Biography
Taika David Cohen ONZM (born 16 August 1975), known professionally as Taika Waititi(/ˈtaɪkə ˈwaɪtɪti/ TY-kə WY-tee-tee), is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian. He is known for directing quirky comedy films and has expanded his career as a voice actor and producer on numerous projects. He has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Grammy Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. His feature films Boy...
Known For
Complete Filmography
The Boy & the Octopus
2024
Director
A young boy encounters a curious octopus while snorkeling on a seaside vacation. The persistent mollusk attaches itself to the boy’s head and becomes ...
We Were Dangerous
2024
Executive Producer
Nellie, Daisy and Lou attend an institution for delinquent girls on an isolated island in 1954. The trio rail against the system, finding strength in ...
The Mountain
2024
Executive Producer
Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside of her Māori culture, is determined to fulfill her mission of connecting with her mountain. She hopes it can...
Frybread Face and Me
2023
Executive Producer
Two adolescent Navajo cousins from different worlds bond during a summer herding sheep on their grandmother's ranch in Arizona while learning more abo...
Next Goal Wins
2023
as American Samoan Priest
Dutch coach Thomas Rongen attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.
Next Goal Wins
2023
Director, Screenplay, Producer
Dutch coach Thomas Rongen attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.
Red, White & Brass
2023
Executive Producer
Maka, a Tongan superfan, will do whatever it takes to get tickets to the Tonga v France Rugby World Cup game - even if that means promising to deliver...
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder
2022
as Self - Writer / Director / Korg
Settle in with the likes of Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Tessa Thompson, and as they divulge the secrets behin...
Thor: Love and Thunder
2022
as Korg / Old Kronan God (voice)
After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson enlists the help of ...
Thor: Love and Thunder
2022
Writer, Director
After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson enlists the help of ...
Lightyear
2022
as Mo Morrison (voice)
Legendary Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion Sox.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
2021
as Max Kase
The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain, whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public...
Night Raiders
2021
Executive Producer
The year is 2043. A military occupation controls disenfranchised cities in post-war North America. Children are property of the State. A desperate Cre...
Free Guy
2021
as Antwan
A bank teller discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, and decides to become the hero of his own story. Now, in a wor...
The Suicide Squad
2021
as Ratcatcher
Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X...
Deadpool's Maximum Reactions: Deadpool and Korg
2021
as Korg
Two members of the MCYouTube react to the upcoming film #FreeGuy featuring Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi.
Save Ralph
2021
as Ralph (voice)
Baby Done
2020
Executive Producer
Wannabe-adventurer Zoe freaks out when she falls pregnant to her long-term boyfriend Tim. As Tim embraces the prospect of fatherhood, Zoe attempts to ...
Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss
2020
as Storsh
A small-town couple finds the perfect apartment in the big city, except there's one catch: the apartment is home to the ritualistic suicides of a dera...
Celebrating Marvel's Stan Lee
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Filmed in part in front of a live audience at The New Amsterdam Theater in New York City, this Stan Lee tribute takes viewers on an action-packed jour...
Jojo Rabbit
2019
as Adolf
A World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother is hiding a young Je...
Jojo Rabbit
2019
Director, Screenplay, Producer
A World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother is hiding a young Je...
Avengers: Endgame
2019
as Korg (voice)
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaini...
Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen
2019
as Self
This film is an intimate portrayal of pioneering filmmaker Merata Mita told through the eyes of her children. Using hours of archive footage, some nev...
Life of a Cantipanican
2019
as Zog the Alien
Zog the Alien goes about his daily routine ... until it is rudely interrupted by an unwanted guest.
Your Name Isn't English
2018
Executive Producer
Each time Tazbah, a young professional woman gets into a ride-share car she takes on the unexpected role of becoming a free history teacher as her dri...
Shrimp
2018
as Bartender
Shrimp explores the strange, interwoven and often hilarious daily lives of the women and men who work and play in a Los Angeles BDSM den.
The Breaker Upperers
2018
Executive Producer
Two women run a business breaking up couples for cash but when one develops a conscience their friendship unravels.
Team Darryl
2018
Writer, Director
Fresh off being unseated as the ruler of Sakaar, the Grandmaster makes his way to Earth to start a new life. It's been over a year since Thor left Aus...
Thor: Ragnarok
2017
as Korg (voice)
Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction ...
Thor: Ragnarok
2017
Director
Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction ...
Team Thor: Part 2
2017
Writer, Director
A continuation of the documentary spoof of what Thor and his roommate Darryl were up to during the events of "Captain America: Civil War". While Cap a...
Moana
2016
Thanks
In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek ...
Team Thor
2016
Writer, Director, Producer
Discover what Thor was up to during the events of Captain America: Civil War.
Poi E: The Story of Our Song
2016
as Self
Written and directed by Tearepa Kahi (Mt Zion) and starring Maaka Pohatu (The Modern Maori Quartet, Two Little Boys) the film tells the story of music...
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
2016
as Minister
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ens...
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
2016
Director, Screenplay, Producer
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ens...
What We Do in the Shadows
2014
as Viago
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
What We Do in the Shadows
2014
Writer, Director, Producer
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
Blazed
2013
Director
Two cars, one day: directed by Taika Waititi, this extended public service announcement uses humour to address the dangers of motoring under the influ...
The Captain
2013
as The Captain
A hungover plane captain wakes up to discover he's done a very bad thing.
The Captain
2013
Writer
A hungover plane captain wakes up to discover he's done a very bad thing.
Green Lantern
2011
as Tom Kalmaku
For centuries, a small but powerful force of warriors called the Green Lantern Corps has sworn to keep intergalactic order. Each Green Lantern wears a...
42 One Dream Rush
2010
Collection of short films by various directors based on dreams, 42 seconds each. It was produced by the world's most awarded vodka "42 Below", known f...
42 One Dream Rush
2010
Director
Collection of short films by various directors based on dreams, 42 seconds each. It was produced by the world's most awarded vodka "42 Below", known f...
Last Night
2010
Director
Short film by Taika Waititi. Part of the collective film 42 One Dream Rush.
Boy
2010
as Alamein
Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee crimin...
Boy
2010
Writer, Director
Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee crimin...
Eagle vs Shark
2007
as Gordon
Love blossoms for Lily over double Meaty Boy burgers at mid-day when uber-computer nerd Jarrod comes in and leaves with free extra large fries. After...
Eagle vs Shark
2007
Director, Screenplay, Story
Love blossoms for Lily over double Meaty Boy burgers at mid-day when uber-computer nerd Jarrod comes in and leaves with free extra large fries. After...
Futile Attraction
2005
as Waiter
A mockumentary about a film crew making a New Zealand reality television show about a couple brought together by a dating service. However due to th...
Falling Leaves
2005
as Bodil de Resny
Falling Leaves is a heartfelt and quirky short film by Taika Waititi, blending his signature humor with poignant storytelling. Set in a small New Zeal...
Falling Leaves
2005
Director, Producer, Writer
Falling Leaves is a heartfelt and quirky short film by Taika Waititi, blending his signature humor with poignant storytelling. Set in a small New Zeal...
What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires
2005
as Viago
Who says being an undead creature of the night is easy? With that in mind, three ancient friends—centuries-old vampires Vulvus, the romantic and tempe...
What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires
2005
Director, Writer, Executive Producer
Who says being an undead creature of the night is easy? With that in mind, three ancient friends—centuries-old vampires Vulvus, the romantic and tempe...
Tama Tū
2004
Director, Writer
Six Māori Battalion soldiers camped in Italian ruins wait for night to fall. In the silence, the bros-in-arms distract themselves with jokes. A tohu (...
Heinous Crime
2004
Two players, one heinous crime to be revealed. Wellington Winner of 48 Hours Furious Filmmaking 2004.
Heinous Crime
2004
Director, Writer, Camera Operator
Two players, one heinous crime to be revealed. Wellington Winner of 48 Hours Furious Filmmaking 2004.
Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!
2004
as Self / Frodo Baggins
The documentary looks at the rise to celebrity status of NZ actor and musician Bret McKenzie, who appeared for 3 seconds as an extra in "The Lord of t...
Toy Boy
2004
as Jack Hammer
A couple buys a blow up doll as a joke, but soon the doll begins to reveal that it has a consciousness to one of the boyfriends, the man begins to hav...
Two Cars, One Night
2004
Director, Writer
Sometimes first love is found in the most unlikely of places, like in the carpark outside the Te Kaha pub.
Tongan Ninja
2002
as Graham (voice)
The Tongan Ninja is dispatched to the island nation of New Zealand in order to help a brother of his master with his floundering Chinese restaurant. B...
A Place To Stand
2002
as Vietnam Soldier
Actor Wi Kuki Kaa plays Tiare, a Vietnam War veteran who is dislocated by his experiences of war, and homelessness. He wanders the city streets, colle...
Snakeskin
2001
as Nelson
A hitchhiker takes two kids on the ride of their dreams, but they soon learn that their newfound hero is just as capable of delivering nightmares.
A New Way Home
2001
as Max
An alcoholic man in a wheelchair kidnaps his daughter from his ex-wife.
Scarfies
1999
as Alex
This dark comedy is set in Dunedin, New Zealand. A university student finds an old "abandoned" house and proceeds to invite other students to share. I...
Meet the Josh
N/A
as Himself
Josh, a disgraced marine, moves to LA to follow his dream of making a fourth Meet the Parents movie. Along with his sleazy manager, Josh devises schem...
Place To Be
N/A
as Nelson
No-nonsense Brooke and discombobulated divorcee Nelson travel from Chicago to New York to return a lost racing pigeon home.
Fing!
N/A
as The Viscount
Librarians Mr. and Mrs. Meek indulge their demanding daughter Myrtle's every wish. When she wants a Fing, they search deep in the jungle. After findin...
Tower of Terror
N/A
Director
Five people in a posh hotel take an elevator and disappear after it is hit by lightning.
The Incal
N/A
Script, Director, Writer
Centers on intergalactic private eye John Difool, who gets caught up in a grand space opera after happening on a mystical artifact called the Incal. A...
Klara and the Sun
N/A
Producer, Director
Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to prevent loneliness, is purchased by a mother and her bright teen daughter, Josie. Josie, who suffers from a my...
James
N/A
Director
“James” reframes the classic story of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of Jim, an enslaved man who floats down the Mississippi River with teena...
We're Wolves
N/A
Writer
A follow-up to the Vampire mockumentary, centering on the life of werewolves living in modern-day Wellington, New Zealand.
Ways of Loving
N/A
Executive Producer
Through intimate vignettes of vulnerability, tension, and fleeting joy, the film delves into the intricacies of navigating love when neither partner f...