Director Peter Jackson (1961)

The documentary film, They Shall Not Grow Old (2018), directed and produced by Peter Jackson, utilizes original footage from the Imperial War Museum’s archives. This footage, all over 100 years old at the time of its release, had not been previously seen. The audio in the film is taken from interviews conducted by the BBC and Imperial War Museum with British servicemen who participated in the First World War. To enhance the experience and bring viewers closer to the soldiers’ perspectives, modern production techniques were employed such as colorization and sound effects. Through revolutionary computer ...

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) is an epic high fantasy adventure film, directed by Peter Jackson with a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, and Jackson himself. It is based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel of the same name. As Smaug sets Laketown ablaze, Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from the Lonely Mountain. Bard manages to escape ...

Director Peter Jackson brought us an epic high fantasy adventure film titled The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013). Adapted from J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel, it was written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, and Jackson himself. As Thorin Oakenshield and his companions flee from Azog and his Orc party, they seek refuge in the home of Beorn – a ...

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is an epic high fantasy adventure film helmed by director Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, and Jackson himself. Adapted from J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name, it serves as a prequel to Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings ...

The Lovely Bones (2009) is a supernatural drama film directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay he co-wrote with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, based on Alice Sebold’s 2002 novel of the same name. In 1973, 14-year-old high school freshman Susie Salmon has aspirations of becoming a photographer. She is asked out by Ray, the boy she has a crush on. One day while walking home through a cornfield, Susie encounters her neighbor George Harvey and follows him to an ...

King Kong (2005), a monumental adventure monster film, was co-written, produced, and directed by the talented Peter Jackson. In the midst of the Great Depression, New York City’s struggling vaudeville performer Ann Darrow is offered a role by filmmaker Carl Denham, who is facing financial troubles. Despite her initial reservations, Ann agrees to join the project upon discovering that her favorite playwright, Jack Driscoll, is involved as well. The filming takes place on the SS Venture, with Captain Englehorn at the helm and Carl claiming that they are heading to Singapore. However, his true intention is to capture ...

The epic high fantasy adventure film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), was directed by Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Jackson. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s third volume of the novel series, The Return of the King (1955), it follows the journey of Sméagol, a hobbit who becomes consumed by the power of the One Ring after murdering his cousin Déagol to obtain it. As ...

The film, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), directed by Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Stephen Sinclair, and Jackson himself, is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s second volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, titled The Two Towers. In one of his dreams, Frodo Baggins envisions Gandalf battling a Balrog in Moria, before ...

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) is an epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Jackson. It is based on the first volume of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel, also titled The Fellowship of the Ring, which was published in 1954. The story takes place during the Second Age of Middle-earth and revolves around the Rings of Power given to the ...

The supernatural comedy horror film, The Frighteners (1996), was directed by Peter Jackson and co-written with Fran Walsh. In 1990, Debra Bannister dies in a car accident, causing her husband Frank to abandon his architecture career and leave their unfinished dream house. Struck with the ability to see ghosts after the accident, Frank befriends three: Cyrus, a street gangster from the 1970s; Stuart, a nerd from the 1950s; and The Judge, an Old West gunslinger. These ghosts help Frank in his business of exorcising haunted houses for a fee. Unfortunately, many locals view ...

Forgotten Silver (1995) is a New Zealand mockumentary film that follows the supposed story of pioneering filmmaker, Colin McKenzie. Written and directed by Peter Jackson and Costa Botes, both also make appearances as the filmmakers within the film. According to presenter Peter Jackson, he stumbled upon McKenzie’s lost films in an old shed and claims him as the father of modern cinema. In this ‘discovered’ footage, McKenzie is credited with accidentally inventing the tracking shot, unknowingly creating the ...

The New Zealand film, Heavenly Creatures (1994), was directed by Peter Jackson and co-written by his partner, Fran Walsh. Set in 1952 Christchurch, the movie follows the story of two teenage girls: Juliet Hulme, a well-off 13-year-old English girl who moves to a new school, and Pauline Parker, a 14-year-old from a working-class background. Despite their differences, they form a strong bond over their shared experiences of childhood illness and isolation in hospitals. While Pauline is drawn to Juliet’s confident demeanor and beauty, she struggles with her own ...

Directed by Peter Jackson, Dead Alive (1992) is a comedic horror film from New Zealand. In 1957, zoologist Stewart McAlden and his team successfully smuggle a rare Sumatran rat-monkey, a hybrid creature, off the island. However, their escape is disrupted by the native warriors who demand the return of the creature. During the chaos, Stewart is bitten by the rat-monkey and subsequently dismembered and killed by his fearful crew. Despite Stewart’s warning to the natives that ‘this monkey’s going to Newtown’, the group manages to ship it to Wellington Zoo. This is where we meet Lionel Cosgrove, who ...

The film Meet the Feebles (1989), directed by Peter Jackson, follows the ambitions of a New Zealand puppet theatre troupe known as The Feeble Variety Hour. As they rehearse for their big break in television, tensions rise when star singer Heidi is insulted by pornographic director Trevor. Seeking support from her boss and secret lover Bletch, Heidi discovers his affair with performer Samantha. Meanwhile, newcomer Robert is immediately smitten with Lucille, and with the help of manager Arthur, the two become engaged. But drama ensues as Samantha reveals her involvement with Bletch to Heidi. Adding to the chaos, animal ...

Bad Taste (1987) is a film from New Zealand directed, produced and filmed by Peter Jackson. The Astro Investigation and Defence Service (AIDS) dispatches agents Derek, Frank, Ozzy, and Barry to look into the sudden disappearance of the entire population of Kaihoro. Upon arriving, they discover that man-eating space aliens have taken over the town by disguising themselves as humans wearing blue shirts. During their encounter with one of the aliens, Barry is killed and the others are attacked. Derek then contacts Frank and Ozzy before proceeding to interrogate an alien they had captured earlier named Robert. However, his ...