Hunt for the Wilderpeople

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 ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.

Taika Waititi's New Zealand bush adventure won over critics almost unanimously, praised for blending genuine warmth, comedy, and grief without letting any one tone overwhelm the others. Sam Neill and Julian Dennison's odd-couple chemistry is central to why it works — their dynamic carries the film through its tonal shifts with surprising ease. Empire ranked it the single best film of 2016.