25+ Australian Movies That Defined The Australian Cinema

The world’s first feature film, The Genuine Story of the Kelly Gang, was created in Australia, making it the true birthplace of cinema. Australia is not only perhaps the most beautiful country on Earth, but it also serves as a cornerstone for the world’s brilliant filmmaking.

Many well-known actors have Australian background. Examples are Chris Hemsworth, the powerful Thor, and Hugh Jackman, the lovely actor who won everyone’s heart as Logan, dubbed “The Wolverine.”

Not to mention Nicole Kidman, Sam Worthington, David Gulpilil, Ben Mendelsohn, and Margot Robbie, all of whom have achieved the illustrious careers they were for after moving to the big screen from their own Australia.

And of course, there is the illustrious Heath Ledger, who won the Academy Award for playing the Joker’s archenemy and elevated the already excellent character to a mind-blowing new level.

Best Movies from Australia

Here are the best movies produced in Australia, which will leave audiences wanting more.

Animal Kingdom

David Michod was the director of the 2010 film Animal Kingdom. Major roles in the film were played by Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, James Frecheville, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, and Sullivan Stapleton.

The movie centres on a teenager who, after the death of his mother, goes in with his relatives. The bereaved teen is getting over his loss when, to to his surprise, he learns about a well held family secret.

The film received positive reviews from critics and was praised for its plot and the acting of its many cast members, particularly Jacki Weaver, whose performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Rotten Tomatoes gives Animal Kingdom a 95% approval rating and gives it their seal of approval. On Amazon Prime Video, you may buy or rent the movie.

Australia

Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman played the main characters in Baz Luhrmann’s film Australia. The movie, which was produced by Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Knapman, and G. Mac Brown, came out in the last few months of 2008.

In the movie, a young woman of English descent makes the decision to travel to Australia in order to protect a cattle station that was once hers from various people who want to sell it for a profit.

The woman falls in love with a local cattle stockman while the procedure is going on, and the man helps her keep the property she inherited.

In addition to Ben Mendelsohn, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, David Gulpilil, Brandon Walters, and Essie Davis, who had supporting roles, David Ngoombujarra, Barry Otto, Kerry Walker, Sandy Gore, Lillian Crombie, Ursula Yovich, and Max Cullen were also featured in the movie.

Australia is a beautiful film that is adventurous from the opening scene to the very end. The movie is available to watch on Apple TV and is an excellent choice for anyone searching for an epic adventure movie.

Babyteeth

Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, and Ben Mendelsohn played the key characters in the 2019 film Babyteeth. The story of the film centres on Milla, a teenage girl who is infatuated with a drug dealer but whose parents are standing in her way.

In addition to Emily Barclay, Eugene Gilfedder, and Essie Davis, Shannon Murphy served as the film’s director. The drama with the same title, created by Rita Kalnejais, served as the basis for the movie.

The movie’s supporting players include

Grech, Zach
Jennifer Lotters
Richard Lau
Andrea Demetriades and Georgina Symes
The film received numerous nominations and prizes, including those at the Venice Film Festival, the BRIFF Awards, the AACTA Awards, and many others. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 94% approval rating.

You can watch Babyteeth on Hulu.

Beneath Clouds

Ivan Sen was the film’s director, and Damian Pitt and Dannielle Hall played the movie’s two main characters. The two characters that drive the plot of the film are on a quest to achieve their goals and have quite different personalities.

The film, which was released in 2002 and was well received by both audiences and reviewers, was nominated for and eventually took home several major awards.

Beneath Clouds is a fantastic option for drama fans because it is packed with dramatic aspects and is available for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime Video.

Bran Nue Dae

Bran Nue Dae In 2009, Rachel Perkins directed the film Bran Nue Dae. The movie centres on a teen who leaves his school and decides to go back to his ancestral home.

Rocky McKenzie, Jessica Mauboy, Ernie Dingo, Missy Higgins, Tom Budge, Geoffrey Rush, Magda Szubanski, Dan Sultan, Ningali Lawford, and Stephen Albert were among the actors who starred in the film.

Bran Nue Dae, which is accessible on Amazon Prime Video in some areas, is a nice option for a witty weekend movie marathon.

Charlie’s Country

David Gulpilil played the principal character in the Rolf de Heer-directed movie Charlie’s Country. The main character of the film is Charlie, an Australian native who worries that the country’s rapid development is to blame for the local culture’s decline.

When the movie came out in 2013, both critics and audiences were pleased with it. The movie received high marks for its plot and has a respectable 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Luke Ford, Jennifer Budukpuduk Gaykamangu, Gary Sweet, Peter Minygululu, Ritchie Singer, and a number of others are supporting actors in Charlie’s Country.

David Gulpilil’s portrayal of Charlie earned him the Best Actor prize at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. The film is accessible to watch on Amazon Prime Video and was nominated for a number of prizes.

Don’s Party

Bruce Beresford was the director of Don’s Party, which was published in 1976. The story revolves around Don, who has a party where his pals talk about their favourite routine tasks.

John Hargreaves, Graham Kennedy, Pat Bishop, Ray Barett, Graeme Blundell, Veronica Lang, Harold Hopkins, John Gorton, Bruce Beresford, and Malcolm Mackerras are just a few of the actors who appear in the film.

If you want to see what gatherings were like in the past, Don’s Party is an excellent option. It can be rented or purchased on Amazon Prime Video.

Girl Asleep

Rosemary Myers directed the 2015 film Girl Asleep, which came out. The play by Matthew Whittet with the same name served as the basis for the film.

The movie centres on Greta, a teenage girl who turns 15 and experiences body shaming from her peers. The young woman is drawn into a parallel universe where she must battle various animals for her survival.

In the film Girl Asleep, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Grace Dawson, Lucy Cowan, Danielle Catanzariti, Maiah Stewardson, Amber McMahon, Eamon Farren, Imogen Archer, and Grace Dawson played supporting roles with Harrison Feldman and Bethany Whitmore in the key roles.

The movie has a good 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and is advised for adventure movie fans with a soft spot for drama.

Happy Feet

Who doesn’t remember the Happy Feet dancing penguin?

The well-known film follows Mumble, a dancing-talented penguin who struggles with rejection since he can’t sing. Mumble embarks on a quest to discover the source of the local fish population’s decline, put himself to the test, and discover who he really is.

The film was produced in 2006 and directed by George Miller. The film was a smash both critically and commercially, earning more than $380 million at the box office.

The film’s outstanding photography and plot helped it win numerous honours, including the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

A follow-up to the film, Happy Feet Two, was made and released in 2011. The movie Happy Feet is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, and it comes highly recommended to everyone.

Jindabyne

Ray Lawrence directed the movie Jindabyne, which centres on a group of friends who discover a girl’s dead body and find themselves in a precarious predicament. Even worse, for a number of reasons, the group decides not to report the occurrence.

As things worsen and the drama mounts, this decision causes the group to experience a number of negative effects. It was released in 2006 and featured Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney, and John Howard in the key characters.

Deborra-Lee Furness, Chris Haywood, Eva Lazzaro, Leah Purcell, Simon Stone, Tatea Reilly, Riley von Husen, Betty Lucas, and countless others are among the cast’s supporting actors.

For those who want drama with a dash of excitement, the movie is a wonderful ride right from the start and offers multiple dramatic moments. On Amazon Prime Video, viewers can choose to buy or rent Jindabyne.

Little Fish

Chad Hartigan was the director of Little Fish, which was published in 2020. The movie was adapted from a short story by Aja Gabel with the same title that was published.

Olivia Cooke, Raul Castillo, Soko, and Jack O’Connell appear in the film, which centres on a couple who battle to remain strong in the face of a virus that causes individuals to forget their favourite memories and lose their memories.

Little Fish, which is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video and has a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is a respectable option for those who enjoy dramatic romance.

Mad Bastards

Brendan Fletcher directed Mad Bastards, which was published in 2011. Dean Daley-Jones and Lucas Yeeda played the key actors in the film.

The movie’s main story is around a police officer who merely wants the best for the young people in his neighbourhood. Along with many other actors in supporting roles, the movie also starred Karla Hart, Alan Pigram, Greg Tait, John Watson, Ngaire Pigram, Kelton Pell, Douglas Macale, Alex Lloyd, and Patrick McCoy-Geary.

Mad Bastards received nominations for a number of honours, including the AACTA Awards, ADG Awards, APRA Music Awards, among others. The film is suggested for a movie marathon and features a good amount of dramatic components.

On Amazon Prime Video, Mad Bastards is available for purchase or rental.

Mad Max

When the first Mad Max movie was released in 1979, the Mad Max franchise got its start. The main character in the movie series is a police officer named Max who is out to avenge the deaths of his wife and children. However, Max finds problems along the way.

The first movie in the series, which debuted in 1979, was followed by three sequels, for a total of four films in the series to date.

The movie series has received high praise from critics and admiration from both audiences and watchers. On Rotten Tomatoes, a number of the series’ movies have received the “Certified Fresh” rating, while Mad Max 2 and Mad Max: Fury Road have been named among the “Best Action Films Ever Made.”

The Mad Max: Fury Road film won six Academy Awards. The film series has been a huge success throughout the course of its history and has been nominated for numerous awards.

Several OTT services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, offer access to the film series.

Muriel’s Wedding

The story of a young woman who is getting ready for her wedding and moving from her tiny town to Sydney, Australia, is the subject of the film Muriel’s Wedding. The woman is excited and worried about her marriage because she never went on a date before the wedding, which makes her feel uneasy about it.

P.J. Hogan was the director, and the movie came out in 1994. The leading actors included Toni Collette, Jeanie Drynan, Sophie Lee, and Bill Hunter, while the supporting cast included a large number of people like Rachel Griffiths, Genevieve Picot, Gennie Nevinson, Daniel Lapaine, Roz Hammond, Belinda Jarett, Daniel Wyllie, Gabby Millgate, Chris Haywood, Cintra Bedford, and Matt Day.

Upon release, Muriel’s Wedding received a great deal of acclaim and was even nominated for multiple prizes. Toni Collette was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, and the film received accolades for both its screenplay and the performances of the other cast members.

If a viewer has a Paramount+ subscription, they can watch Muriel’s Wedding on Amazon Prime Video.

Paper Planes

The story of Paper Planes centres on Dylan, a little child who discovers that he has a talent for creating the best paper aeroplane possible. The young man then makes the decision to travel and participate in the World Tournament of Paper Planes.

Robert Connolly was the film’s director, and it came out in 2015. In addition to Ena Imai, Nicholas Bakopoulos-Cooke, Terry Norris, Peter Rowsthorn, Deborah Mailman, and David Wenham in supporting roles, the movie also stars Ed Oxenbould, Sam Worthington, and David Wenham in the key roles.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has an 85% rating with stars, and it is advised for anyone looking for children’s drama. Amazon Prime Video offers the option to buy or rent Paper Planes.

Penguin Bloom

Based on a book by Bradley Trevor Grieve with the same name as the film, Penguin Bloom was helmed by Glendyn Ivin. Along with Lisa Hensley, Leeanna Wwalsman, and Rachel House, the movie featured Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln, and Jacki Weaver in the key characters.

The friendship between Samantha Bloom and a bird that is saved by her kids since the former is paralysed is the main subject of the movie. The film’s lighthearted treatment of the subject matter earned it praise when it was released in 2020.

Drama enthusiasts should watch the film, which was nominated for multiple AACTA Awards.

You can watch Penguin Bloom on Netflix.

Rabbit-Proof Fence

‘Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence,’ a book by Doris Pilkington Garimara published in 1996, served as the inspiration for the 2002 film Rabbit-Proof Fence. The story centres on Molly Craig, Gracie, and Daisy Kadibil, three Australian aboriginal girls who escape from captors to find their relatives.

The girls travel more than 2000 kilometres via the rabbit-proof fence in Australia in an effort to reach their loved ones who have passed away.

Molly Craig, played by Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury as Daisy Kadibil, and Gracie, played by Laura Monoghan, was the film’s starring lady.

In addition to David Gulpilil, Jason Clarke, Kenneth Branagh, Gary McDonald, Roy Billing, Natasha Wanganeen, and a number of other supporting actors, Rabbit-Proof Fence was directed by Phillip Noyce.

Amazon Prime Video offers the option to rent Rabbit-Proof Fence.

Satellite Boy

Catriona McKenzie’s film Satellite Boy followed Pete, who lives with his grandfather and experiences multiple setbacks as a result of various situations forcing him to deal with many difficulties.

In addition to Joseph Pedley, Dean Daley-Jones, Callum McKenzie, Dougie McCale, Pam Barett, Greg Tait, Jarunba-Mark Weaver, Dolores Roberts, Kaylene Marr, Richard Evans, and a number of others, the film featured David Gulpilil and Cameron Wallaby in the key characters.

In 2012, Satellite Boy was made available, and audiences immediately embraced it. The film is a terrific option for adventure lovers who enjoy drama and has a pristine 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Apple TV users can watch the movie.

Storm Boy

Geoffrey Rush played the title character in the Shawn Seet-directed film Storm Boy, which also starred Jai Courtney, Trevor Jamieson, Morgan Davies, David Gulpilil, Simone Annan, and Luca Asta in prominent parts.

Storm Boy, a little boy who lives in an underdeveloped area close to Australia’s coastline, is the focus of the movie’s plot. After saving three pelicans and becoming friends with them, the boy embarks on an exciting and dramatic voyage.

Along with many other people in supporting parts, the film included Finn Little, Erik Thomson, Thibul Nettle, Georgina Giessauf, Martha Lott, Brendan Cooney, Caroline Mignone, Anna Bampton, Rory Walker, Brendan Rock, James Smith, Tim Whibley, Paul Blackwell, and Michelle Nightingale.

On Plex, you may watch Storm Boy, a terrific option for a family movie night.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert

Stephen Elliot was the director of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which was published in 1994. Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce played the major characters in the movie, who pretended to be drag queens while travelling with their show from Sydney to Alice Springs.

In addition to Terence Stamp and Bill Hunter, the film also included a large cast of supporting actors, including Sarah Chadwick, Daniel Kellie, Leighton Picken, Stephan Elliot, Margaret Pomeranz, Julia Cortez, Ken Radley, and Mark Holmes.

The comedy-heavy film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

The movie is available for fans to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video and has an interesting narrative that makes it a must-see.

The Babadook

Jennifer Kent directed The Babadook, which was published in 2014. Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman played her mother and son in the major parts of the wildly successful horror film.

The central character of the film is Amelia Vanek, a single mother who struggles to help her son, Samuel Vanek, get over his dread of a monster living in their home.

In addition to Essie and Noah, other notable actors who appeared in the movie included Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Ben Winspear, and Barbara West. The short film “Monster,” directed by Jennifer Kent and published in 2005, served as the inspiration for The Babadook.

The Babadook was a huge success at the box office and became a well-liked film as a result of its plot. Amazon Prime Video offers users access to the film.

The Black Balloon

Elissa Down was the director of The Black Balloon, which was published in 2008. Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, and Gemma Ward played the main characters in the movie, which followed Thomas, a little kid who was forced to look after his elder brother, who had a mental illness.

In supporting parts, the film featured Nathin Butler, Firass Dirani, Kieran Smith, Ryan Clark, Lisa Kowalski, and Lloyd Allison-Young. Viewers adored the movie and applauded it for its message; they also commended the actors’ performances, especially Rhys Wakefield’s.

In a number of locations, Amazon Prime Video offers The Black Balloon.

The Castle

Rob Sitch was the director of the 1997 film The Castle. Leading actors in the film were Michael Caton, Anthony Simcoe, Wayne Hope, Sophie Lee, and Anne Tenney.

The movie centres on a well-known family that challenges the government and various officials after receiving a summons to leave their ancestral house from the authorities.

Along with many other people in supporting parts, The Castle also starred Ian Ross, John Flaus, Larry Emdur, Tony Martin, Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell, Tiriel Mora, and Costas Kilias. The movie was a box office hit and received a staggering 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

On Amazon Prime Video, users can rent or purchase The Castle.

The Dressmaker

In the Jocelyn Moorhouse-directed film The Dressmaker, Kate Winslet played the lead part of a dressmaker who travels back to her hometown to care for her ailing mother.

The comedy-driven sections of the 2015 release were praised by critics as they allowed viewers to see the negative side of “the Dressmaker.” A 2000 novel with the same name served as the inspiration for the film.

The Dressmaker was praised for its exciting moments and included Darcey Wilson, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving, Sacha Horler, Caroline Goodall, James Mackay, Rebecca Gibney, and many more in supporting roles.

You may watch the movie on Amazon Prime Video.

The Dry

Following the death of a childhood friend, federal agent Aaron Falk from The Dry visits his hometown to attend the burial.

The deceased dad, however, is said to have left behind a very small newborn daughter after killing his wife and son and then killing himself. Aaron makes the decision to uncover the riddle and bring justice to his deceased friend.

Robert Connolly was the film’s director, and it debuted in 2020. The Dry, a movie that was released in 2016, was based on a book by Jane Harper of the same name.

Along with Genevieve O’Reilly, John Polson, and Keir O’Donnell in the key roles, the movie features Eric Bana as the agent Aaron Falk and Martin Dingle-Wall as his deceased buddy Luke Hadler.

Along with a number of others, the supporting cast members are Joe Klocek, Claude Scott-Mitchell, Bebe Bettencourt, Sam Corlett, Matt Nable, Renee Lim, Eddie Baroo, and Miranda Tapsell.

The movie has an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has received high marks for its plot. On Hulu, you can watch The Dry.

This Little Love of Mine

Christine Luby was the director of the 2021 film This Little Love of Mine. The film, which starred Saskia Hampele, Liam McIntyre, Lynn Gilmartin, and Sam Arnold in the key roles, was about a successful attorney who goes back to the island where she grew up to convince her friend to be the only heir to his family’s business.

As supporting actors, the film also included Marshal Betzel, Lennox Broadley, Zara Goodman, James Blee, Craig Horner, Monette Lee, Lawrence Ola, Jessi Robertson, Sophie Tilson, Rajan Velu, Tiriel Mora, and Sarah Woods.

The romantic evening-appropriate movie with beautiful sceneries. You can watch This Little Love of Mine on Netflix.

Toomelah

Ivan Sen directed the 2011 film Toomelah, which came out. Daniel Connors, Michael Connors, and Christopher Edwards played the key parts in the movie. The main character of the movie is a young lad who, after being expelled from school, decides to join the local drug trafficking gang.

In supporting parts, the movie also included Dorothy Cubby, Alex Haines, Aunty Sharon, Aunty Margery Binge, Tyericq Jiko, Daniela Connors, Lauren McGrady, and many more.

Toomelah received high marks for both the quality of its acting and the plot. The film is advised for anyone looking for a typical drama film that shows the character development of the main character because it has a pristine 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

On Amazon Prime Video, users may see Toomelah.

Top End Wedding

Wayne Blair directed Top End Wedding, which was published in 2019. The movie centres on Lauren, a lawyer who has been looking forward to her wedding for a while, but various events and her mother’s absence just a few days before the big day cause amusing problems.

Joshua Tyler, Glen Condie, and Miranda Tapsell all contributed ideas for the plot of the movie, which starred Gwilym Lee and Miranda Tapsell in the key characters. The plot of Top End Wedding and the performances of the numerous performers were also praised.

Kerry Fox, Brooklyn Doomadgee, Tierney White, Tracy Mann, Matt Crook, Rob Collins, Huw Higginson, Travis Jeffrey, and a number of other well-known actors and actresses played supporting roles in the movie.

Top End Wedding has been a popular favourite since it debuted in 2019 and has a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For fans of rom-coms, Amazon Prime Video offers the movie for purchase or rental.

True History of The Kelly Gang

True History of the Kelly Gang, a 2019 motion picture directed by Justin Kurzel, was adapted from a book by Peter Carey with the same name.

The movie is based on Ned Kelly’s life and how he elevated his gang to national prominence. As a result, the Kelly gang becomes a target, and a cat-and-mouse game begins between the cops and the gang members.

True History of The Kelly Gang The True History of The Kelly Gang’s leading actors

Along with Orlando Schwerdt, Russell Crowe, Essie Davis, and Nicholas Hoult playing important roles, the movie stars George MacKay as Ned Kelly’s leader.

Sean Keenan, Thomasin McKenzie, Marlon Williams, Claudia Karvan, Earl Cave, Louis Hewison, and Gentle Ben Corbett, among others, are among the actors who play supporting roles.

The film received plaudits for its portrayal of the gang’s past and has a respectable 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Anyone interested for criminal drama is advised to view the movie, which is accessible through Amazon Prime Video.

Wish You Were Here

Felicity Price, Teresa Palmer, Joel Edgerton, and Antony Starr were the main actors in the film Wish You Were Here. The couple in the film is on their way to a romantic getaway.

The couple’s vacation, however, turns tragic as they drift apart from the wavelength they once shared as a result of some circumstances and some poor choices.

The movie, which was helmed by Kieran Darcy-Smith, came out in 2012. Angie Fielder produced the movie, which was adored for its dramatic features and a particular mystery that centres around the movie’s characters.

On Amazon Prime Video, users may rent or purchase Wish You Were Here.

Divesh Solanki

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Being a binge-watcher himself, finding Content to write about comes naturally to Divesh. From Anime to Trending Netflix Series and Celebrity News, he covers every detail and always find the right sources for his research.