Our cinematic landscape is a much richer, more rewarding place with Taika Waititi in it. To date, the enviably gifted, self-effacing, and wildly stylish New Zealand-born director has helmed bizarro cult favorites, crossover indie hits, arguably the most divisive movie of this year’s Toronto Film Festival, and a comic-book behemoth for Marvel Studios. What’s even more impressive than Waititi’s eclectic filmography is that he’s somehow managed to leave his own unmistakable creative stamp on each one of these projects, be it a romantic comedy about two Kiwi geeks or a blockbuster about a buff, blonde, hammer-wielding Norse God.

Continue reading The Films Of Taika Waititi: An Essentials Retrospective at The Playlist.

One of the best movies of the summer doesn’t have any superheroes in it, but delivers an adventure story with as much wit and entertainment as anything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all wrapped up in a giant, genuine heart. That may be why Marvel has hired “Hunt For The Wilderpeople” director Taika Waititi for “Thor: Ragnarok,” but before that blockbuster arrives next year, you’d be best advised to track down the New Zealand indie charmer, because it definitely hits the sweet spot, and to get you ready, we have an instructional little exclusive you’ll want to check out.

Continue reading Exclusive: ‘Hunt For The Wilderpeople’ Director Taika Waititi Explains What “Skux” Means at The Playlist.

Keeping the movie out of reach of most critics, 20th Century Fox could already see the writing on the wall about “Independence Day: Resurgence,” but the final numbers have confirmed what happens when you make a sequel to a movie starring Will Smith without Will Smith.

READ MORE: The Uninspired ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ Is Recycled, Disjointed Mush [Review]

‘Resurgence’ brought mega-destruction to cinemas to the tune of $41 million, falling behind the $50 million opening weekend haul of the original “Independence Day.” This may be a signal that director Roland Emmerich‘s particular brand of blockbuster moviemaking is now somewhat passé.

Continue reading ‘Finding Dory’ Keeps Swimming, Stays Ahead Of ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ [Box Office] at The Playlist.

As folks dust off their air conditioners for another hot summer, The Playlist and moviegoers alike are preparing for another kind of scorching hot intensity, the Hollywood hype machine. While we’re busy critiquing the films and analyzing the box office, we hope you good folks are able to enjoy some good nights out at the movies. But as ever, there’s an unwieldy minefield of choices that reach into and well beyond your local multiplex. Take a wrong step, and you may just end up hitting a bomb.

Continue reading 14 Films To See In June at The Playlist.

Watch: New U.S. Trailer For Taika Waititi's Comedy 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople'

Continue reading Watch: New U.S. Trailer For Taika Waititi’s Comedy ‘Hunt For The Wilderpeople’ at The Playlist.

Watch: New Trailer For Taika Waititi's Adventure Comedy 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople'

Continue reading Watch: New Trailer For Taika Waititi’s Adventure Comedy ‘Hunt For The Wilderpeople’ at The Playlist.