Ranking: Taika Waititi

6. Eagle vs Shark 

A very rough around the edges debut feature with more than a touch of Napoleon Dynamite to it, this quirky rom-com is not without a certain appeal to its central geeky shy protagonists played well by Jermaine Clement and Loren Horsley. I will say that it does have a bit of a misanthropic streak, nothing too major, but which dampens the otherwise quiet simple charm of a lot of the film, and its shifts into the more dramatic aren't the most assured. But when it is just being funny and sweet, it is very funny and sweet, and though in many ways a fairly standard indie it set the tone for Waititi's brilliance to come.

5. Thor: Ragnarok  

Perhaps one of the most 'standalone' MCU films, this is a thoroughly fun romp into the mind of Waititi via Thor, reinvented completely as a character by the increased emphasis on humour, slapstick and wit that amplifies and makes use of Chris Hemsworth's innate comical sensibilities. It is a bit messy in setting up and resolving the whole Ragnarok plot line which frankly is the least interesting part of the film, but everything that happens on Sakaar, from the run-ins with new introduction like the acerbic Valkyrie (excellent Tessa Thompson) Jeff Goldblum's oddball Grandmaster and the ineffectual Korg (Waititi himself), the colourful madcap visuals, and making use of Loki's mischief to great effect. It is a film that works best when it takes itself less seriously and doesn't have to work within the parameters of MCU plotting.

4. What We Do in the Shadows

Now this is Waititi purely going for laughs the whole time with this mockumentary with co-writer and co-star Jermaine Clement, and that's more than fine as though very episodic in nature, this flatmate buddy comedy with the twist of them being vampires is an absolute hoot throughout. Just watching the collection of talent here shoot the breeze as vampires go about their everynight business. With memorable sequences like an angry debate over dishes to learning about technology, to any encounter with their rival werewolves led by a hilarious Rhys Darby, it's a stellar comedy that contains some of the very best of Waititi's humour.

3. Jojo Rabbit 

Possibly Waititi's most daring film yet, and while I still need to ruminate over some elements, I can confidently say that I absolutely loved the film and it's had some of the most viscreal impact of any film I've seen this year so far. For the most part Waititi treats his subject matter - a child indoctrinated into the Nazi mentality in the later stages of WWII - with a certain lightness of touch that never feels schmaltzy or inappropriate but instead gives a very fitting perspective to the young boy's worldview - brilliantly played by Roman Griffin Davis, Johannes 'Jojo' Betzler is our avatar into this colourful and vibrant world that nevertheless doesn't shy from the harsh realities of Germany's situation at the time. The humour, particularly in the form of Waititi's imaginary Hitler, comes rapidly and hits the spot effectively, as does the warmth particularly in the form of Scarlett Johansson's loving mother. When he goes darker, he manages the blend of tone perfectly, and one sequence in particular is just simply devastating. I love the film the more I think about it.

2. Boy 

One of those films that sneaks up on you as you watch it, as what appears to be an enjoyable goofy coming-of-age story is that, but also so much more, in its tale of the titular boy (James Rolleston) reconnects but also gets a wake-up call to the true nature of his father, returned after an extended absence and brilliantly played by Waititi himself. This is undoubtedly a very funny film, with perhaps the most unassuming comedy as most of it very organically springs from the day-to-day low-key pattern of the Maori community, with occasional fantasy interludes of heightened humour as we see the boy's imagination at work. It is also a downright heartbreaking film as it shatters the child protagonist's ideals about his father gradually over the course of the film. It's a wonderful film that honestly I think is a bit underrated in its own way, as it's so much more unassuming than most of his other work, yet also one of his very best.

1. Hunt for the Wilderpeople 

Waititi's magnum opus came in this tale of the New Zealand bush where young Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) and his reluctant foster father Uncle Hec (an iconic Sam Neill) flee after a series of misunderstandings and misfortunes in the wake of a family tragedy. This oddball buddy comedy is pure comedic gold throughout, mining humour out of everything and every kind you can think of, from the more overt like the overly intense child protection services and another madcap Rhys Darby performance, to more casual asides of the young boy's love of Tupac and his Uncle Hec's frequently annoyance at him. You feel emotionally invested at every stage of the journey of these two, and Waititi's unique sensitivity for his characters is so keenly felt. When he tugs at your heartstrings it not only feels earnt, it does not compromise and in fact amplifies the comedy. A masterful film and honestly with every re-watch, probably one of my favourite comedies of all-time.