New Zealand Film Commission (New Zealand): 10

The American superhero film, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), is based on Marvel Comics and showcases the characters of Deadpool and Wolverine. Produced by Marvel Studios, Maximum Effort, and 21 Laps Entertainment, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it marks the 34th addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and serves as a sequel to Deadpool 2 (2018). In an attempt to join the Avengers six years after using Cable’s time-traveling device to travel from his own timeline, Earth-10005, Wade Wilson is turned down by Happy Hogan. Following this rejection, he retires from his role as the masked mercenary known as Deadpool and ...

MaXXXine (2024), the latest addition to Ti West’s X film series, is an American slasher movie set in 1985 Los Angeles during the infamous Night Stalker murders. Maxine Minx, famous for her work in adult films, auditions for the lead role in The Puritan II and lands it despite her unconventional background. Following the audition, she mentions it to her friends Leon and Amber James, who invites her to a party in the Hollywood Hills. However, Maxine declines as she heads to her second job at a live peep show. While working, she encounters a mysterious leather-clad figure who seems disturbed by her ...

The Flash (2023), an American superhero film, is based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen / Flash. Helmed by director Andy Muschietti, it serves as the 13th installment in the DC Extended Universe. After assisting Batman and Wonder Woman in thwarting a robbery in Gotham City, Barry returns to his childhood residence where he lived with his parents Nora and Henry before Henry was wrongly imprisoned for Nora’s murder. On the day of her death, Nora had sent Henry to buy a forgotten can of food, leaving her alone in the kitchen where she was killed by an unknown attacker. Overcome with emotion, Barry ...

Black Adam (2022) is a spin-off film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) based on the iconic character of the same name. Set in 2600 BC, it follows the story of a young slave boy in Kahndaq who is granted the powers of Shazam by the Council of Wizards. This grants him the ability to stand up against his tyrannical ruler, King Ahk-Ton, who has enslaved his people to mine Eternium for ultimate power and invincibility. With his newfound abilities, he successfully overthrows Ahk-Ton’s reign and brings freedom to his people. Currently, Kahndaq falls under the oppressive rule of the Intergang – a notorious criminal ...

Pearl (2022) is an American horror film directed by Ti West, co-written by West and Mia Goth, who also stars as the title character. Set in 1918 during the influenza pandemic, Pearl resides on her family’s Texas homestead with her German immigrant parents while her husband, Howard, is away serving in World War I. Her father is confined to a wheelchair and her controlling mother, Ruth, insists that she help care for both him and the farm. Despite longing for a more thrilling existence, Pearl finds solace in the movies at the nearby cinema and dreams of becoming a chorus girl – much to Ruth’s disapproval. However, Pearl’s behavior also exhibits ...

Jane Campion’s film, The Power of the Dog (2021), is a reimagined Western drama based on Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name. Set in 1925 Montana, the story follows wealthy rancher brothers Phil and George Burbank as they encounter Rose Gordon, a widow and innkeeper, during a cattle drive. While George is drawn to Rose’s kindness, Phil disapproves of her and views her as someone after his brother’s money. He also belittles Rose’s teenage son Peter, whom he sees as weak and effeminate. After George and Rose marry and she moves in with them ...

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 ...

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 ...