Best Australian Movies to Stream When You Can't Figure out What to Watch

It looks like we're in for a rainy summer (thanks, La Niña!) so to help soften the blow, we've gathered a list of our favourite Australian movies. With five classic comedies with our trademark black humour and dry wit and five critically acclaimed Australian dramas packed with dark and twisty action and anguish, these should be at the top of your must-watch list.

So, start scrolling and then get straight to streaming with our edit of the top 10 Australian movies.

A Sunburnt Christmas (2020)

A bonafide Australian Christmas movie, do you know how rare those are? When a criminal on the run, escapes police custody dressed as Santa and crashes into a barn, he enlists the help of two young children who think he really is the big man in red. Aside from the fact that it’s downright thrilling to see a summertime depiction of Christmas, this tale is heart-warming, sometimes brash and always hilarious.

Watch here on Stan

Muriel’s Wedding (1994)

While Muriel might be ‘terrible’, this movie certainly isn’t! A misfit from Porpoise Spit, Muriel’s Wedding tells the story of a small town girl who moves to the big city in search of acceptance, adventure and, crucially, a husband. It’s a classic for a reason, trust us! Plus, who doesn’t love a movie with an ABBA soundtrack.

Watch here on Binge

Bran Nue Dae (2009)

This uplifting Australian musical is delightfully camp and with a touch of Wes Anderson-style whimsy is truly a hidden gem in the Australian cinematic scene. The story follows a young Indigenous man as he runs away from his religious mission school and tries to hitchhike his way back home to Broome.

Watch here on Stan or watch here on Netflix

Two Hands (1999)

Two words: Heath Ledger. In this comedy thriller, strip club promoter Jimmy – played by the aforementioned young Health – finds himself in danger when he botches a job for a local crime boss. With hijinks, tension and a healthy dose of classic Aussie dark humour, Two Hands is well worth a watch.

Watch here on Netflix or watch here on Binge

Cosi (1996)

A classic Australian comedy, Cosi tells the story of an unemployed theatre director who seizes the opportunity to stage Cosi fan tutte, a famous Mozart opera. There’s one catch, however, his actors are all residents of a psychiatric hospital.

Watch here on Netflix

Samson & Delilah (2009)

Director Warwick Thornton describes his directorial debut as a ‘survival love story’. The film follows two young indigenous Australians who live in utter isolation in a remote community. Their story is harsh, heart-breaking, violent and often silent as the film has sparse dialogue relying on non-verbal communication or Warlpiri. Beautiful and bleak, this film was critically acclaimed and won the  Caméra d’Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival

Watch here on SBS on Demand

True History of The Kelly Gang (2019)

A favourite from the Toronto International Film Festival and based on the classic novel from one of Australia’s most iconic authors, Peter Carey, this highly fictionalised account tells the story of one of Australia’s favourite legends. An Aussie epic, follow Ned Kelly from his childhood through to his fabled demise and check out a cast of talented Aussies like Essie Davis, Sean Keenan and Russell Crowe as well as international stars Charlie Hunnam, George MacKay and Nicholas Hoult.

Watch here on Stan or watch here on Hulu

Lion (2016)

A stunning true story, Lion follows a young Indian boy called Saroo who gets separated from his family and ends up orphaned and alone in Calcutta where he is adopted by an Australian couple and taken Hobart. Twenty years later, using Google Maps, he tries to find his way home. It’s a truly unique true story that’s simultaneously heart-warming and heartbreaking and it’s worth a watch for the Oscar-nominated powerhouse performances from both Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel.

Watch here on Netflix

Jindabyne (2006)

This is a story so compelling that it’s been told so many different ways, however, this is one of our favourites. Originally a short story called So Much Water So Close To Home by American author Raymond Carver, the story was retold in the song Everything’s Turning To White by Australia’s beloved Paul Kelly, Jindabyne is the story’s final form. The story tells the tale of a group of men who, on their annual fishing trip, find a dead body and choose to finish their trip before returning to town and reporting the girl’s murder to the police.

Watch here on Stan

Animal Kingdom (2010)

This neo-noir crime drama is gripping from the get-go! Step into Melbourne’s gritty underworld with 17 year old J Cody who, following his mother’s overdose, moves in with his estranged grandmother who is the affectionate matriarch at the helm of a notorious Melbourne crime family. The film will force you to consider where your loyalties lie and how far you’ll go in the name of family. It’s great but if you don’t want to take my word for it (rude!) then perhaps their record breaking 18 nominations at the Australian Film Institute Awards and Jacki Weaver’s twin Golden Globe and Oscar nominations will convince you!

Watch here on Stan

Loved our list of the top 10 Australian movies to stream? If you're a cinephile, whet your cultural appetite with our list of must-see Australian television or celebrate the season with the best Christmas movies of all time!