Taika Waititi
☼ Born on 16 December 1975, in Wellington, New Zealand
Biography
Taika Waititi, also known as Taika Cohen, hails from the Raukokore region of the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, and is the son of Robin (Cohen), a teacher, and Taika Waititi, an artist and farmer. His father is Maori (Te-Whanau-a-Apanui), and his mother is of Ashkenazi Jewish, Irish, Scottish, and English descent. Taika has been involved in the film industry for several years, initially as an actor, and now focusing on writing and directing.
Two Cars, One Night is Taika's first professional film-making effort and since its completion in 2003 he has finished another short "Tama Tu" about a group of Maori Soldiers in Italy during World War 2. As a performer and comedian, Taika has been involved in some of the most innovative and successful original productions seen in New Zealand. He regularly does stand-up gigs in and around the country and in 2004 launched his solo production, "Taika's Incredible Show". In 2005 he staged the sequel, "Taika's Incrediblerer Show". As an actor, Taika has been critically acclaimed for both his Comedic and Dramatic abilities. In 2000 he was nominated for Best Actor at the Nokia Film Awards for his role in the Sarkies Brother's film "Scarfies".
Taika is also an experienced painter and photographer, having exhibited both mediums in Wellington and Berlin, and a fashion designer. He attended the Sundance Writers Lab with "Choice", a feature loosely based on "Two Cars, One Night".
Taika became a blockbuster director with his film Thor:
(click to expand)
Ragnarok (2017), and received critical acclaim, and a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, for his film Jojo Rabbit (2019).
In the role of actor
Next Goal Wins (16/11/2023)
A down-on-his-luck soccer manager is hired to coach the American Samoa national team in Next Goal Wins. Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) is a temperamental Dutch-American soccer coach who is sent by American Soccer Federation head Alex Magnussen (Will Arnett) to coach the American Somoa National Team, a move recommended by Thomas’ ex-wife Gail (Elisabeth Moss). […]
Thor: Love and Thunder (11/07/2022)
The God of Thunder is reunited with his ex-girlfriend to face off against a new threat in Thor: Love and Thunder. After spending some time travelling with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Earth to protect New Asgard from an attack by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who ends up […]
Lightyear (18/06/2022)
The story of the Space Ranger who inspired the toy is told in Lightyear. Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans) is a Space Ranger of Star Command who travels to the planet of T’Kani Prime with his commanding officer and friend Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba), discovering relatively quickly that the planet is quite hostile. However, the exploration […]
Free Guy (19/08/2021)
A bank teller finds out that he is part of a video game in Free Guy. Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is an extremely optimistic bank teller living in Free City, completely oblivious to the wanton carnage happening around the city, including the daily bank robberies experienced by both himself and his security guard friend Buddy (Lil Rel […]
2011 (20/08/2020)
An isolated film editor is tormented by his mysterious neighbour in 2011. The Tenant from 2011 (Émile Schneider) is a young film editor currently working on a feature film The Burning Flesh for independent director Hugo (Hugolin Chevrette). However, the tenant begins to fall into his anxieties through recurring nightmares and the actions of his […]
Jojo Rabbit – TIFF19 (16/09/2019)
A Hitler Youth discovers that his mother has been sheltering a Jewish girl in Jojo Rabbit. Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) is a ten-year-old member of the Hitler Youth, who imagines that he is best friends with Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). Injured in a grenade accident during training camp, Jojo is left to stay at […]
Thor: Ragnarok (04/11/2017)
Thor tries to save Asgard from the Goddess of Death in Thor: Ragnarok. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard after he has repeated nightmares about the prophesied apocalyptic event of Ragnarök. In his absence, Thor’s brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has ruled in the guise of their father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), a consequence of which is the […]
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (17/07/2016)
This is a condensed version of my full review from July 2016 A delinquent boy and his foster uncle find themselves on the run in the New Zealand bush in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is a trouble-making boy, who is given one last chance by child services social worker Paula (Rachel House), […]
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (01/07/2016)
A delinquent boy and his foster uncle find themselves on the run in the New Zealand bush in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is a trouble-making boy, who is given one last chance by child services social worker Paula (Rachel House), before she sends him to juvenile prison. Ricky is dropped into […]
What We Do in the Shadows (13/02/2015)
From co-directors Taika Waititi (Eagle vs Shark) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) comes this mockumentary about a group of vampires living together. A documentary crew follows 379 year old Viago (Taika Waititi), 183 year old Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and 862 year old Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) as they live together in modern Wellington, New […]
What We Do in the Shadows (15/09/2014)
From co-directors Taika Waititi (Eagle vs Shark) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) comes this mockumentary about a group of vampires living together. A documentary crew follows 379 year old Viago (Taika Waititi), 183 year old Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and 862 year old Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) as they live together in modern Wellington, New […]
Green Lantern (20/06/2011)
Two days late, but better than never. With Marvel comics getting most of the attention during the last few year, we finally see a new DC comics movie for a character not named Batman or Superman. I am not a big comics reader, so I was only ever had a mild knowledge of the Green Lantern. […]
In the role of director
Next Goal Wins (16/11/2023)
A down-on-his-luck soccer manager is hired to coach the American Samoa national team in Next Goal Wins. Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) is a temperamental Dutch-American soccer coach who is sent by American Soccer Federation head Alex Magnussen (Will Arnett) to coach the American Somoa National Team, a move recommended by Thomas’ ex-wife Gail (Elisabeth Moss). […]
Thor: Love and Thunder (11/07/2022)
The God of Thunder is reunited with his ex-girlfriend to face off against a new threat in Thor: Love and Thunder. After spending some time travelling with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Earth to protect New Asgard from an attack by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who ends up […]
Jojo Rabbit – TIFF19 (16/09/2019)
A Hitler Youth discovers that his mother has been sheltering a Jewish girl in Jojo Rabbit. Jojo Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) is a ten-year-old member of the Hitler Youth, who imagines that he is best friends with Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). Injured in a grenade accident during training camp, Jojo is left to stay at […]
Thor: Ragnarok (04/11/2017)
Thor tries to save Asgard from the Goddess of Death in Thor: Ragnarok. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard after he has repeated nightmares about the prophesied apocalyptic event of Ragnarök. In his absence, Thor’s brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has ruled in the guise of their father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), a consequence of which is the […]
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (17/07/2016)
This is a condensed version of my full review from July 2016 A delinquent boy and his foster uncle find themselves on the run in the New Zealand bush in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is a trouble-making boy, who is given one last chance by child services social worker Paula (Rachel House), […]
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (01/07/2016)
A delinquent boy and his foster uncle find themselves on the run in the New Zealand bush in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is a trouble-making boy, who is given one last chance by child services social worker Paula (Rachel House), before she sends him to juvenile prison. Ricky is dropped into […]
What We Do in the Shadows (13/02/2015)
From co-directors Taika Waititi (Eagle vs Shark) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) comes this mockumentary about a group of vampires living together. A documentary crew follows 379 year old Viago (Taika Waititi), 183 year old Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and 862 year old Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) as they live together in modern Wellington, New […]
What We Do in the Shadows (15/09/2014)
From co-directors Taika Waititi (Eagle vs Shark) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) comes this mockumentary about a group of vampires living together. A documentary crew follows 379 year old Viago (Taika Waititi), 183 year old Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and 862 year old Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) as they live together in modern Wellington, New […]