Julian Dennison movies have built one of the more unexpected success stories to come out of New Zealand cinema in the last decade. What started as a scene-stealing supporting role in a small local film has turned into a career that spans blockbuster franchises, animated adventures, and holiday classics. For fans trying to keep track of his work, or newcomers who just discovered him and want to know where to start, this guide breaks down the roles that made him a name worth following.
Born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, Julian Dennison first caught attention with his 2013 debut in Shopping, a performance that earned him a national film award before he was even a teenager. But it was his next major role that truly put him on the map — and set the stage for everything that followed.
Julian Dennison Movies That Launched His Career
The film that made Julian Dennison a household name was Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), directed by Taika Waititi. Playing Ricky Baker, a rebellious foster kid dragged into the New Zealand bush with a reluctant guardian, Dennison delivered a performance that was equal parts funny and genuinely moving. The film went on to become the highest-grossing New Zealand movie of all time, and it’s usually the first title people mention when they talk about Julian Dennison movies worth watching. Waititi was reportedly so impressed by the performance that he cast Dennison in his next major project without an audition.
That next project turned out to be one of the biggest superhero films of the decade.
Julian Dennison Deadpool: The Role That Went Global
Among all the Julian Dennison movies, none introduced him to a wider international audience quite like the Deadpool franchise. In the julian dennison Deadpool film, released in 2018, he played Russell “Firefist” Collins, a troubled young mutant with the power to shoot fire from his hands. His chemistry with Ryan Reynolds gave the film some of its funniest and most heartfelt moments, balancing crude humor with an underdog story that resonated with audiences well beyond the usual superhero crowd.
The character was memorable enough that he returned for the extended cut, sometimes marketed separately as julian dennison Deadpool 2, which added extra scenes and expanded his arc even further. Between the theatrical release and the extended version, this remains one of the standout entries when people search out Julian Dennison movies from his early career.
Julian Dennison Movies Godzilla: Stepping Into the Monsterverse
A few years after conquering the superhero genre, Dennison took on a very different kind of blockbuster. In julian dennison movies Godzilla vs Kong, released in 2021, he played Josh Valentine, a conspiracy-minded podcaster who gets pulled into the chaos surrounding the two legendary titans. The role leaned into his comedic timing while giving him a chance to be part of a massive visual spectacle, working alongside a cast that included Millie Bobby Brown and Rebecca Hall.
When fans search for julian dennison movies Godzilla, they’re almost always referring to this entry in the Monsterverse series, which remains one of his highest-profile studio projects to date and introduced him to yet another built-in fan base of genre moviegoers.
Julian Dennison Movies Christmas Chronicles: A Holiday Favorite
Not every project on his resume is loud action or superhero spectacle. In julian dennison movies Christmas Chronicles, specifically The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020), Dennison took on the role of Belsnickel, a mischievous holiday character who complicates Santa’s plans. The film became a streaming favorite around the holiday season, and it showed a different side of his range — leaning into a more theatrical, larger-than-life performance compared to the grounded characters he’d played before.
For families building a holiday watchlist, this is frequently one of the Julian Dennison movies that gets rediscovered every December.
Julian Dennison Movies How to Train Your Dragon: A New Chapter
More recently, Dennison joined one of the most beloved franchises in modern animation, though not in the way longtime fans might expect. In julian dennison movies How to Train Your Dragon, he plays Fishlegs Ingerman in the 2025 live-action adaptation of the original animated trilogy, directed once again by Dean DeBlois. Fishlegs is known as the dragon-obsessed member of Hiccup’s group of friends, and the live-action version gave Dennison a chance to bring physical comedy and warmth to a character generations of fans already know and love.
This project marked a notable shift for Dennison, moving from voice-adjacent genre work into a major legacy franchise reboot, and it’s already become one of the more talked-about additions to his filmography.
Where to Start With Julian Dennison Movies
For anyone new to his work, the best entry point is still Hunt for the Wilderpeople — it’s the film that defines his early career and shows exactly why directors kept casting him in bigger and bigger projects. From there, the Deadpool films offer his most widely seen performance, while Godzilla vs. Kong and The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two show his range across completely different genres. His role in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon suggests his career is only expanding from here, with bigger franchises and more prominent roles likely on the horizon.
Final Thoughts on Julian Dennison Movies
From a small New Zealand drama to major Hollywood franchises, Julian Dennison movies tell the story of an actor who’s managed to stay likable and versatile no matter the genre. Whether he’s trading one-liners in a superhero film, getting tangled up in a monster movie, or bringing a classic animated character to life on screen, Dennison has built a filmography that’s genuinely fun to explore. As his career continues to grow, it’s a safe bet that the list of standout Julian Dennison movies is only going to get longer.
