How a single camera captured New Zealand's highest-grossing domestic film
When Taika Waititi directed Hunt for the Wilderpeople, he didn't need a massive crew. Using a single camera and a modest budget, this 2016 adventure comedy transformed a story about foster care and flight into a global phenomenon, breaking long-standing box office records in its home country.
Released in New Zealand on 31 March 2016, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is an adaptation of Barry Crump’s 1986 novel, Wild Pork and Watercress. The film follows Ricky Baker, a foster child, and his foster uncle, Hector, as they flee into the bush to evade a nationwide manhunt. While the story began as a faithful adaptation of the book, director Taika Waititi’s later drafts moved away from the source material to create something more unique.
The production was remarkably efficient. Shot over just five weeks in locations such as the Waitākere Ranges and the Central Plateau, the film relied on a single camera. The budget was approximately NZ$4.5 million, supported by a NZ$2 million contribution from the New Zealand Film Commission. Despite these lean resources, the film achieved massive commercial success, grossing NZ$12 million in New Zealand and breaking the opening weekend record of NZ$1,263,000, surpassing the 1999 record held by What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?.
The film's impact extended far beyond its borders, earning US$23.2 million globally. Critics lauded the chemistry between stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 97% score. Beyond the box office, the film's legacy is defined by its ability to blend comedy with poignant themes of survival and family, eventually being named the number one film of 2016 by Empire magazine.
Source: Hunt for the Wilderpeople
