This is a list of feature films and pre-1910 short films produced or co-produced by New Zealand companies (with some early 1900s exceptions), ordered by the year of release.
Key
* = Funded in part by the New Zealand Film Commission. † = Year given is date of principal photography rather than release.
Pre 1910 Title Director(s) Genre Notes 1898 Opening of the Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition Alfred Henry Whitehouse Documentary First NZ film; lost Māori Scenes Joseph Perry Documentary First NZ films of Māori; lost Uhlan winning the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie Racecourse † Alfred Henry Whitehouse Documentary First NZ horse-race filmed;lost 1899 Regatta scene Alfred Henry Whitehouse Documentary lost Maori Canoe Hurdle Race at Waikato Alfred Henry Whitehouse Documentary lost 1900 The Departure of the Second Contingent for the Boer War Alfred Henry Whitehouse Documentary Oldest surviving NZ film The World's First Lady Mayor Enos Silvanus Pegler Docu-drama Re-enactment of 1893 speech 1901 Royal Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to New Zealand Joseph Perry Documentary lost Waimangu Geyser in action Joseph Perry Documentary lost Waimangu Geyser Dummy Mace Franklyn Barrett staged boxing match 1903 A Message from Mars Franklyn Barrett Drama First science fiction film made in NZ; lost Ally Sloper as a Conjuror Franklyn Barrett Comedy Harry Hall of Masterton as Ally Sloper Ally Sloper on Holiday Franklyn Barrett Comedy shot at Days Bay Ally Sloper at the Races Franklyn Barrett Comedy filmed at the old Hutt Park racecourse 1908 The Sea Coasts of New Zealand Franklyn Barrett Documentary
1910s Title Director(s) Genre Notes 1913 Hinemoa Gaston Méliès First NZ feature film; lost How Chief Te Ponga Won His Bride Gaston Méliès lost Loved by a Maori Chieftess Gaston Méliès lost The River Wanganui Gaston Méliès Documentary 1914Hinemoa George Tarr Romance First feature film with a NZ producer and director; lostMartin, Helen, and Edwards, Sam, (1997) New Zealand film, 1912-1996. Auckland: Oxford University Press. 1916 A Maori Maid's Love Raymond Longford lost The Mutiny of the Bounty Raymond Longford lost The Test Rawdon Blandford melodrama lost
1920s Title Director Genre Notes 1921 Beyond William Desmond Taylor Drama lost The Betrayer Beaumont Smith Drama lost The Bloke from Freeman's Bay Rudall Hayward Comedy Hayward's first film 1922 The Birth of New Zealand Harrington Reynolds Earliest New Zealand film of which footage (fragments only) are known to still exist. My Lady of the Cave Rudall Hayward Ten Thousand Miles in the Southern Cross George Tarr Documentary/travelogue 1923 The Romance of Sleepy Hollow Henry J. Makepeace lost 1924 Rewi's Last Stand Rudall Hayward fragments only remain Venus of the South Seas James R. Sullivan 1925 The Adventures of Algy Beaumont Smith Glorious New Zealand Arthur Messenger documentary 1927 Carbine's Heritage Edwin Coubray (Ted) lost The Romance of Hine-moa Gustav Pauli lost The Te Kooti Trail Rudall Hayward Historical drama Under the Southern Cross Gustav Pauli lost 1928 The Bush Cinderella Rudall Hayward 1929 Under the Southern Cross Lew Collins a.k.a. The Devil's Pit or Taranga. Only fragments remain
1930s Title Director Genre Notes 1930 The Romance Of Maoriland Edward T. Brown Never released. Intended as New Zealand's first feature-length "talkie". 30 minutes of footage only remain. 1934 Romantic New Zealand travelogue New Zealand's first released "talkie" film. 1935 Down on the Farm Stewart Pitt New Zealand's first non-documentary "talkie". Fragments only remain. First film shot entirely in the South Island.Hei Tiki Alexander Markey a.k.a. Primitive Passions, A Saga of the Maoris.New Zealand's Charm: A Romantic Outpost of Empire Cyril James Morton Scenic Magic Playgrounds in New Zealand's Geyserland Scenic 1936 Phar Lap's Son A. L. Lewis a.k.a. Phar Lap's Son?. Lost. On the Friendly Road Rudall Hayward drama Features early New Zealand media personality Colin Scrimgeour in a lead role, playing his radio persona, "Uncle Scrim". The Wagon and the Star J. J. W. Pollard drama Only one reel remains. 1937 New Zealand Review no.1, Holiday Sounds Scenic 1938 New Zealand Review No.5, Mountain Holiday Scenic
1940s Title Director Genre Notes 1940 Rewi's Last Stand Rudall Hayward Historical drama/War One Hundred Crowded Years H H Bridgman Docu-drama Official Centennial film 1941 Country Lads Stanhope Andrews Patriotic propaganda National Film Unit
1950s Title Director Genre Notes 1950 1950 British Empire Games Sports documentary 1950 British Empire Games Journey for Three Michael Forlong Immigration propaganda 1952 Broken Barrier John O'Shea Drama 1954Royal New Zealand Journey / A Queen's Royal Tour Oxley Hughan Documentary 1953–1954 royal tour of New ZealandThe Seekers Ken Annakin Adventure Location shooting for British film with NZ setting.
1960s Title Director Genre Notes 1964 140 Days Under the World Geoffrey Scott Documentary 1965 Academy Award Nominee: Documentary Short. Runaway John O'Shea Drama First film appearance for several noted New Zealand media personalities, including Selwyn Muru, Barry Crump, and Kiri Te Kanawa. 1966 Don't Let It Get You John O'Shea Comedy
1970s Title Director Genre Notes 1970 This is New Zealand Hugh Macdonald Documentary Made for Expo '70 in Osaka, projected over three screens 1972 To Love a Maori Rudall Hayward Shot on 16mm. New Zealand's first colour feature film; Hayward's last film. 1973Rangi's Catch Michael Forlong Children's drama Film debut of Temuera Morrison 1974Games '74 John King, Sam Pillsbury, Paul Maunder, Arthur Everard Sports documentary 1974 British Commonwealth Games 1975Landfall † Paul Maunder shot on 16mmTest Pictures: Eleven Vignettes from a Relationship † Geoff Steven Drama 1976Off the Edge † Michael Firth Skiing 1977Sleeping Dogs Roger Donaldson Drama/action First NZ film to open in the U.S.Solo Tony Williams Wild Man Geoff Murphy 1978 Angel Mine Fantasy Art New ZealandSkin Deep * Geoff Steven Drama 1979Middle Age Spread *† John Reid Comedy shot on 16mmSons for the Return Home *† Paul Maunder Drama based on the 1973 book by Albert Wendt
1980s Title Director Genre Notes 1980Beyond Reasonable Doubt John Laing Drama Based on the true story of the Crewe murders and wrongful conviction of Arthur Allan ThomasSqueeze Richard Turner Drama shot on 16mm 1981 Bad Blood * Mike Newell drama NZ-British co-production Dead Kids / Strange Behaviour / Shadowland † Michael Laughlin horror AU-NZ-US co-production Goodbye Pork Pie * Geoff Murphy comedy, road movie Pictures †* Michael Black Entered into the 12th Moscow International Film Festival Race for the Yankee Zephyr David Hemmings action Australia - NZ co-production Smash Palace * Roger Donaldson drama Wildcat † Ross Prosser, Russel Campbell, Alister Barry shot on 16mm 1982 Carry Me Back †* John Reid comedy The Scarecrow * Sam Pillsbury Battletruck (reissued as Warlords of the 21st Century) Harley Cokliss action Hollywood film shot on location A Woman of Good Character Historical drama AKA Lizzie; shot on 16mm 1983 Among the Cinders †* Rolf Hädrich Drama It's Lizzie to Those Close / Lizzie †* Historical drama shot on 16mm Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence Nagisa Oshima War location shooting for British-Japanese co-production Patu! †* Merata Mita documentary Savage Islands / Nate and Hayes † Adventure Second Time Lucky † Michael Anderson comedy Strata † Geoff Steven Trespasses † Peter Sharp Utu * Geoff Murphy historical action Screened at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival Wild Horses †* Derek Morton Drama War Years † Pat McGuire 1984 Among the Cinders * Rolf Hädrich Drama New Zealand and West Germany co-production Constance *Bruce Morrison Drama The Bounty Roger Donaldson Adventure Location shooting for Australian/US production Death Warmed Up †* horror/thriller Heart of the Stag † Michael Firth Drama Other Halves John Laing drama The Silent One * Yvonne Mackay Drama filmed in the Cook Islands Vigil * Vincent Ward Drama Nominated for Palme D'Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival Trial Run * Melanie Read ThrillerFirst NZ feature film to be written and directed by a woman 1985 Bridge to Nowhere * Ian Mune Came a Hot Friday * Ian Mune comedy Dangerous Orphans * John Laing Action Hot TargetDenis Lewiston sex thriller Location shooting for US film Kingpin Mike Walker drama Entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival The Lost Tribe John Laing horror Mr Wrong * Gaylene Preston horror The Quiet Earth *Geoff Murphy Drama/sci-fi/mystery Shaker Run Bruce Morrison Action/thriller Sylvia Michael Firthbiographical film 1986 Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale Murray Ballanimated film Arriving Tuesday * Richard Riddifordromantic comedy Mark II *John Anderson dramaPallet on the Floor Lynton Butler Queen City Rocker * Bruce Morrison 1987 Bad Taste * Peter Jackson Comedy/horror/sci-fi Illustrious Energy * Leon Narbey Mauri * Merata Mita Ngati * Barry Barclay 1988 The Grasscutter Ian Mune action/thriller Just Me and Mario Greg Stitt Comedy The Navigator: A Mediaeval Odyssey * Vincent Ward fantasy Entered into the 1988 Cannes Film Festival Never Say Die Geoff Murphy action Send a Gorilla * Melanie Read Comedy 1989 A Soldier's Tale Larry Parr Romantic drama Meet the Feebles * Peter Jackson black comedy Zilch! * Richard Riddifordthriller Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree * Martyn Sanderson drama based on works by Albert Wendt
1990s Title Director Genre Notes 1990 An Angel at My Table * Jane Campion biography Mana WakaMerata Mitadocumentary Ruby and Rata * Gaylene Preston User FriendlyGregor Nicholashorror, comedyThe ReturningJohn DayThriller 1991 The End of the Golden Weather Ian Mune Based on the play The End of the Golden Weather Grampire comedy/horror/kids AKA My Grandpa Is a Vampire Old Scores comedy/sport Te RuaBarry Barclay 1992 Alex * Megan Simpson Huberman sport /drama Absent Without Leave John Laing World War II Entered into the 18th Moscow International Film Festival Braindead Peter Jackson Splatter/Horror Chunuk Bair Dale G. Bradley War Crush Alison Maclean Entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival 1993 Bread and Roses * Gaylene Preston biography Desperate Remedies Stewart Main, Peter Wells surrealist melodrama Screened at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival Jack Be NimbleGarth Maxwell gothic horror 1994 Heavenly Creatures *Peter JacksonDrama/romance/crime Once Were Warriors Lee Tamahori Drama The Last Tattoo John Reid Drama LoadedAnna CampionDrama 1995 Bonjour Timothy * Cinema of Unease Sam Neill, Judy Rymer Documentary Forgotten Silver Costa Botes, Peter Jackson mockumentary War Stories Our Mothers Never Told UsGaylene PrestonDocumentary 1996 Broken English Gregor Nicholas drama/romance Chicken Grant La Hood comedy Jack Brown Genius Tony Hiles Produced by Peter Jackson Flight of the AlbatrossWerner Meyer Someone Else's CountryAlistair Barry Documentary The Frighteners * Peter Jackson comedy/horror The Whole of the Moon *Ian Mune Out of the Dark Keith Hunter Documentary 1997Aberration Tim Boxell Horror Starring Pamela Gidley, Simon Bossell Lost Valley Dale G. Bradley Topless Women Talk About Their LivesHarry Sinclair The UglyScott Reynolds 1998 Memory and DesireNiki Caro Saving Grace Costa Botes romance When Love Comes Along Garth Maxwell HeavenScott ReynoldsthrillerVia SatelliteAnthony McCartenComedy 1999 Channelling Baby Christine Parker I'll Make You HappyAthina Tsoulis Savage HoneymoonMark Beesley Scarfies * Robert Sarkies black comedy What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? Ian Mune drama Punitive DamageAnnie GoldsondocumentaryCampaignTony SutoriusdocumentaryGetting to Our PlaceGaylene Preston, Anna CottrelldocumentaryUncomfortable ComfortableCampbell WalkerdramaMagik and RoseVanessa Alexanderdrama, comedyLawless Chris Martin-Jonesaction/crimeStarring Kevin Smith, Angela Dotchin. First of a trilogy
2000s