Taika Waititi
Directing Born Aug 16, 1975 Wellington, New Zealand 178 credits
Biography
Taika David Cohen ONZM, born 16 August 1975 in Wellington, New Zealand, is a New Zealand filmmaker, writer, actor and comedian who works under the professional name Taika Waititi. He is recognised for directing, writing and performing, and has earned an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Grammy Award, alongside nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and six Emmy Awards. Time magazine listed him among the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. His short film Two Cars, One Night (2003) received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film.
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Career overview
Waititi’s first widely noted work was the 2003 short film Two Cars, One Night, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. Building on that early recognition, he wrote and directed the feature film Boy in 2010. Boy became the top‑grossing film ever fully funded and produced in New Zealand, establishing Waititi as a leading voice in his country’s cinema. He continued this trajectory with Hunt for the Wilderpeople in 2016, another wholly New Zealand‑funded production that likewise achieved the status of the nation’s highest‑grossing domestic film. Beyond box‑office success, Waititi’s work has attracted a range of major awards. He has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Grammy Award, and has received nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and six Emmy Awards. In 2022, Time magazine included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world, reflecting his impact across film, television and popular culture. Known primarily for directing, he is also credited as a writer, actor and comedian, with a career that spans over one hundred credited projects. His contributions have helped raise the international profile of New Zealand filmmaking.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Avatar Aang: The Last AirbenderKlara and the Sun · ProducerKlara and the Sun · DirectorKlara and the Sun · ScreenplayThe Wrong Girls · Thanks
A Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever · Director
Time BanditsTime Bandits · Executive ProducerTime Bandits · WriterTime Bandits · DirectorTime Bandits · Creator
History of the World: Part IINext Goal WinsNext Goal Wins · DirectorNext Goal Wins · ScreenplayNext Goal Wins · Producer
Thor: Love and ThunderThor: Love and Thunder · WriterThor: Love and Thunder · DirectorLightyearOur Flag Means Death
What If...?The Suicide SquadFree GuyReservation Dogs · Executive ProducerReservation Dogs · Writer
Home Movie: The Princess BrideDisney Gallery / Star Wars: The MandalorianReunited ApartSeven Stages to Achieve Eternal BlissBaby Done · Executive Producer
The Kelly Clarkson ShowThe MandalorianThe MandalorianThe MandalorianThe Mandalorian · Director
Wellington Paranormal · Executive ProducerWellington Paranormal · CreatorThe Breaker Upperers · Executive ProducerVidéo ClubShrimp
Thor: RagnarokThor: Ragnarok · DirectorTeam Thor: Part 2 · WriterTeam Thor: Part 2 · Director
Moana · ThanksHunt for the WilderpeopleHunt for the Wilderpeople · DirectorHunt for the Wilderpeople · ScreenplayHunt for the Wilderpeople · Producer
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertClose Up with The Hollywood Reporter
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLate Night with Seth MeyersWhat We Do in the ShadowsWhat We Do in the Shadows · WriterWhat We Do in the Shadows · Director
Rick and MortyThe Last LegAroha Bridge · ThanksBlazed · DirectorThe Captain
Green LanternSuper City · Director
BoyBoy · WriterBoy · Director42 One Dream Rush42 One Dream Rush · Director
Flight of the ConchordsFlight of the Conchords · DirectorFlight of the Conchords · WriterEagle vs SharkEagle vs Shark · Director
What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some VampiresWhat We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires · DirectorWhat We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires · WriterWhat We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires · Executive ProducerFalling Leaves
Two Cars, One Night · DirectorTwo Cars, One Night · WriterFrodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!Heinous CrimeHeinous Crime · Director
Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The StripLife on BenTongan NinjaA Place To Stand
A New Way HomeSnakeskin
Scarfies
The Daily Show
MTV Europe Music Awards
The Simpsons
The Oscars
Full filmography
- Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026) as Gorillavark (voice)
- Klara and the Sun (2026) Producer
- Klara and the Sun (2026) Director
- Klara and the Sun (2026) Screenplay
- The Wrong Girls (2026) Thanks
- Fing! (2026) as The Viscount
- Jail Time Records (2026) Executive Producer
- Imagine (2026) as Zombie Taika (voice)
- A Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever (2025) Director
- Time Bandits (2024) as Supreme Being
- Time Bandits (2024) Executive Producer
- Time Bandits (2024) Writer
- Time Bandits (2024) Director
- Time Bandits (2024) Creator
- Interior Chinatown (2024) Executive Producer
- Interior Chinatown (2024) Director
- It's Florida, Man. (2024) as Doctor Orlando
- Conan O'Brien Must Go (2024) as Self
- The Mountain (2024) Executive Producer
- We Were Dangerous (2024) Executive Producer
- The Boy & the Octopus (2024) Director
- History of the World: Part II (2023) as Sigmund Freud
- Next Goal Wins (2023) as American Samoan Priest
- Next Goal Wins (2023) Director
- Next Goal Wins (2023) Screenplay
- Next Goal Wins (2023) Producer
- Frybread Face and Me (2023) Executive Producer
- Red, White & Brass (2023) Executive Producer
- Tour De Rugby (2023) as Self
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) as Korg / Old Kronan God (voice)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) Writer
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) Director
- Lightyear (2022) as Mo Morrison (voice)
- Our Flag Means Death (2022) as Edward Teach a.k.a. Blackbeard
- Our Flag Means Death (2022) Director
- Our Flag Means Death (2022) Executive Producer
- Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) as Self - Writer / Director / Korg
- What If...? (2021) as Korg (voice)
- The Suicide Squad (2021) as Ratcatcher
- Free Guy (2021) as Antwan
- Reservation Dogs (2021) Executive Producer
- Reservation Dogs (2021) Writer
- Reservation Dogs (2021) Creator
- Drag Race Down Under (2021) as Self - Special Guest
- That's My Jam (2021) as Self - Guest
- The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021) as Max Kase
- Night Raiders (2021) Executive Producer
- Deadpool and Korg React (2021) as Korg
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as Westley
- Disney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian (2020) as Self - Director & Voice of IG-11
- Reunited Apart (2020) as Self
- Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss (2020) as Storsh
- Baby Done (2020) Executive Producer
- Russo Bros. Pizza Film School (2020)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- The Mandalorian (2019) as IG-12 (voice)
- The Mandalorian (2019) as IG-12 / IG-11 (voice)
- The Mandalorian (2019) as IG-11 (voice)
- The Mandalorian (2019) Director
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) as Korg (voice)
- What We Do in the Shadows (2019) as Viago Von Dorna Schmarten Scheden Heimburg
- What We Do in the Shadows (2019) Executive Producer
- What We Do in the Shadows (2019) Director
- What We Do in the Shadows (2019) Original Film Writer
- The Masked Singer (2019) as Self - Lucky Duck
- Jojo Rabbit (2019) as Adolf
- Jojo Rabbit (2019) Director
- Jojo Rabbit (2019) Screenplay
- Jojo Rabbit (2019) Producer
- Year of the Rabbit (2019) as Musician
- Life of a Cantipanican (2019) as Zog the Alien
- Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen (2019) as Self
- Wellington Paranormal (2018) Executive Producer
- Wellington Paranormal (2018) Creator
- The Breaker Upperers (2018) Executive Producer
- Vidéo Club (2018) as Self
- Shrimp (2018) as Bartender
- Team Darryl (2018) Writer
- Team Darryl (2018) Director
- Your Name Isn't English (2018) Executive Producer
- All or Nothing: New Zealand All Blacks (2018) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017) as Korg (voice)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Director
- Team Thor: Part 2 (2017) Writer
- Team Thor: Part 2 (2017) Director
- Moana (2016) Thanks
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) as Minister
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) Director
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) Screenplay
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) Producer
- Team Thor (2016) Writer
- Team Thor (2016) Director
- Team Thor (2016) Producer
- Poi E: The Story of Our Song (2016) as Self
- Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema (2016) as Self
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- What We Do in the Shadows (2014) as Viago
- What We Do in the Shadows (2014) Writer
- What We Do in the Shadows (2014) Director
- What We Do in the Shadows (2014) Producer
- Behind the Lid - Vellington Sign (2014) as Viago
- Vampire's Guide to Vellington (2014) as Viago
- Rick and Morty (2013) as Glootie (voice)
- The Last Leg (2013) as Self
- Aroha Bridge (2013) Thanks
- Blazed (2013) Director
- The Captain (2013) as The Captain
- The Captain (2013) Writer
- Green Lantern (2011) as Tom Kalmaku
- Super City (2011) Director
- Boy (2010) as Alamein
- Boy (2010) Writer
- Boy (2010) Director
- 42 One Dream Rush (2010)
- 42 One Dream Rush (2010) Director
- Radiradirah (2010) as Various
- Flight of the Conchords (2007) as Gypsy Kings Fan
- Flight of the Conchords (2007) Director
- Flight of the Conchords (2007) Writer
- Eagle vs Shark (2007) as Gordon
- Eagle vs Shark (2007) Director
- Eagle vs Shark (2007) Screenplay
- Eagle vs Shark (2007) Story
- Eagle vs Shark (2007) Casting
- What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires (2005) as Viago
- What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires (2005) Director
- What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires (2005) Writer
- What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires (2005) Executive Producer
- Falling Leaves (2005) as Bodil de Resny
- Falling Leaves (2005) Director
- Falling Leaves (2005) Producer
- Falling Leaves (2005) Writer
- Falling Leaves (2005) Director of Photography
- Falling Leaves (2005) Editor
- Futile Attraction (2005) as Waiter
- Two Cars, One Night (2004) Director
- Two Cars, One Night (2004) Writer
- Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!! (2004) as Self / Frodo Baggins
- Heinous Crime (2004)
- Heinous Crime (2004) Director
- Heinous Crime (2004) Writer
- Heinous Crime (2004) Camera Operator
- Tama Tū (2004) Director
- Tama Tū (2004) Writer
- Toy Boy (2004) as Jack Hammer
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- The Strip (2002) as Mostin
- Life on Ben (2002) as Gloob (voice)
- Tongan Ninja (2002) as Graham (voice)
- A Place To Stand (2002) as Vietnam Soldier
- A New Way Home (2001) as Max
- Snakeskin (2001) as Nelson
- Scarfies (1999) as Alex
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- MTV Europe Music Awards (1994) as Self - Host
- The Simpsons (1989) as Taika Waititi / Daerius D'Avignon (voice)
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Very Young Frankenstein Executive Producer
- Very Young Frankenstein Director
- Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory as Willy Wonka (voice)
- Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory Executive Producer
- Barn 8 Director
- Barn 8 Producer
- James Director
- Untitled Judge Dredd Film Director
- Tower of Terror Director
- Untitled Taika Waititi Star Wars Film Director
- Untitled Taika Waititi Star Wars Film Screenplay
- Taika Waiti Flash Gordon Movie Writer
- Taika Waiti Flash Gordon Movie Director
- Place to Be as Nelson
- We're Wolves Writer
- We're Wolves Producer
- Ways of Loving Executive Producer