New Zealand has long been punching above its weight, and we’re not
talking about the country’s scenery. We’re talking about its booming
entertainment industry that doesn’t get enough recognition.
Aspiring actors typically cast their hopes and dreams on Los Angeles,
believing Hollywood is the hub of the film and entertainment industry.
Cities like New York and Atlantic City are looked at similarly. Yet, there
are several other contenders. For now, Hollywood is considered the Silicon
Valley of film and entertainment, but New Zealand could very well be
coming for the crown. After all, the facts speak for themselves.
The Hollywood Reporter found that, in 2017, the New Zealand screen
industry contributed $718 million to real GDP and nearly $500 million to
exports annually —
more information can be found in the article. Of course, New Zealand’s entertainment industry doesn’t just center
around movies. For instance, New Zealand has a thriving music scene, with
many artists coming out of the country, including Lorde, and New Zealand’s
online gambling platforms are also growing fast. According to BonusFinder,
the online casino industry in New Zealand is as vibrant as it has ever
been, with many platforms offering incentives like no deposit and first
deposit bonuses. If you
click here to read the entire article, you will see a list of the top-rated online casinos in New Zealand,
with the level of choice available indicating that this industry is very
much on the rise.
That said, we can’t pretend New Zealand hasn’t produced some iconic
movies, and so, we’ve compiled a list of the best New Zealand movies and
where they were filmed.
Lord Of The Rings
Directed by Sir Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy
adventure trilogy. The franchise thrust actors Elijah Woods and Orlando
Bloom into the spotlight while also shining an international light on New
Zealand’s landscape and the potential for the country’s film and
entertainment industry. The first film in The Lord of the Rings series was
released in 2001 and, to this day, remains one of the reasons travelers
visit. The Lord of the Rings was filmed at Hobbiton, Mount Sunday, The
Waiau River, and Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve.
The Breaker Upperers
Released in 2018, The Breaker Upperers is a New Zealand romantic comedy.
The movie follows two women who create an agency in Auckland that helps
couples break up. Jen and Mel use unorthodox means to help people break up
with their partners, such as impersonating a police officer. The film was
well received and brought in nearly $4 million (NZD) at the box office.
For its international audience, The Breaker Upperers showcased the beauty
of Auckland, the most populous urban area in New Zealand, filming at
several parks and cafes.
Hunt For The Wilderpeople
Released in 2016, Hunt For The Wilderpeople is an adventure comedy-drama
written by Taika Waititi. This coming-of-age adventure movie follows the
story of a boy and his foster father who become the targets of a man-hunt.
It premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and received critical
acclaim. Hunt For The Wilderpeople was shot in New Zealand’s beautiful
Waitakere Ranges. The mountain range is between Auckland and the west
coast of the former Rodney District, and it has foothills, native
wildlife, and black sand surf beaches.
New Zealand gets most of its recognition for its scenery, adventurous
lifestyle, and activities, while places like Los Angeles are considered
the hub for the film and entertainment industry. Sites like Tripadvisor
has helped to shine a light on the best that New Zealand has to offer, and
you
can find out more by clicking here. However, as we’ve seen over the past few decades, New Zealand has an
established film and entertainment industry that, with the addition of its
growing online platforms, is only going to become more dominant.