Here are the heavyweight, box-office champions of New Zealand cinema. Figures are rounded and in $NZD, not adjusted for inflation (for inflation adjusted figures see here). Grosses are New Zealand box office takings.
Last updated: May 2021
1. Hunt for the Wilderpeople
2016 | Comedy, Drama | Madman
Directed by Taika Waititi
Starring Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rhys Darby, Oscar Kightley, Rachel House
$12,208,000
2. Boy
2010 | Comedy, Drama | Transmission
Directed by Taika Waititi
Starring James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu, Taika Waititi
$9,322,00
3. The World’s Fastest Indian
2005 | Drama, True Story | Becker
Directed by Roger Donaldson
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd, Paul Rodriguez, Bruce Greenwood, Greg Johnson
$7,047,000
4. Once Were Warriors
1994 | Drama | Footprint
Directed by Lee Tamahori
Starring Temuera Morrison, Rena Owen, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile, Cliff Curtis, Ian Mune, Anita Kerr-Bell
$6,795,000
5. Whale Rider
2003 | Drama | Buena Vista
Directed by Niki Caro
Starring Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis
$6,400,00
6. The Piano
2006 | Comedy | Everard Films
Directed by Jane Campion
Starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin, Kerry Walker, Ian Mune, Cliff Curtis
$4,135,000
6. Sione’s Wedding
2006 | Comedy | SPP
Directed by Chris Graham
Starring Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, IaHeto Ah Hi, Cilla Brown, David Fane, Teuila Blakely, Nathaniel Lees
$4,075,000
8. What Becomes of the Broken Hearted
1999 | Drama | Polygram
Directed by Ian Mune
Starring Temuera Morrison, Julian Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile, Rena Owen, Rawiri Paratene
$3,201,000
9. What We Do in the Shadows
2014 | Comedy | Two Canoes
Directed by Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
Starring Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Jonathan Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stuart Rutherford, Jackie van Beek, Rhys Darby, Kura Forrester, Frank Habicht, Chelsie Preston-Crayford, Yvette Parsons, Madeleine Sami
$2,595,000
10. Footrot Flats
1986 | Animated, Family | Endeavour
Directed by Murray Ball
Starring John Clarke, Peter Rowley, Rawiri Paratene, Fiona Samuel, Peter Hayden, Billy T. James, Brian Sergent
$2,420,000
Source: NZMPDA.