Record Breaking Run for Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Record Breaking Run for Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople continues to break box office records, taking the number two slot in the list of highest grossing local films at the New Zealand box office. At the close of business on Wednesday 27 April, Hunt for the Wilderpeople had taken $7,399,091 to soar past previous second-place film, The World’s Fastest Indian which grossed $7,047,000 when it was released in 2005.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople began its record breaking run by taking the biggest opening weekend gross for a New Zealand film with $1,263,035 in the four days after its release on 31 March. The film then went on to break previous opening week records, taking $1,745,090 in its first seven days.

Waititi is no stranger to record breaking. Boy, which grossed $9,322,000 in 2010 remains the highest grossing local film at the New Zealand box office. Waititi (with co-director Jemaine Clement) also holds the seventh slot on the top box office list for 2014’s What We Do in the Shadows which grossed $2,595, 000. When told of the achievement, Waititi said “I would like to say it’s a life long dream come true and now I feel complete, but to be honest, I won’t be happy until I have all three top spots.”

Written and directed by Taika Waititi and produced by Carthew Neal, Leanne Saunders, Matt Noonan and Waititi, Hunt for the Wilderpeople stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison. Inspired by Barry Crump’s novel,Wild Pork and Watercress, the film recounts the story of misfit kid Ricky Baker. Ricky finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive in this heartwarming adventure comedy.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople can be seen at over 100 screens throughout New Zealand. It is due to open in Australian cinemas on 26 May and scheduled for a US release on 24 June.

ENDS

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