Hunt for the Wilderpeople
An offbeat, heartwarming buddy comedy that blends infectious absurdity with profound grief. As two misfit outcasts flee into the untamed New Zealand wilderness, they discover that the most majestical journey is navigating the wild landscape of the human heart.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Hunt for the Wilderpeople

"Nature just got gangster."

22 January 2016 New Zealand 101 min ⭐ 7.7 (2,256)
Director: Taika Waititi
Cast: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne
Drama Comedy Adventure
Belonging and Found Family Grief, Loss, and Healing The Flaws of the Judicial and Welfare Systems Harmony with Nature
Budget: $2,500,000
Box Office: $23,900,000

Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

I'll never stop running! ... Yeah, and I'll never stop chasing you. I'm relentless, I'm like the Terminator.

— Ricky Baker and Paula Hall

Context:

Shouted across a valley during a standoff in the bush, establishing the cat-and-mouse dynamic of the film.

Meaning:

This exchange highlights the absurdity of Paula's character, treating a child welfare case like a high-stakes action movie. It also emphasizes Ricky's unbreakable desire for freedom.

Trees. Birds. Rivers. Sky. / Running with my Uncle Hec / Living forever.

— Ricky Baker

Context:

Ricky recites this haiku to Hec while they are staying at Psycho Sam's hideout.

Meaning:

A beautiful summation of Ricky's emotional growth. He has found peace in nature and fully accepted Hec as his family, achieving a sense of immortality through their bond.

Me and this fat kid / We ran we ate and read books / And it was the best.

— Hector Faulkner

Context:

Hec reads this haiku to Ricky when the boy visits him at a rehabilitation center after Hec has served time.

Meaning:

A poignant, full-circle moment proving Hec's personal growth. He has learned to read, embraced Ricky's method of emotional expression, and admitted how much their time together meant to him.

You know, sometimes in life it seems like there's no way out. Like a sheep trapped in a maze designed by wolves.

— The Minister

Context:

Delivered by the eccentric minister (played by director Taika Waititi) during Bella's funeral.

Meaning:

While intended as a darkly comedic, unhelpful eulogy, it inadvertently serves as a metaphor for Ricky and Hec's struggle against the oppressive systems of society.