Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a 2016 New Zealand adventure comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi who co-produced with Carthew Neal, Leanne Saunders and Matt Noonan, based on the book Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump. The film stars Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as a father figure and son who become caught in a manhunt. The film premiered In Competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on 22 January 2016. The film opened New Zealand wide on 31 March 2016. The film received a limited North American release on 24 June 2016.