11 Movies to watch before you travel to Australia
Australians are famous for their dry humour, colourful sayings and distinctive culture. Before your trip, get a feel for the country through film, from comedies and classics to a touch of horror. Here are 11 of the best films to watch before travelling to Australia.
1. The Castle (1997)
A true Australian classic, The Castle is full of Aussie humour, warmth and wonderfully offbeat charm. The story follows the Kerrigans, a working-class family living in Melbourne, whose much-loved family home comes under threat when the airport next door plans to expand. Heartfelt, funny and brilliantly quirky, it’s a reminder that there really is no place like home.
2. Australia (2008)
Australia (2008) is a sweeping historical epic starring Nicole Kidman as English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley and Hugh Jackman as a rugged Australian drover. When Lady Sarah travels to the Outback to sell her late husband’s cattle station, she is soon captivated by the landscape, the people and a young Indigenous boy named Nullah. To save the property, she must drive a huge herd of cattle to Darwin with the drover’s help. Though the pair clash at first, something deeper begins to grow – just as World War II changes everything.
3. Muriel's Wedding (1994)
Socially awkward and out of work, Muriel lives with her family in the dead-end town of Porpoise Spit. She dreams of a glamorous wedding and, desperate to reinvent herself, steals money from her parents in a bid to become a “real success”. Funny, moving and full of unexpected twists, this comedy-drama will have you laughing one minute and feeling misty-eyed the next.
4. Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
Partly based on a true story, Rabbit-Proof Fence is set in Western Australia and follows three Indigenous girls who are forcibly taken from their families in 1931. After escaping, they begin an extraordinary journey of more than 1,200 miles, following the rabbit-proof fence that stretches across the Australian continent.
Powerful and deeply moving, the film shines a light on the hardship endured by Indigenous Australians during the Stolen Generations period.
5. Chopper (2000)
Based on the autobiography From the Inside by Mark “Chopper” Reid, Chopper is an intense Australian crime drama starring Eric Bana in the title role. Reid wrote the bestselling book while serving a prison sentence, offering a raw insight into his life and crimes.
Often described as one of Australia’s most original crime films, Chopper is bold, unsettling and electrifying from start to finish.
6. Crocodile Dundee (1986)
Action-packed and full of laughs, Crocodile Dundee is a much-loved film set against the striking backdrop of the Australian Outback. Originally made with an American audience in mind, it quickly became a worldwide phenomenon.
Paul Hogan stars as the unforgettable Mick Dundee, with Linda Kozlowski playing American reporter Sue Charlton. Along the way, you’ll get a glimpse of the Northern Territory’s natural beauty as an unlikely love story begins to unfold.
7. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
A worldwide hit, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) is a colourful road-trip comedy with plenty of heart. The film follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they travel across the Australian Outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a tour bus, performing along the way.
Winner of Best Costume Design at the 67th Academy Awards, it’s bold, sparkling and great fun, with a warmth that stays with you long after the credits roll.
8. Babe (1995)
An adaptation of Dick King Smith's novel from 1983 called the Sheep-pig, Babe (1995) is a comedy-drama. It is the story of a once orphaned, farm pig who wants to do the same work as a sheepdog. Almost cooked for Christmas dinner, the pig saves himself by showing his master Hoggett that he can sort the hens, separating them by colour - white and brown. Curious, Hoggett decides to take him to the field and test Babe with the sheep. Watch as Babe is entered in the local sheep herding competition and proves everyone wrong. Cute and quirky, this film is a must-watch if you are an animal lover.
9. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
An Australian romantic comedy directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, Strictly Ballroom is set in Sydney and follows Scott Hastings, the son of a ballroom dancing family. Having trained since the age of six, Scott is expected to follow the rules — but he longs to dance in his own way.
When he risks his career by performing an unconventional routine, Scott must find a new partner and the courage to challenge the ballroom world’s strict traditions. Fun, flamboyant and full of charm, it’s a joyful story about self-expression, romance and dancing to your own rhythm.
10. Wolf Creek (2005)
Fancy something a little more spine-chilling? Wolf Creek (2005) is an Australian horror film that’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. The story follows two British backpackers, Liz and Kristy, and their Australian friend, Ben, as they set off from Broome in Western Australia, hoping to reach Cairns via the Great Northern Highway.
Along the way, they stop at Wolf Creek National Park — and that’s where their adventure takes a terrifying turn. Captured and hunted by a psychopathic serial killer, the group soon find themselves in a fight for survival in the remote Australian Outback.
11. Ned Kelly (2003)
Based on a true story, Ned Kelly (2003) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, and leader of the Kelly gang. Renowned for wearing a bulletproof suit in his final shootout with the police, the movie captures an interesting part of Australia's history. Kelly is played by Heath Ledger as he flees to the outback with his brother and two other gang members. Along the way, the gang's reputation grows, while a little romance blossoms, just before the final violent blowout in the town of Glenrowan.
From charming comedies to gripping dramas, these films capture Australia’s landscapes, history and unmistakable spirit. Feeling inspired? Start planning your own tailor-made Australia holiday with TravelEssence today.
FAQs
Some of the best films set in Australia include The Castle, Muriel’s Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Australia, Crocodile Dundee and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Together, they show very different sides of the country, from suburban Melbourne and Sydney’s dance halls to the Pilbara, Kakadu and the red heart of the Outback.
Rabbit-Proof Fence is one of the most important Australian films for understanding Aboriginal history, particularly the impact of the Stolen Generations. It follows three young girls travelling through Western Australia and gives meaningful context to a country whose landscapes are deeply connected to Indigenous stories, culture and survival.
Crocodile Dundee, Australia, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Wolf Creek all feature the Australian Outback in memorable ways. The tone varies hugely, from comic adventure to sweeping drama and horror, but each film gives a sense of the Outback’s scale, isolation and striking desert landscapes.
