The Best Australian Movies

The Australian New Wave, Mad Max and the modern arthouse — Australian cinema ranked by our composite score across festivals, polls and registries.

The Piano (1993) leads with a composite score of 4.99. Top 100 of 104 films in our library.

1
The Piano1993 · Jane Campion · France / Australia / New Zealand · drama, romance
4.99
Palme d'Or winner 1993 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1994 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #50
2
Chariots of Fire1981 · Hugh Hudson · United Kingdom / Australia · biography, drama
3.55
Oscar Best Picture winner 1981 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1982 · TIFF People's Choice winner 1981
3
Mad Max: Fury Road2015 · George Miller · Australia / United States · action, adventure, sci-fi
2.96
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #3 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #7
4
The Power of the Dog2021 · Jane Campion · United Kingdom / United States / New Zealand · drama, western
2.28
BAFTA Best Film winner 2022 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2021 · Film Comment year-end poll 2021 #6
5
Mystic River2003 · Clint Eastwood · United States / Australia · mystery, thriller, crime
1.95
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2004 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #2 · Kehr's annual top 10 2003 #1
6
Moonlighting1982 · Jerzy Skolimowski · United Kingdom / Australia · drama
1.78
Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1982 #2 · Siskel's annual top 10 1982 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1982 #6
7
Shine1996 · Scott Hicks · Australia · musical, biography, drama
1.63
TIFF People's Choice winner 1996 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1996 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1997 #4
8
Brazil1985 · Terry Gilliam · United Kingdom / Australia · film-noir, sci-fi, fantasy
1.51
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1986 #8 · TIME All-TIME 100 · BFI Top 100 British films #54
9
Gran Torino2008 · Clint Eastwood · United States / Australia / Germany · drama, crime
1.50
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2009 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2009 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #32
10
The Matrix1999 · Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski · United States / Australia · thriller, action, sci-fi
1.41
Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #122 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1999 #6 · Empire 500 (2008) #39
11
Wetherby1984 · David Hare · United Kingdom / Australia · drama
1.36
Berlin Golden Bear winner 1985 · Sarris's annual top 10 1985 #4 · Siskel's annual top 10 1985 #10
12
The Princess Bride1987 · Rob Reiner · United States / Australia · comedy, romance, fantasy
1.35
TIFF People's Choice winner 1987 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · Empire 500 (2008) #122
13
Hope and Glory1987 · John Boorman · United Kingdom / Australia · drama, comedy
1.35
Kehr's annual top 10 1987 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1987 · BFI Top 100 British films #90
14
Ascendancy1983 · Edward Bennett · United Kingdom / Australia · drama
1.00
Berlin Golden Bear winner 1983
15
Sully2016 · Clint Eastwood · United States / United Kingdom / Australia · drama, biography
1.00
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2016 #1
16
An Angel at My Table1990 · Jane Campion · United Kingdom / Australia · biography, drama
0.96
Siskel's annual top 10 1991 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #10 · Kehr's annual top 10 1991 #5
17
Withnail and I1987 · Bruce Robinson · United Kingdom / Australia · comedy, drama
0.93
BFI Top 100 British films #29 · Empire 500 (2008) #118 · Criterion Collection spine #119
18
The Dresser1983 · Peter Yates · United Kingdom / Australia · comedy, drama
0.92
Oscar Best Picture nominee 1983 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1984 #9 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies
19
A Passage to India1984 · David Lean · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · drama
0.92
Oscar Best Picture nominee 1984 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1985 #9 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies
20
Moulin Rouge!2001 · Baz Luhrmann · Australia / United States · romance, musical, drama
0.91
Oscar Best Picture nominee 2001 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #13 · Empire 500 (2008) #211
21
The Shout1978 · Jerzy Skolimowski · United Kingdom / Australia · horror, drama
0.89
Cannes Grand Prix winner 1978 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #12
22
Mona Lisa1986 · Neil Jordan · United Kingdom / Australia · romance, drama, crime
0.88
BFI Top 100 British films #67 · Siskel's annual top 10 1986 #5 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies
23
Straw Dogs1971 · Sam Peckinpah · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · drama
0.83
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1972 #5 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #182
24
The Year of Living Dangerously1982 · Peter Weir · Australia · drama, war, romance
0.80
Ebert's annual top 10 1983 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #161 · Siskel's annual top 10 1983 #6
25
Strictly Ballroom1992 · Baz Luhrmann · Australia · comedy, romance
0.75
TIFF People's Choice winner 1992
26
Walkabout1971 · Nicolas Roeg · United Kingdom / Australia · adventure, drama
0.68
NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #10 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies
27
Babe: Pig in the City1998 · George Miller · Australia / United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
0.67
Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1998 #7
28
Babe1995 · Chris Noonan · Australia / United States · comedy, drama
0.67
Oscar Best Picture nominee 1995 · Siskel's annual top 10 1995 #4
29
Dark City1998 · Alex Proyas · Australia / United States · film-noir, sci-fi, thriller
0.63
Ebert's annual top 10 1998 #1 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies
30
My Beautiful Laundrette1985 · Stephen Frears · United Kingdom / Australia · comedy, romance, drama
0.59
BFI Top 100 British films #50 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #767
31
The Man Who Would Be King1975 · John Huston · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · adventure, drama
0.55
Empire 500 (2008) #130 · Kehr's annual top 10 1976 #5 · Siskel's annual top 10 1976 #10
32
Sweetie1989 · Jane Campion · Australia · comedy, drama
0.52
Kehr's annual top 10 1990 #3 · Criterion Collection spine #356 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
33
Macbeth1971 · Roman Polanski · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · drama
0.52
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1973 #6 · Criterion Collection spine #726
34
Quadrophenia1979 · Franc Roddam · United Kingdom / Australia · drama, crime
0.51
Kehr's annual top 10 1980 #6 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #624
35
The Overlanders1946 · Harry Watt · United Kingdom / Australia · drama, western
0.47
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1948 #9 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies
36
The Sundowners1960 · Fred Zinnemann · United States / United Kingdom / Australia · adventure, drama
0.45
Oscar Best Picture nominee 1960
37
Lion2015 · Garth Davis · United Kingdom / Australia / United States · drama, biography
0.45
Oscar Best Picture nominee 2016
38
Hacksaw Ridge2016 · Mel Gibson · United States / Australia · biography, drama, war
0.45
Oscar Best Picture nominee 2016
39
Elvis2022 · Baz Luhrmann · United States / Australia · biography, musical, drama
0.45
Oscar Best Picture nominee 2022
40
Mad Max1979 · George Miller · Australia · action, thriller
0.43
NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Kehr's annual top 10 1980 #9 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
41
Holy Smoke!1999 · Jane Campion · Australia / United States · drama, comedy
0.42
Kehr's annual top 10 1999 #3 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1999 #7
42
Innocence2000 · Paul Cox · Australia · drama, romance
0.42
Sarris's annual top 10 2001 #3 · Ebert's annual top 10 2001 #7
43
Picnic at Hanging Rock1975 · Peter Weir · Australia · drama, mystery
0.41
Criterion Collection spine #29 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
44
Proof1991 · Jocelyn Moorhouse · Australia · comedy, drama
0.38
Sarris's annual top 10 1992 #4 · Kehr's annual top 10 1992 #7
45
Caravaggio1986 · Derek Jarman · United Kingdom / Australia · drama, biography
0.37
BFI Top 100 British films #93 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1986 #10
46
An American Werewolf in London1981 · John Landis · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · horror, comedy
0.33
Empire 500 (2008) #107 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
47
Jesus Christ Superstar1973 · Norman Jewison · United States / Australia · musical, drama
0.33
Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #7
48
Breaker Morant1980 · Bruce Beresford · Australia
0.33
NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #773
49
On the Beach1959 · Stanley Kramer · United States / Australia · sci-fi, drama
0.32
NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Sarris's annual top 10 1959 #8
50
A Woman's Tale1991 · Paul Cox · Australia
0.31
Ebert's annual top 10 1991 #6 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies
51
Romeo + Juliet1996 · Baz Luhrmann · United States / Mexico / Australia · romance, drama, action
0.30
Empire 500 (2008) #226 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
52
Mad Max 21981 · George Miller · Australia · action, adventure, thriller
0.30
Empire 500 (2008) #280 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
53
Bugsy Malone1976 · Alan Parker · United Kingdom / Australia · musical, comedy, crime
0.29
Empire 500 (2008) #353 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
54
My Brilliant Career1979 · Gillian Armstrong · Australia · romance, drama, comedy
0.29
Criterion Collection spine #973 · Sarris's annual top 10 1980 #15
55
The Duellists1977 · Ridley Scott · United Kingdom / Australia · drama, war
0.28
NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
56
Ocean's Eleven2001 · Steven Soderbergh · United States / Australia · crime, comedy, mystery
0.28
Empire 500 (2008) #500 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
57
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith1978 · Fred Schepisi · Australia · western
0.25
Kehr's annual top 10 1981 #3
58
The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky2001 · Paul Cox · Australia
0.25
Sarris's annual top 10 2002 #3
59
Bright Star2009 · Jane Campion · France / United States / United Kingdom · biography, romance, drama
0.25
Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #15
60
Where the Wild Things Are2009 · Spike Jonze · Australia / United States / Germany · fantasy, drama, adventure
0.22
Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #22
61
Flirting1991 · John Duigan · Australia · romance, drama
0.22
Ebert's annual top 10 1992 #4
62
The Proposition2005 · John Hillcoat · Australia / United Kingdom · western, drama, crime
0.20
Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #30
63
The Babadook2014 · Jennifer Kent · Australia / Canada · horror, drama
0.20
Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #32
64
Mary and Max2009 · Adam Elliot · Australia · comedy, drama, animation
0.19
Letterboxd Top 250 #208
65
The Four Musketeers1974 · Richard Lester · United Kingdom / United States / Spain · adventure, action, comedy
0.19
Sarris's annual top 10 1975 #5
66
The Ister2004 · Daniel Ross · Australia · documentary
0.18
Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #46
67
Love Serenade1996 · Shirley Barrett · Australia · comedy
0.18
Sarris's annual top 10 1997 #6
68
Gallipoli1981 · Peter Weir · Australia · war
0.17
NYT Best 1,000 Movies
69
The Shooting Party1985 · Alan Bridges · United Kingdom / Australia · drama
0.17
NYT Best 1,000 Movies
70
Dead Calm1989 · Phillip Noyce · Australia / United States · thriller
0.17
NYT Best 1,000 Movies
71
Black Robe1991 · Bruce Beresford · Canada / Australia · drama
0.17
NYT Best 1,000 Movies
72
The Mackintosh Man1973 · John Huston · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · thriller, drama
0.17
Sarris's annual top 10 1973 #7
73
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome1985 · George Miller, George Ogilvie · Australia · action, adventure, sci-fi
0.17
Ebert's annual top 10 1985 #7
74
The Last Wave1977 · Peter Weir · Australia · horror, sci-fi
0.16
Criterion Collection spine #142
75
Insignificance1985 · Nicolas Roeg · United Kingdom / Australia · comedy, drama
0.16
Criterion Collection spine #566
76
The Romantic Englishwoman1975 · Joseph Losey · France / United Kingdom / Australia · drama, comedy
0.16
Kehr's annual top 10 1975 #8
77
Man of Flowers1983 · Paul Cox · Australia · drama
0.16
Sarris's annual top 10 1984 #8
78
Lantana2001 · Ray Lawrence · Australia / Germany · drama
0.16
Sarris's annual top 10 2001 #8
79
In Celebration1975 · Lindsay Anderson · United Kingdom / Australia · drama
0.15
Ebert's annual top 10 1975 #9
80
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution1976 · Herbert Ross · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · adventure, drama, crime
0.15
Siskel's annual top 10 1976 #9
81
Fedora1978 · Billy Wilder · Germany / France / Australia · drama
0.15
Kehr's annual top 10 1979 #9
82
Newsfront1978 · Phillip Noyce · Australia · drama
0.15
Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #9
83
The Medusa Touch1978 · Jack Gold · France / United Kingdom / Australia · horror, sci-fi
0.14
Sarris's annual top 10 1978 #10
84
Map of the Human Heart1992 · Vincent Ward · Australia / United Kingdom / France · drama
0.14
Siskel's annual top 10 1993 #10
85
The Quiet American2002 · Phillip Noyce · United States / Germany / United Kingdom · drama, romance, mystery
0.14
Ebert's annual top 10 2002 #10
86
Sammy and Rosie Get Laid1987 · Stephen Frears · United Kingdom / Australia · drama
0.14
Hoberman's annual top 10 1987 #11
87
The Last Days of Chez Nous1992 · Gillian Armstrong · Australia
0.14
Sarris's annual top 10 1993 #11
88
Cannibal Tours1988 · Dennis O'Rourke · Australia / Papua New Guinea · documentary
0.14
Hoberman's annual top 10 1988 #12
89
The Quiet Room1996 · Rolf de Heer · Australia / Italy · drama
0.12
Sarris's annual top 10 1997 #18
90
Lucky Break1994 · Ben Lewin · Australia · comedy, romance
0.11
Sarris's annual top 10 1997 #20
91
The Abominable Dr. Phibes1971 · Robert Fuest · United Kingdom / Australia · fantasy, horror, comedy
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
92
Wake in Fright1971 · Ted Kotcheff · Australia / United States · drama, thriller
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
93
Tales from the Crypt1972 · Freddie Francis · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · horror, comedy
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
94
From Beyond the Grave1973 · Kevin Connor · United Kingdom / Australia · horror
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
95
O Lucky Man!1973 · Lindsay Anderson · United Kingdom / United States / Australia · fantasy, comedy, drama
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
96
The Spy Who Loved Me1977 · Lewis Gilbert · United Kingdom / Australia · thriller, adventure, action
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
97
Long Weekend1978 · Colin Eggleston · Australia · horror
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
98
Roadgames1981 · Richard Franklin · Australia · horror, thriller
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies
99
Passionless Moments1983 · Jane Campion, Gerard Lee · Australia · drama
0.11
Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
100
The Company of Wolves1984 · Neil Jordan · United Kingdom / Australia · horror, fantasy
0.11
Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

The New Wave that built a national cinema

Australia had almost no feature industry until the state manufactured one. The revival now called the Australian New Wave was seeded by government money — the Australian Film Development Corporation under John Gorton, then the Australian Film Commission under Gough Whitlam — which turned the 1970s into a decade-long argument about what an Australian film should look like. The answer, most of the time, was the land itself: survival in a hostile landscape, colonial guilt, the outback as antagonist. George Miller's Mad Max (1979) is the era's most durable artifact, a petrol-apocalypse western that reportedly grossed $100 million against a shoestring budget — yet on our list it sits at #2952 (score 0.43), near the floor of the country's top forty. Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout (1971), an outsider's vision of the same desert, ranks just above at #1897. The founding films of the best Australian films canon, in other words, score low: they were nation-building before they were prestige objects.

The export of talent

What the composite score rewards instead is the moment Australian talent went global. Jane Campion's The Piano (1993) is the list's true peak among home-grown work at #21 (score 4.99); Miller's own return, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), climbs to #164 (score 2.96), decades of craft compounding on the character he had abandoned. Baz Luhrmann traces the same outward arc — Strictly Ballroom (1992) at #1679, Moulin Rouge! (2001) at #1341, Elvis (2022) at #2799 — a director who began with a suburban dance comedy and ended up staging Hollywood's own mythology. Scott Hicks' Shine (1996) sits at #535. Read down the ranking and you watch the New Wave's inward, identity-anxious energy convert into export: the higher a film scores, the more it belongs to the world's festival and awards circuit rather than to Australia alone. Peter Weir, the movement's most literary voice, appears here only through The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) at #1491 — already a picture aimed outward, made on the cusp of the Hollywood career that would claim him.

How to read our list

The ranking is not anyone's editorial top forty; it is every film whose Wikidata country-of-origin includes Australia, re-sorted by our composite score across festivals, polls and registries. That mechanism is honest but promiscuous. It is why Chariots of Fire (1981) sits high on an Australian list at #89 (score 3.55) — above any outback classic — and why Clint Eastwood pictures — Mystic River (2003) at #407, Gran Torino (2008) at #620, Sully (2016) at #1212 — drift in on Australian co-production credit. Like Britain's, Australia's cinema turns out to be partly a flag of convenience: a small country whose national ledger is padded by the very Hollywood machine that kept poaching its directors.