Taika Waititi Reveals the Film He Wishes He Had Made
Taika Waititi opens up about the one movie that left him both inspired and envious, praising its originality and influence on the film industry.
Creative rivalry has always fueled artists to reach new heights, whether it ’s legendary bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys or iconic painters like Warhol and Picasso. For Taika Waititi, the acclaimed filmmaker from New Zealand, that spark of envy is ignited by a modern horror masterpiece.
Waititi’s career soared over a five-year stretch, earning him a reputation as one of Hollywood ’s most inventive directors. He made his mark with indie hits like the vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows in 2014 and the adventure comedy The Hunt for the Wilderpeople two years later, both of which he wrote and directed. These films drew critical praise and set the stage for his leap into blockbuster territory with Thor: Ragnarok. That Marvel entry, bursting with humor and retro visuals, raked in nearly a billion dollars and redefined what a superhero movie could be.
Waititi then shifted gears with Jojo Rabbit in 2019, a dark comedy set during World War II starring Scarlett Johansson. The film was a critical darling, earning six Oscar nominations and winning Waititi the award for Best Screenplay. Around the same time, he directed episodes of The Mandalorian for Disney, while fellow director Jordan Peele lent his voice to a character in Toy Story 4. It’s Peele, though, who crafted the film that Waititi holds in the highest regard.
Waititi’s Admiration for a Modern Horror Classic
Speaking to NPR, Waititi didn’t hide his admiration for Peele’s breakout horror film.
“My favorite film of the last 10 years was (Peele’s groundbreaking horror) Get Out. As a filmmaker, I’m very jealous because it’s such a smart idea.”
He went on to explain,
“And often, the films these days, there’s no really good idea behind them. It’s just like, I’m going to do a character study, and I’m going to do a film with a divorce. I’m going to do a film about a kid who doesn’t know his dad – which is all my films – but, you know, to have, like, a concept that, oh, these people are body snatching African Americans, and this guy has been, like, basically catfished into this community is just really cool.”
When Get Out debuted in 2017, it quickly became a word-of-mouth sensation. Today, it’s a fixture on critics’ lists of the best films of the century. The movie earned Peele an Oscar for Best Screenplay and established him as a major force in Hollywood. Starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, the psychological thriller pulled in $250 million on a modest $4 million budget. Peele’s success continued with the chilling Us and the sci-fi thriller Nope, again featuring Kaluuya.
Waititi’s Recent Projects and Future Plans
After the mixed reception to his 2022 Marvel sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder—despite its impressive box office numbers—Waititi shifted his focus to television and new film projects. He’s been serving as Executive Producer on the TV adaptation of What We Do in the Shadows and is currently writing new movies for both the Star Wars and Flash Gordon franchises. Waititi has also wrapped filming on a lead role in the upcoming fantasy film Fing!, which follows two librarians on a quest to help their daughter search for a creature from her favorite stories.