Hunt for the Wilderpeople wins Empire's film of the year accolade

This year has been jam packed full of amazing films but it seems the cream has risen to the top.

Kiwi film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, directed by Taika Waititi, has come out in first place in the Top 25 Best Movies for 2016 by Empire.

A screen shot featuring actors Julian Dennison (left) and Sam Neill from Taika Waititi's film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Photo / Supplied

It beat the award winning The Revenant, Batman and Superman, Room, The Hateful Eight, Arrival, Spotlight, Hell or Highwaterand many more highly regarded films.

Taika Waititi's film was a box office smash at home and earned rave reviews overseas, and it has a whopping 99 per cent approval rating on review aggregate site Metacritic.

The Hunt for the Wilderpeople;directed by Taika Waititi starring Sam Neill, Julian Dennsion, Rhys Darby. Photo / Supplied

It's also been named one of three of the "summer's ignored mini-masterpieces" by The Washington Post.

Wilderpeople become New Zealand's biggest ever box office hit, breaking records with its $1.3 million opening weekend, and topping Boy's total box office takings to claim the No. 1 spot.

It has taken approximately $29.5 million in total box office takings after being made for an estimated $2.5 million.

The praise comes after American reviewers warmed to the film, with Rolling Stone calling it "oddly affecting" and The Wall Street Journal saying it was "wonderfully fresh".

The Hunt for the Wilderpeople starring Sam Neill and Julian Dennsion. Photo / Supplied