Taika Waititi broke out with a string of offbeat, big-hearted New Zealand comedies before Marvel handed him the keys to Thor, and his career since has been a fascinating tug-of-war between the two. I’ve reviewed every one of his features since What We Do in the Shadows (and talked with him about Hunt for the Wilderpeople), and my takes on a few have shifted since I first wrote about them, so this order doesn’t always track the original grades. His newest film, Klara and the Sun, hits theaters October 23. Here are his movies, ranked from worst to best.
Quick list:
- What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
- Jojo Rabbit (2019)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Next Goal Wins (2023)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
6. THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (2022)
It’s probably safe to define Thor: Love and Thunder by what it is not. It is not as good as its predecessor, Ragnarok. Going a step further, it’s definitely the worst of the Thor-centric movies (the maligned Dark World included), an unnecessary addendum to the character’s story that tries to hide its lack of narrative prowess underneath colorful sets and costumes and behind Chris Hemsworth’s impressive god bod.Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
5. NEXT GOAL WINS (2023)
How far the once-bright star of Taika Waititi had fallen. Next Goal Wins is a cliché-driven, pop-culture-reference-drenched collection of underdog sports-drama beats with a side of sedated comedy. When I reviewed it, I called it his worst effort to date. With a little distance, Love and Thunder has taken that crown.Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
4. THOR: RAGNAROK (2017)
Pulsing with side-splitting energy, Thor: Ragnarok thrives working outside the boundaries of the tightly wound, hawkishly overlorded Marvel Cinematic Universe. A neon-plated smear of laughs bursting with colorful characters and jaw-dangling FX work, it really is something to marvel at when viewed as a comedy, even if it’s limited by the usual cinematic-universe constraints.Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
3. JOJO RABBIT (2019)
As seemingly improbable as Schindler’s List with an added laugh track, Jojo Rabbit’s very premise is a bold thought experiment: how do you make modern audiences comfortable laughing at WWII-era Nazism? Waititi pulls it off like a pro, guiding a great cast and more-than-meets-the-eye characters to a heartfelt, deeply funny and meaningful conclusion.Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
2. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (2016)
A more grounded venture than What We Do in the Shadows (but then again, what isn’t?), Hunt for the Wilderpeople maintains Waititi’s ironic, largely innocent sense of humor while injecting a fair measure of heart. It’s a genuinely hilarious, emotionally engaging tale of a naughty foster kid and his surrogate uncle on the run in the bush, and Sam Neill and Julian Dennison have uncommon comic chemistry.Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review · My interview with Taika Waititi
1. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2014)
A New Zealand-born farcical documentary lovingly made in the droll tradition of Christopher Guest, What We Do in the Shadows finds co-directors Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi stepping into the Cinderella shoe of the great Guest. The comedy swings between deadpan and slapstick, Rhys Darby steals scenes (“We’re werewolves, not swearwolves!”), and the result is an unwaveringly tongue-in-cheek, ticking time bomb of a cult classic that is singular and singularly hilarious.Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
FAQ
What is the best Taika Waititi movie?
By my ranking, What We Do in the Shadows (2014) is Taika Waititi’s best film, followed by Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016).
What is the worst Taika Waititi movie?
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) sits at the bottom of my ranking, just below Next Goal Wins (2023).
Where should I start with Taika Waititi?
Start with What We Do in the Shadows, then Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Together they show off his deadpan humor and big heart.
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By: Matt Oakes
Started blogging about film in college when the university paper wouldn’t have him. Dislikes your consensus film Twitter favorites. Devotee of horror movies that make him die a little inside. Catches films at festivals when he can. Proud SFCS and OFCS member and Tomatometer-approved critic. Editor-in-chief of Silver Screen Riot.
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