Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a 2016 New Zealand film written and directed by Taika Waititi, based on the book Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump and stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison. The film premiered In Competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on 22 January 2016. The film opened New Zealand wide on 31 March 2016, setting box office records for highest-grossing opening weekend and highest-grossing first week for a New Zealand film.
Ricky Baker (Dennison), a defiant young city kid, is sent by child welfare services to live in the country with foster aunt Bella and cantankerous foster uncle Hec (Neill). When Bella suddenly passes away and child services decide to take Ricky back to a care home, Ricky runs away into the bush with uncle Hec in pursuit. Child services arrive to find the house empty, and come to the conclusion a bereaved and mentally unstable Hec has abducted Ricky. A national manhunt ensues, and the two have to get over their differences to survive.