Hunt for the Wilderpeople (/ˈwɪldəpiːpəl/ WIL-duh-peep-ul) is a 2016 New Zealand adventure comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi, whose screenplay was based on the book Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump.

Sam Neill and Julian Dennison play "Uncle" Hector and Ricky Baker; a father figure and foster son who become the targets of a manhunt after fleeing into the New Zealand bush.

When she suddenly dies of a stroke, Hector is informed that Ricky will be relocated by state services, represented by the agent Paula Hall.

Not wanting to return to the foster care system, Ricky sloppily fakes his own death while burning down Hector and Bella's shed and runs off into the bush.

Ricky comes across Kahu, whom he becomess smitten with, and after doing photos with her father and a song sung by her at night he accidentally falls asleep.

After his burial, Ricky reveals that he has been carrying Bella's ashes, so they scatter them into a waterfall high in a mountain range.

After five months of survival in the wild and numerous near misses, they are eventually found due to Sam connecting Ricky's mobile to the internet.

The pair are apprehended while trying to escape in "Crumpy", Sam's red 1980s Toyota Hilux, and Ricky unintentionally shoots Hector.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Hunt for the Wilderpeople received a score of 97%, based on 201 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10.

The site's critical consensus reads: "The charmingly offbeat Hunt for the Wilderpeople unites a solid cast, a talented filmmaker, and a poignant, funny, deeply affecting message.

[19] In his review, Hamish Popplestone remarked: "Though both flawed, Neill's and Dennison's characters are so, so charming on-screen and are fully apt at weaving through the dramatic, comedic, and sad points of the script.