. What We Do in the Shadows is based on a 2005 short film of the same name, which Waititi co-directed with Jemaine Clement. It follows three vampires, Viago (Waititi), Vladislav (Clement), and Deacon (Jonny Brugh), whose lives are being recorded for a documentary.
We meet the centuries-old vamps as they scrape out what seems to be both a dull night-to-night life, with disputes over chore lists and respecting roommates raging, and an exciting one, as we watch the guys drag unsuspecting victims home to feed or has the potential to be a comedic protagonist in an intergalactic war picture, according to Waititi. As is customary for Waititi, he also gave us Thor's more emotional side as he dives into his family ties and witnesses the destruction of Asgard.
The vampires, including Petyr, agree not to devour Stu, which says much about his character. Viago says 'bye, Stu' after evicting Nick from their home, emphasizing their fondness for him. Stu, on the other hand, finds himself in peril when attending the 'Unholy Masquerade.' When the other vampires find out he's a virgin, they attempt to drink his blood. Stu gets turned into a werewolf at the conclusion of the story, and he brings the werewolf and vampire communities together.
What We Do in the Shadows - Official Trailer
Green Lantern 2011
Abin Sur, who is dying, names Hal Jordan, a competent test pilot, as his successor in the Green Lantern Corps, an interplanetary police agency, and hands him the ring of abilities.
Hal must now confront the evil Parallax, rescue the world from annihilation, and win the respect of the other Green Lanterns in the process.
Green Lantern - Hal Jordan shows Tom the suit
Snakeskin 2001
Alice is bored since she lives in a little town in New Zealand where nothing exciting ever occurs. She fantasizes about an action movie set in the United States, complete with weapons, outlaws, robbery, and driving through wide-open areas where "an adventure awaits around every corner."
In the Valiant convertible that he has refurbished, she sets off on an adventure with Craig, a man who has a thing on her and whom she insists on calling Johnny. They pick up an American hitchhiker named Seth, who Alice falls in love with right away since he seems to be the genuine deal.
Out on the road, it becomes clear that Seth is being followed by a group of skinheads who want to murder him, as well as two drug traffickers in an ice cream truck who want their drug money back.
Snakeskin (2001)
Thor: Ragnarok 2007
After seeing 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, it's easy to understand why Waititi is one of Marvel's (and Disney-owned Lucasfilm's) go-to filmmakers. Thor: Ragnarok is unlike its predecessors, Thor and Thor: The Dark World, in that it is the third film in the solo Thor (Chris Hemsworth) storyline in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Thor: Ragnarok is a lot more colorful, free-spirited film, with plenty of spontaneous gags and the deadpan humor that we've come to expect from Taika Waititi. The third Thor film follows the God of Thunder as he attempts to avert Ragnarok, the cataclysmic catastrophe that has long been predicted to wipe Asgard off the face of the earth. Thor ends himself as a prisoner on the garbage planet of Sakaar, where he is forced to compete in gladiatorial games supervised by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Thor does find friends in the Avengers co-worker Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Valkyrie to aid him in his mission to restore Asgard and destroy his evil elder sister.
"Thor: Ragnarok" Official Trailer
Hunt For The Wilderpeople 2016
Waititi's penchant for utilizing deadpan humor to investigate and convey genuine human drama is combined with the director's talent for bringing out some really outstanding performances in his actors in Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Dennison and Neill are a charming, genuine duo who like Waititi's writing and directing, bouncing off one other as they play comic highs and stark tragic lows.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) | Official Trailer HD
The Captain 2013
Captain Richard Phillips assumes charge of the MV Maersk Alabama, an unarmed cargo ship sailing from Salalah, Oman, to Mombasa, Kenya, through the Guardafui Channel. He and First Officer Shane Murphy order tight security measures aboard the vessel and conduct practice exercises, fearful of pirate activity off the coast of the Horn of Africa.
The warship is pursued by Somali pirates in two skiffs during practice, and Phillips begs for assistance. He pretends to contact a battleship, seeking urgent air assistance, knowing that the pirates are listening to radio communications. The second skiff, manned by four heavily armed pirates commanded by Abduwali Muse, loses engine power while attempting to navigate through Maersk Alabama's wake.
THE CAPTAIN - Official U.S. HD Trailer
Tongan Ninja 2002
When his aircraft crashes and his father is devoured by piranhas, a little boy is left in Tonga. He practices at a dojo there till he gains the moniker "Tongan Ninja." The Tongan Ninja is sent to New Zealand's island country in order to assist his master's brother with his failing Chinese restaurant.
However, the enigmatic Mister Big stands in the way of the eatery's success by dispatching a slew of villains, including Knife Man, Gun Man, and Action Fighter, to keep the restaurant closed and the staff terrified. Mr. Big's ninja headquarters at the So-Called-Syndicate must be visited by the Tongan Ninja in order to put an end to his criminal empire once and for all.
Tongan Ninja (2002) Full Movie
Boy 2010
The 2010 film by Taika Waititi Kid is about an 11-year-old Maori boy who is fascinated with Michael Jackson coming to know his father, Alamein (Waititi), who has just been released from prison.
Boy, a huge success in New Zealand broke box office records for a local film after being workshopped at the Sundance Writers Lab and addressing coming-of-age themes that the director subsequently explored further in Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Jojo Rabbit.
Boy (2010) Trailer
Elisa Mueller
Author
Elisa Mueller, a Kansas City native, grew up surrounded by the wonders of books and movies, inspired by her parents' passion for education and film.
She earned bachelor's degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Kansas before moving to New York City, where she spent a decade at Entertainment Weekly, visiting film sets worldwide.
With over 8 years in the entertainment industry, Elisa is a seasoned journalist and media analyst, holding a degree in Journalism from NYU. Her insightful critiques have been featured in prestigious publications, cementing her reputation for accuracy and depth.
Outside of work, she enjoys attending film festivals, painting, writing fiction, and studying numerology.
Iram Martins
Reviewer
Iram Martins is a seasoned travel writer and explorer with over a decade of experience in uncovering the world's hidden gems. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management from the University of Lisbon, Iram's credentials highlight his authority in the realm of travel.
As an author of numerous travel guides and articles for top travel publications, his writing is celebrated for its vivid descriptions and practical insights.
Iram’s passion for cultural immersion and off-the-beaten-path adventures shines through in his work, captivating readers and inspiring wanderlust.
Outside of his writing pursuits, Iram enjoys learning new languages, reviewing films and TV shows, writing about celebrity lifestyles, and attending cultural festivals.
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