The best Australian movies (and where to stream them)

Okay, okay. It’s the first choice and there’s already some controversy. But Mad Max: Fury Road very much is an Australian movie. Writer-director George Miller is True Blue. Some of the cast is, too. And, most importantly, the titular Mad Max character is an Aussie. Despite being shot in Namibia, Fury Road is set in Australia. Oh, and it was originally going to be shot in Broken Hill but there was so much rain that the desert started looking decidedly un-post apocalypse-y. All that aside, Fury Road is one of the greatest action movies ever made. It’s a near-relentless chase movie from start to finish, which has incredible practical effects and stunts, lean but effective storytelling, and an incredible thumping soundtrack to drive it all. If you somehow missed it, go see it now on Netflix, Prime Video or Stan. If you’ve already seen it, go watch it again.

Outside of the other genre-specific category winners below, consider the following best Australian movie contenders:

• Chopper (Stan)
• Dark City (SBS On Demand)
• Predestination (Beamafilm)
• The Matrix (Prime Video, Stan, Foxtel Now)

Wolf Creek is a lean and mean horror flick. Lean because of its speedy running time, and mean because of the chilling portrayal of Mick Taylor by John Jarratt. Inspired in part by the horrific killings of Ivan Milat, Wolf Creek spends a little time getting to know the young leads that you know are in for a bad time. After their car breaks down, the touring trio are ‘saved’ by Taylor before things go from bad to truly harrowing. Wolf Creek isn’t perfect but it does earn points for doing things differently to the traditional slasher plot. Even if you’ve only seen it once, there are moments that’ll be burned into your brain. If you’re not squeamish, check it out on Stan or Paramount Plus.

Several other noteworthy Aussie horror flicks, either made in Australia or made by Aussies, are worth checking out, too:

• Talk to Me (Netflix)
• The Loved Ones (Stan)
• Rogue (Netflix, Stan)
• Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (Prime Video, Foxtel Now)
• Snowtown (Stan)
• Pitch Black (Foxtel Now, Stan)
• Cargo (Netflix)
• Relic (Stan)
• Wake in Fright (physical media)
• The Invisible Man (Binge)
• Saw (Stan, Starz)

While Gallipoli is the go-to iconic Australian war movie—understandable, given it’s part of the national identity—for me, it’s been beaten in recent years by Hacksaw Ridge. Sure, it’s a very American story of wartime bravery from a pacifist soldier, Desmond Doss, it’s directed by Mel Gibson, filmed in Australia and its lead characters are predominantly played by Aussies. As for the film itself, Hacksaw Ridge is an incredible true story that’s brutally realised. Andrew Garfield is great as Doss and the supporting cast all help elevate the material. As you might expect from Gibson given his more notable directorial efforts, Hacksaw Ridge is relentless in its depiction of wartime violence, which helps underscore Doss’s devout pacifism. Stream Hacksaw Ridge on Netflix, Stan or Foxtel Now.

For other great Australian war movies, check out these picks:

• Gallipoli (Binge, Foxtel Now)
• Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (Netflix, Foxtel Now, 7Plus, Beamafilm)
• Beneath Hill 60 (Stan, Beamafilm)
• The Water Diviner (digital purchase or rent)
• Kokoda (digital purchase or rent)
• The Last Bullet (physical media)

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a mouthful of a movie title that’s absolutely fitting once you get a taste of the larger-than-life leads. Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terrence Stamp all shine with a sibling-like friendship that has them quipping one moment and heart-to-hearting the next. Given when it was released, The Adventures of Priscilla does tackle some tougher topics but it’ll make you laugh and thoroughly entertain you with its colourful performances more than it makes you cry. If you’ve somehow missed a movie whose legacy is still alive and well today—one that has a stage musical adaptation and has been paid tribute to at the Olympics—go check it out today on Prime Video.

For other iconic Australian comedy movies, check out these other funny-bone ticklers (and, no, Mortal Kombat hasn’t been put in the wrong category):

• Crocodile Dundee (Stan)
• The Castle (Stan)
• Babe (Binge, Paramount Plus, Foxtel Now)
• Red Dog (Netflix, Stan, Foxtel Now)
• Muriel’s Wedding (Stan, Foxtel Now)
• Mortal Kombat (Binge, Foxtel Now)

Look, you could interchangeably place The Adventures of Priscilla here and Moulin Rouge in the category above. But, for me, Priscilla is funnier than it is sad, and Moulin Rouge is more drama than comedy. Admittedly, Moulin Rouge has some great comedy and fantastic moments of spectacle, fuelled by Baz Luhrmann’s delightfully unhinged vision. But those moments are sandwiched in between a truly tragic love story that’ll break your heart no matter how well you know what’s coming. Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman are fantastic as leads whether they’re quipping, singing or making the audience cry. There’s also a fantastic supporting cast of local and international talent to help stick the landing on a fantastical tale that could’ve easily been a B-movie were it not for the collective talent in front of and behind the camera. Check out Moulin Rouge on Disney Plus.

For other great Australian dramas, including a range of crime stories, check out these flicks:

• The Dressmaker (Stan, Binge, Foxtel Now)
• The Dry (Netflix, Binge)
• The Piano (Netflix, Stan, Foxtel Now, SBS On Demand)
• Shine (Netflix, Prime Video, Brollie)
• Two Hands (Netflix, Prime Video, ABC iView, Beamafilm)
• Animal Kingdom (Stan, SBS On Demand)
• Ned Kelly (Binge, Paramount Plus, Foxtel Now)
• The Hunter (Stan)
• Jindabyne (Stan, Foxtel Now)
• Rabbit-Proof Fence (Netflix, Stan, SBS On Demand)
• Burning Man (digital purchase or rent)

The winners and contenders listed above are far from exhaustive. In fact, there are dozens of other Australian movies that were on my longer short-list before I finalised the picks above. With so many streaming services in Australia, picking one with the best selection of Australian movies can be tricky.

Thankfully, I’ve done some of that hard work for you already, tallying the Australian movies above into a list to find the best streaming services. If you want the most Australian movies, Stan seems to be the best place with 20+ of the movies listed above. Foxtel Now and Netflix are close contenders with 13 and 12, respectively.

For free streaming options, start with SBS On Demand or Beamafilm. Otherwise, you can also find a smattering of great Australian movies on Prime Video, Binge and Paramount Plus.