Australia is not as famous for its films as the United States or the United Kingdom, but it has still managed to create dozens of high-quality films over a long time, some of which are not only still popular but have also changed world cinema. Let’s go through the top 10 Australian films of all time. When compiling this rating, both the critics’ ratings and the feedback from the audience as a whole were taken into account.
Discover the Finest Australian Films That Shaped the Future of Cinema
Picnic at Hanging Rock
This cinema is one of the best Australian films presented in the genres of drama and detective and was shot in Australia back in 1975. On the last Valentine’s Day of the XIX century, pupils of a closed school together with their mentors go on a picnic to a local landmark, Hanging Rock. The outing suddenly turns into a series of mystical events, and several students simply disappear during the walk.
Peter Weir’s work has revolutionised not only Australian cinema but also world cinema. The film teeters on the edge between a thriller and a detective story — at the same time, after watching, there are much more questions than answers. Lulling music and soft defocus create the feeling that all the events of the tape take place in a dream.
The atmosphere of mystery and outstanding cinematography by Russell Boyd is why the film has been adored by critics and audiences since its release in 1975. By the way, it was the unique melancholic mood of the Picnic that inspired Sofia Coppola to create the iconic Virgins Suicide.
Candy
A young promising artist Candy falls in love with the poet Dan – that’s how one of the classic Australian films begins. Their relationship starts out like a fairy tale, but heroin addiction spoils everything. Candy becomes a street prostitute to get money for drugs.
This film is often compared to Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream, and the late Heath Ledger played just great in it. It can be hard for sensitive people to watch Candy — the fall of the characters to the bottom causes a lot of contradictory emotions.
Sleeping Beauty
A poor student, Lucy, in need of money, finds a part-time job at a country club. At first, she is simply required to serve guests as a waitress — the only oddity is that she needs to do this in her underwear. Then new responsibilities are assigned to the girl. She is put to sleep so that elderly clients can do whatever they want with her.
Not everyone liked Julia Lee’s debut work. This is evidenced by the low audience rating, but this is just the rare case when the film is still worth attention. Everyone will see something different in it, and that’s fine.
The Hunter
Martin works for a mysterious biotech company. He must find and kill the last surviving marsupial wolf. Arriving at the place, the hero settles with his mother, who lives alone on the outskirts with two small children. She is clearly not herself because of the disappearance of her husband, who disappeared not so long ago in the very woods where Martin is supposed to go.
Director Daniel Nettheim combined the drama of survival with a detective story and diluted this cocktail with elements of an action movie, and the impeccable performance of Willem Dafoe fell into place.
Rover
The near future. The arid regions of Australia are completely impoverished, people live under very strict laws. Eric, a local resident, is trying to return a car stolen from him by bandits. As an assistant, he takes the wounded criminal Reynolds, who turns out to be the brother of one of the hijackers.
David Michaud’s film is not perfect, but it is still very good. It will come to the taste of fans of post-apocalyptic cinema, fans of Westerns, and fans of Robert Pattinson, who played one of his best dramatic roles here.
The Babadook
From the first scene, it looks like a classic Australian film. Widow Amelia and her young son find a children’s book called Babadook at home. The child is very happy, but the book scares his mother: the illustrations are too creepy there. Gradually, the monster from the pictures becomes real.
At first, it seems to the viewer that a classic cinema about a ghost in an old house is waiting for them. But then the movie reveals itself in a completely different quality: behind the image of a mystical being lies a reflection of a mother’s anger at her son.
Berlin Syndrome
A young Australian woman, Claire, travels to Germany and meets a charming English teacher, Andy. Unfortunately for the girl, her new friend turns out to be a maniac, and Claire herself is a prisoner in his apartment.
The Berlin Syndrome is so named by analogy with a well-known psychological term. This intimate, intense thriller is sure to appeal to those who are interested in this phenomenon in particular and human behaviour in general.
These films, while diverse in plot, all share an intense exploration of human emotions, survival, and inner turmoil. Each one immerses the viewer in a story that confronts deep psychological or existential challenges, whether it’s the haunting experience of a mother’s anger or the dark reality of captivity.
And while you’re lost in these gripping narratives, you might want to take a break from the tension and unwind with a different kind of thrill. If you’re looking for a chance to relax, enjoy some light entertainment and test your luck by exploring real money casino options for Australian players where the thrill continues with exciting games and the chance to win big.
Lion
By a ridiculous coincidence, the five-year-old boy Saru from the Indian slums turns out to be many thousands of kilometres away from his mother and brother. He is adopted by good people and taken to faraway Australia. Having grown up, Saru does not lose hope of seeing his native land again and finding his real family, so he goes searching for them. The film is based on real events and touches everyone.
Jungle
Israeli Yossi Ginzburg goes to the impenetrable jungles of South America, hoping to profit from gold. But everything does not go according to plan: the hero loses his fellow travellers, and every day his hope of getting out of the forest melts.
Australian director Greg McLean returns to his favourite theme of the confrontation between civilisation and primitive chaos in Jungle.
The Nightingale
The British army is massively exterminating local residents. The convict Claire, exiled to Australia, serves the British officer Hawkins. The sentence has already expired, but the military refuses to release the girl.
One day, tragedy strikes: Hawkins and two soldiers kill Claire’s husband and young son. Then she takes a gun, saddles a horse, and goes to take revenge on sadists.
Australian Film at Its Finest: Emotional Journeys and Intense Dramas
When compiling this list, we have taken into account only the most iconic Australian films based on both critics and the audience’s ratings in general. These films represent the rich diversity and emotional depth of Australian cinema, showcasing a wide range of genres from psychological thrillers to intense dramas and survival stories. These films have won the hearts of many people around the world and clearly deserve your attention.
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