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Famous Movies Filmed In New Zealand
List of popular movies from New Zealand, listed by popularity with movie trailers when available. All prominent movies shot in New Zealand are included. This list of famous films made in New Zealand includes additional information about the movies, such as who directed them and what genre they are. Any top rated movies made in New Zealand should appear on this list, with the most well-known ones at the top. The most popular cinema of New Zealand is included below, so if you see a movie that's missing then it probably isn't very well-known.
List ranges from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, plus much more. This list answers the questions "What movies were shot in New Zealand?"
Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler- Released: 2003
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
The culmination of nearly 10 years' work and conclusion to Peter Jackson's epic trilogy based on the timeless J.R.R. Tolkien classic, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" presents the ...more- Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
- Released: 2001
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
The future of civilization rests in the fate of the One Ring, which has been lost for centuries. Powerful forces are unrelenting in their search for it. But fate has placed it in the hands of a young ...more ![The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]()
Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
The sequel to the Golden Globe-nominated and AFI Award-winning "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers" follows the continuing quest of Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the ...more![King Kong]()
Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody- Released: 2005
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson's expansive remake of the 1933 classic follows director Carl Denham (Jack Black) and his crew on a journey from New York City to the ominous Skull Island to film a new movie. ...more![District 9]()
Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth -- not to conquer or give aid, but -- to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are ...more- Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
While shopping at an outdoor market, young reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell), accompanied by his faithful dog, Snowy, buys a model of an old ship called the Unicorn. A shady character named Sakharine ...more ![The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]()
Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes- Released: 2005
- Directed by: Andrew Adamson
During the World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical ...more![What Dreams May Come]()
Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding, Annabella Sciorra- Released: 1998
- Directed by: Vincent Ward
After Chris Nielsen (Robin Williams) dies in a car accident, he is guided through the afterlife by his spirit guide, Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.). His new world is beautiful and can be whatever Chris ...more![The Frighteners]()
Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson- Released: 1996
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
Once an architect, Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that ...more![Underworld: Rise of the Lycans]()
Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Patrick Tatopoulos
Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel king of the vampires, has persecuted the Lycans for centuries. Young Lycan Lucian (Michael Sheen) rallies his people against Viktor and his Death Dealer warriors. With ...more![Green Lantern]()
Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Martin Campbell
Sworn to preserve intergalactic order, the Green Lantern Corps has existed for centuries. Its newest recruit, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), is the first human to join the ranks. The Green Lanterns have ...more![Heavenly Creatures]()
Melanie Lynskey, Kate Winslet, Sarah Peirse- Released: 1994
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, and forms a bond with the quiet, brooding Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) through ...more- Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Orlando Bloom
- Released: 2012
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
The Hobbit is a film series consisting of three epic fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson. They are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, with large portions of the ...more ![The Legend of Zorro]()
Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rufus Sewell- Released: 2005
- Directed by: Martin Campbell
A secret society, the Knights of Aragon, seeks to keep the United States from achieving manifest destiny -- and only the legendary Zorro (Antonio Banderas) can stop them. Unfortunately, Zorro, also ...more![Bridge to Terabithia]()
Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel- Released: 2007
- Directed by: Gabor Csupo
The life of Jesse (Josh Hutcherson), an adolescent, changes when he befriends Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb), the class outsider. The children create an imaginary world called Terabithia, which is ...more![The Lovely Bones]()
Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) -- and her killer (Stanley Tucci). As she ...more![Whale Rider]()
Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Niki Caro
Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a Maori tribe in New Zealand. This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to be the next chief dies at birth. However his twin sister, Pai ...more![The Piano]()
Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Jane Campion
After a long voyage from Scotland, pianist Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter) and her young daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin), are left with all their belongings, including a piano, on a New Zealand beach. Ada, ...more![Absent Without Leave]()
Craig McLachlan- Released: 1992
- Directed by: John Laing
Absent Without Leave is a 1992 New Zealand drama film directed by John Laing. It was entered into the 18th Moscow International Film Festival.![The Year of Living Dangerously]()
Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt- Released: 1982
- Directed by: Peter Weir
When journalist Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson) arrives in Jakarta, Indonesia, he has difficulty making contacts. He forms a friendship with dwarf photographer Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt), through whom he ...more![10,000 BC]()
Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis- Released: 2008
- Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Mammoth hunter D'Leh (Steven Strait) has long been in love with a beautiful, blue-eyed tribeswoman named Evolet (Camilla Belle). After horseback-riding raiders kidnap most of his D'Leh's fellow ...more![The Warrior's Way]()
Jang Dong-gun, Geoffrey Rush, Kate Bosworth- Released: 2010
- Directed by: Sngmoo Lee
Refusing to kill an infant from an enemy clan, master swordsman Yang (Jang Dong-gun) takes the child and flees to an American frontier town. He puts away his sword for good, vowing to raise the baby ...more![Shine]()
Geoffrey Rush, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd- Released: 1996
- Directed by: Scott Hicks
As a child piano prodigy, David Helfgott's (Geoffrey Rush) musical ambitions generate friction with his overbearing father, Peter (Armin Mueller-Stahl). When Helfgott travels to London on a musical ...more![Australia]()
Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham- Released: 2008
- Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
With the globe on the brink of World War II, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) travels from Britain to Australia to inspect a cattle ranch she inherited. Reluctantly joining forces with a rugged ...more![The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep]()
Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin- Released: 2007
- Directed by: Jay Russell
On the shore of Loch Ness, Scotland, Angus (Alex Etel) finds an unusual egg. When it hatches, it releases an unexpected surprise: a water horse, the legendary creature from Scottish mythology. While ...more
