The Telegraph gave it one star and referred to the dystopian science fiction film as “mind-meltingly dreadful”.
The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw called it an “unspeakable acted” and “a sentimental and laborious mess”.
So if this isn’t the director’s best work, what is?
From best to worst (based on the percentage of positive professional reviews collated by film website Rotten Tomatoes), we rank Waititi’s films and revisit what the critics had to say about them:
Julian Dennison and Sir Sam Neill in Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
1. Hunt for the Wilderpeople – 2016
The film about a city kid and his foster uncle who go bush and become part of a nationwide manhunt quickly became a cult classic in New Zealand.
It was loved by audiences and critics alike and perfectly blended Waititi’s humour with warmth, emotional depth and exceptional character arcs.
While the film, starring Sir Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, was a Sundance smash, it went down in history here as the highest-grossing New Zealand film of all time.
A Herald review by Alex Casey said: “Hunt for the Wilderpeople skilfully balances its New Zealand feel with global, pop-culture packed references.
“Listening to the audience clap and cheer for a joyous, distinctly New Zealand story, I realised that’s about the most skux thing I can think of.”
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96%
2. What We Do in the Shadows – 2014
The hit vampire comedy centred on a documentary crew following vampire flatmates as they navigated modern life in Wellington.
The Guardian declared it “the best comedy of the year”, giving it five stars.
And the film spawned a hugely successful American TV series, which was nominated for 35 Emmy Awards over its six-season run.
More than a decade after release, it still attracts new fans and rave reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96%
3. Thor: Ragnarok – 2017
Waititi’s jump to the Marvel Universe was first met with hesitation, with many fans questioning how the comedic director could tackle a universe so far from his previous work.
But Waititi’s version was widely felt to have reinvigorated the Thor franchise and shot the director to mainstream Hollywood status.
A Herald review said the film was a “raucous, insane, hilarious, visual assault and it’s everything superhero films were ever supposed to be”.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%
Waititi starred as Alamein in the film Boy.
4. Boy – 2010
The film, Waititi’s second feature, received a standing ovation at its Sundance debut, with critics saying it marked a new step up in maturity for the New Zealand director.
The film followed a young Māori boy’s fantasy of his absent father in 1984, which quickly collided with reality when his dad suddenly returned.
It’s still one of New Zealand’s most defining films, alongside the likes of Whale Rider as a moment in film history that felt undeniably ours.
Viewers loved it for its humour and charm, while critics saw it as a defining moment in Waititi’s career.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 88%
5. Jojo Rabbit – 2019
Waititi won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Jojo Rabbit, which the Independent gave 5/5, calling it “tender, daring and sharp – precisely pitched so that it keeps its path steady and its ambitions in check”.
The film, about a German boy in World War II who discovers his mother, played by Scarlett Johansson, is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic, was warmly embraced by audiences and critics.
Despite the film’s bizarreness and shock factor, including Jojo, played by Roman Griffin Davis, receiving guidance from Adolf Hitler (played by Waititi), the film was moving, hilarious and immaculately executed.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 81%
Waititi pivoted from comedy classics to the Marvel Universe, directing two Thor films.
6. Thor: Love and Thunder – 2022
After the success of Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder proved more divisive among fans.
Some still considered the film a major success, while others felt let down and said the humour overwhelmed the intended emotions of the film.
The Guardian, however, gave the film two stars, saying, “Thor suffers an existential crisis in director Taika Waititi’s self-satisfied follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok”.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 64%
7. Eagle vs Shark – 2007
In Waititi’s feature directorial debut, two socially awkward outsiders struck up a romance at a costume party, and beautifully subtle hilarity ensued.
The film has been compared to the kooky joy of Napoleon Dynamite with it’s rough-around-the-edges charm.
A Herald review wrote: “the best thing about Eagle vs Shark is how its odd-shaped bits manage to fit into a coherent whole without it feeling like an overt effort to be a surreal comedy”.
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 56%
8. Next Goal Wins – 2023
In 2023, Waititi took on the true story of a disgraced football coach who takes over the struggling American Samoa national team.
The film was regarded as sweet but predictable, with many critics saying it lacked the spontaneity of Waititi’s previous work.
Waikato Herald film reviewer Jen Shieff, however, said, “Somehow, he manages to be affectionate without being patronising and to show the ridiculous without ridiculing. That’s very clever.”
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 46%
Jenna Ortega stars in Klara and the Sun.
9. Klara and the Sun – 2026
The film only hit cinemas in Aotearoa yesterday, but early critics’ reviews have not been kind to Waititi.
Some argue his style clashes too heavily with the source material of the book.
A news.com.au review said, “Under the direction of Waititi, the movie strikes an unusual balance between twee, simple comedy and sophisticated drama that will not be to the taste of all viewers”.
Hollywood Reporter called it “a film so at odds with itself that it keeps straining for poignancy while trampling on any hint of genuine emotion with forced humour that rarely prompts even a smile”.
And the Independent asked readers to “imagine somebody driving a clown car through Kazuo Ishiguro’s original novel, and you get this Jenna Ortega-led sci-fi comedy”.
However, the Herald’s Mitchell Hageman insists critics are being too harsh, forgetting there’s joy to be found in the film.
“Despite the abysmal ratings from critics and book loyalists, I was pleasantly surprised with this cheeky, charming, family-friendly robot flick. While some may argue it’s not “deep enough” to live up to its themes, I’d argue it’s well-acted, well-directed, and a heart-warming day out at the movies for people looking for a bit of light relief.”
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 24%