The film was the first local feature to gross more than NZ$1 million in its opening weekend at the New Zealand box office.
All of the news presenters in the film were actual news presenters on New Zealand TV at the time of filming.
Sir Sam Neill described the film as very funny with many funny people in it and one unfunny person, that last one being himself.
The fourth film directed by Taika Waititi to premiere at Sundance Festival, after Eagle vs Shark (2007), Boy (2010), and What We Do in the Shadows (2014), which all won critical acclaim.
An open casting call was held for a 12 to 15 year-old Maori girl to play the role of Kahu, with Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne selected out of 150 applicants. Ngatai-Melbourne auditioned after her friends thought the character description of Kahu sounded like her.
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