OK, here’s a post for all the movie buffs out there! Or if you need something to watch this weekend? Or whenever you see this? Actually I think, I started to put this list together a very longtime ago kind-of in reply to Ozflicks but never posted it way back then. Ozflicks blog is more like a huge amazing Aussie movie database! It’s detail is mind bogging, if you’ve never checked it out? Shout out to Cincinnati Babyhead blogger for kind-of getting me to final finished it today!
So to me these are the best Aussie films but all the movie bloggers/followers/readers can tell me how wrong I am? My selection goes down to stuff that really stay with me along time or seen it more than just a few times. I guess, a lot of them are? Or maybe, if not all of them? Are totally goofball stuff but it’s down to my personal taste! I somehow and amazingly I got it down to my top 30 this time as well too! I haven’t done any film blog posts for a little/long while but it’s yet another list today. Maybe I should try blogging some fave films sooner or later? Also including some more movies in those A to Z posts, if you’ve not notice? Which I’ve only just stated doing them! After those are done I might blog films in more detail, OK?
Anyway my fave Aussie films of all-time which are these below in alphabet order and NOT ranted in anyway, shape or form because all 30 are bloody great in my mind:
- Angel Baby (1995) Director: Michael Rymer, Stars: Jacqueline McKenzie, Colin Friels, John Lynch.
- Bad Boy Bubby (1993) Director: Rolf de Heer, Stars: Nicholas Hope, Claire Benito.
- Bliss (1985) Director: Ray Lawrence, Stars: Barry Otto, Lynette Curran.
- The Boys (1998) Director: Rowan Woods, Stars: David Wenham, Toni Collette.
- Candy (2006) Director: Neil Armfield, Stars: Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish.
- The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) Director: Peter Weir, Stars: Terry Camilleri, John Meillon.
- Chopper (2000) Director: Andrew Dominik, Stars: Eric Bana.
- Cosi (1996) Director: Mark Joffe, Stars: Ben Mendelsohn, Barry Otto, Toni Collette.
- Dead Calm (1989) Director: Phillip Noyce, Stars: Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, Billy Zane.
- Death In Brunswick (1990) Director: John Ruane, Stars: Sam Neill, Zoe Carides, John Clarke.
- Dogs In Space (1986) Director: Richard Lowenstein, Stars: Michael Hutchence, Saskia Post.
- Flirting (1991) Director: John Duigan, Stars: Noah Taylor, Thandie Newton.
- Ghosts… Of The Civil Dead (1988) Director: John Hillcoat, Stars: David Field, Mike Bishop, Nick Cave.
- Idiot Box (1996) Director: David Caesar, Stars: Ben Mendelsohn, Jeremy Sims.
- The Interview (1998) Director: Craig Monahan, Stars: Hugo Weaving, Tony Martin.
- Lantana (2001) Director: Ray Lawrence, Stars: Anthony LaPaglia, Geoffrey Rush.
- Love Serenade (1996) Director: Shirley Barrett, Stars: Miranda Otto, Rebecca Frith.
- Malcolm (1986) Director: Nadia Tass, Stars: Colin Friels, John Hargreaves, Lindy Davies.
- My Brilliant Career (1979) Director: Gillian Armstrong, Stars: Judy Davis, Sam Neill.
- The Nostradamus Kid (1993) Director: Bob Ellis, Stars: Noah Taylor, Miranda Otto.
- Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975) Director: Peter Weir, Stars: Rachel Roberts, Anne-Louise Lambert, Vivean Gray.
- Praise (1998) Director: John Curran, Stars: Peter Fenton, Sacha Horler.
- The Proposition (2005) Director: John Hillcoat, Stars: Ray Winstone, Guy Pearce.
- Romper Stomper (1992) Director: Geoffrey Wright, Stars: Russell Crowe, Daniel Pollock, Jacqueline McKenzie.
- Snowtown (2011) Director: Justin Kurzel, Stars: Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris.
- Sweetie (1989) Director: Jane Campion, Stars: Geneviève Lemon, Karen Colston.
- Van Diemen’s Land (2009) Director: Jonathan auf der Heide, Stars: Oscar Redding, Arthur Angel.
- Wake In Fright (1971) Director: Ted Kotcheff, Stars: Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond.
- Walkabout (1971) Director: Nicolas Roeg, Stars: Jenny Agutter, David Gulpilil.
- The Year My Voice Broke (1987) Director: John Duigan, Stars: Noah Taylor, Loene Carmen, Ben Mendelsohn.
I do really hope you enjoy them if you do check any of them out? But you might be thinking WTF am I watching!
Dare, double dare or even triple dare to you too name your own fave Aussie films of all-time now? Pretty please with ice cream and berry’s on top!
Cheers 🙂
a1000mistakes 
Great list William.
Bliss would top mine. I have a soft spot for Ghosts of the Civil Dead due to Dave’s involvement but, quite frankly, the acting was ordinary, at best. Dogs in Space likewise. Cosi was another gem, as well as Lantana.
I would add, to your list, Doing time for Patsy Clyne. I might also add Oz, because it is so very Australian and marked a new dawn in Australian film – but it, too, is almost a celebration of terrible acting (but great music – thanks to Ross Wilson). My girlfriend, at the time that Oz was made, was almost a replica of Joy Dunstan (and about the same age I guess) – so that makes it a bit sentimentally special.
No doubt you will hear screams for the inclusion of The Castle and The Dish. Personally I salute you for omitting them.
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Hey RR, love to hear what you gotta say about this! i guess for me, both Ghosts and Dogs the acting is beside the point with having rock stars trying to act in them but i do love a bit of bad acting myself with Nick and Micheal going all out in each but Dave’s bit is pretty great for what it is, i think? But overall the feeling or something about these two 80’s Aussie are totally great and I’ve watched them countless time and i couldn’t leave them off my list today! I think i have seen both Doing Time for Patsy Cline and Oz like once a long time ago but maybe should have another look because your talking about them? The Castle and The Dish is on every great Aussie film list out there so they can be very easy missing on mine one!
Cheers 🙂
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Oh … and Romper Stomper. Holy shit, though, it was a bit disturbing! “We’ve come to fuck up your entire life.”
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That’s Dutton’s motto in 2019!
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Hi William, Great list, most of which I love. I haven’t managed to see Ghosts… Of The Civil Dead or Idiot Box yet unfortunately, and Snowtown is not my thing.
As you know, my Top 50 is here – https://ozflicks.wordpress.com/2016/08/01/ozflicks-guide-to-the-top-50-australian-films/ (can’t make a link in comments). Thanks for the shout out.
BTW I rewatched Praise recently, and liked it a lot more (the first time I saw it with someone who hated its grittiness) – I’ll move it up my list when I redo it later in the month. I’ve not read the book yet, but read and liked The White Earth by McGahan.
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Oh yeah, all McGahan novels I’ve read are really so great but haven’t got to all of them yet and was so sadly he passed away earlier this year 😥
Oh yeah, i should have just linked that post but your going to re-jig it soon and I don’t think you’ll get much traffic from my link at all?
Cheers man 🙂
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I really love this list William. There are so many that I haven’t seen yet so I have actually noted them down to try and track them down now! So exciting as I have a lot to watch you recommended.
I would also add ‘Love and other Catastrophes’- a 90’s film about love, young people and relationships.
Also Oscar and Lucinda was a good movie, based on the book by Peter Carey.
And Monkey Grip which featured Chrissie Amphlett and the Divinyls playing Boys in Town – a really great film.
Glad you steered clear of all of these Australian comedies – which can be a bit on the silly side, I wish they would make more serious films and dramas in Australia – sometimes these are so amazing when done well.
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Oh yeah, Love and Other Catastrophes, Oscar & Lucinda, Monkey Grip are all totally great movies too but then i did miss out so much more because i edited it right down to 30! i think i will try to blog some films sometime because i can’t think of good reason why not have my two cents about some fave movies? Then again i might change my mind? A lot of Aussie stuff is just funny like even the darkest stuff on this list i find a little bit funny at times too!
Cheers again 🙂
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This is great William. Have seen quite a few you listed. Cool thing is I get some new suggestions.
A few that I really dig are
Road Warrior
Chant Jimmie Blacksmith
Gallipoli
Holey Smoke
Breaker Morant
Mystery Road …….
Have you seen The Rover? I’m curious on that one.
Great list. I will check out a few I haven’t seen and probably re-watch a few others again.
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Oh yeah, more great Aussie films you’ve named so you don’t need me to tell you anything at all! But i haven’t seen Mystery Road and nope I’ve not seen The Rover too, i don’t why, Robert Pattinson maybe? i did missed so much out so i think i will blog in more detail some fave movies real soon too!
Cheers 🙂
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You’ve given me lots of new nudges. I did a take on ‘Mystery Road’. No new territory just a solid film that engaged me. Uses that beautiful landscape that I love. Feel you’re there. ‘The Rover’ has me curious. I don’t know Pattinson.
I like good visual stories set in locations that are part of the story. A lot of Australian movies do that. Later William.
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Well CB blogger Deadly just saying it’s a great film and The Rover would make his/her top 30 so maybe we should both check it out?
Cheers 🙂
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Time to pull the trigger on The Rover. I mean’t to mention a couple other movies by Bruce Beresford. ‘Tender Mercies’ and ‘Black Robe’. TM is high on my list and BR sneaks up on you and stays with you. Both worth a watch on CB’s box.
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Oh yeah, try and watch it some time soon. Another couple great movie but it’s been a long while since seeing them, more to re-watch sometime? Too much stuff to watch really!
Cheers CB 🙂
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The Rover is fantastic, would likely make a top 30 for me (which I’m keen to do myself now). Mystery Road and Goldstone are also pretty great. Love The Castle and The Dish as well but not too dismayed not to see them here. Breaker Morant on the other hand…
You’ve given me a few to add to my watchlist though William.
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Oh what a great idea! Go for it, i would love see your own Aussie top 30 list! So much i do like/love did miss out because i can’t or couldn’t included everything because 30 is a pretty small number but i guess, that’s the point too! i think i will blog post some that missed my list and go into more detail the ones that did, sooner or later!
Cheers Deadly 🙂
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Lots of gold on your list. Some I love, others I’m curious to explore!
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Oh your commenting on two diff posts, that’s tricky! But what i said on the other one counts again here!
Cheers yet again Chris 🙂
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will def check these out, but does BabaKiueria make it anywhere?
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So sorry Stan i haven’t seen that one but i will try and find it to watch it soon, OK? Looks very interesting! I’ve not seen every Aussie movie ever made but this is just stuff i dig the best of what i have seen! Please do come back anytime to tell what you do think of any or all you do check out too, OK?
Cheers Stan 🙂
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