Australian cinema has given away a lot of great films through these years. Thus, we will wrap up some of the highest-grossing Australian movies of all time. Movies, be they in any form or narrative or genre, are always something that fans enjoy. Whenever a new film is put up in cinema houses, we see crowds of people, families, couples, and friends going out to watch the title. Australia has not been far away in the race of such amazing movie titles that will make the watchers want to go to theatres and check the tales out.
Australia is home to various top production houses in the world. The majority of American films have their cameras rolling and film at various locations on the continent. With the most recent release in the American cinema, we have Elvis of 2022. This biopic was actually shot in Queensland. It is surely one of the highest-earning films thus far in 2022, with fans loving the focus laid on the legendary singer. We see Elvis starting his career by him marrying Priscilla Presley and them having their kid. Stars like Austin Butler, along with Tom Hanks and Olivia DeJonge, have starred in this film.
Highest Grossing Australian Films:
Other productions which took place in Australia are The Great Gatsby. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio in its lead role as the infamous Gatsby. The filming was supposed to take place in New York City, but New South Wales attracted the crew even more, and thus, they shifted. Well, these are American productions; let us focus on the films released thus far, which have originated from Australia and made a mark on the world through their box office scores and appreciation.
Crocodile Dundee
The film was released back in 1986 and, to this date, is the highest-grossing film in Australia. The setting of the film is in New York City, along with an Australian outback. The story of the film focuses on the exploits of Rod Ansell. You guys should know that the film was made on a budget of just 10 million dollars. It was majorly made in order to appeal to the audience in the United States. Although, upon its release, Crocodile Dundee became a worldwide phenomenon, and everyone was talking about just the film. It grosses more than 328 million dollars at the box office.
The plot focuses on Sue Charleston, who is a journalist. The film has elements of action and comedy. We see that Sue is currently in a relationship with a man named Richard Mason, who is the editor of her father’s newspaper Newsday. Sue travels to a small hamlet in Australia in order to meet with Michael, who is also known as Crocodile Dundee. She is hoping to write a feature story on him. Well, the story then evolves through her perspective and how the two of them develop a romance even though initially, Sue is repulsed by the man.
Australia
The film has grossed as the second highest earning film of all time in Australia. With actress Nicole Kidman in the lead role with Hugh Jackman, the movie became a sensational hit. It has adventure and drama fused together to make an epic story. Baz Luhrmann has directed the project. The film was made on a very big budget of 130 million dollars.
Well, it performed as incredibly among the watchers and earned more than 211 million at the box office. Filming for Australia took place in Sydney as well as Darwin and Kununurra along with Bowen. These locations were opted among other small places for the key details and to capture the essence of the continent. The story is set within a world war scenario.
Babe
It is a comedy and drama film which came out in 1995. Majorly appealing to the kids, even adults were impressed by Babe. Chris Noonan directed the film. The story is taken from a novel called The Sheep Pig, which was published in 1983. The focus is laid on the narrative of a farm pig. This pig actually wants to do more than it is currently and be equal to the sheepdog. Throughout the film, we see both real animals on the screen along with various little puppets who play the characters.
Babe was a commercial success for Australia. It was made on a budget of just 30 million dollars. The film earned more than 254 million dollars at the box office. Filming for Babe took place in Australia at locations such as Robertson in New South Wales. It was even nominated for a variety of Academy Awards. Its success even gave birth to a sequel called Babe: Pig in the City.
Happy Feet
Happy Feet was released in 2006. It is an animated film and has the features of a musical and comedy. George Miller directed the project. The story of this movie starts in Antarctica, which is obviously very cold and inhabitable to humans. The focus is laid on the main character named Mumble. It is an emperor penguin. As it so happens, the penguin community sings a heart song in order to attract their soul mate and settle down with them, and have kids.
Although, Mumble is a bit different. It can not sing a song, but it can surely tap dance to a beat perfectly. Because of some situation, he is exiled from the Emperor Land by the leader known as Noah the Elder. While Mumble is on a journey to find himself, he comes across a group of Amigos and becomes their friends. They help and support him through his path.
The Lego Movie
It is again a computer-animated film but gained much popularity among people upon its release. It is based on the Lego Toys in a land where they all live. The film features a genre of action and comedy. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directed the film. The story, as we discussed earlier, is based on the Lego Line of construction toys. The main character of the plot is Emmet. He happens to be an ordinary figure in Lego World. Soon, his life becomes more than ordinary when Emmet joins a resistance movement.
He, along with the other Lego Minifigures, will now have to find out a way to stop the antagonist. On the opponent, we have a businessman who has his tyranny among people. He wants to glue everything in the Lego world to fit his image of a perfect vision of the universe. The Lego Movie was made on a budget of 65 million dollars. Upon its release at the box office, it grosses more than 468 million dollars. Various mainstream artists such as Chris Pratt, Will Ferrel, and Morgan Freeman have given their voice to these characters.
Lion
Lion is the sixth highest-grossing film in Australia. It is a biography film. Garth Davis has directed the project. The plot is taken from a book called A Long Way Home which was published in 2013. It is based on a nonfiction story. Dev Patel has the lead role in the film along with other notable cast members such as Nicole Kidman and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
The film narrates the story of a young guy named Brierley. He has been separated from his family for more than 25 years since the start of the film. With the plot beginning, we see how Brierley takes matters into his own hands and goes on a quest to find his parents. Lion is a production shared between Australia and the United Kingdom. The film was made on a budget of just 12 million dollars. At the box office, it earned more than 140 million dollars which was a huge success.
The film starts with a young boy named Saroo who is living with his family in Khandwa, India. He has an elder brother named Guddu and a mother and little sister. The two live off of stolen coal from trains in exchange for milk and ration. One day, he gets separated from his brother and sits on a train to Calcutta. Soon, he is admitted to a local orphanage and is adopted by a family in Australia. In order to know how he gets back to his roots, you must watch this Australian classic which will have you in tears by the end of the story.
Elvis
Elvis is a 2022 film that might move up the ranks because it is still collecting its global revenue. We have already discussed much of the film. It is based on the life of the American singer Elvis Presley. Despite Elvis being an American singer, this musical is made through an Australian production. Elvis is made on a budget of 85 million dollars. It has thus grossed more than 251 million dollars from the box office. The film has also established itself as the second highest-grossing music biopic after Bohemian Rhapsody.
The film is told through the narrative of Colonel Tom Parker. He used to be a manager of Elbis Presley at a time. When the movie starts, he is lying on his deathbed. Just before having a stroke, Tom describes the time when he met Elvis, an American icon of Rock and Roll. Elvis was a sensation in the American music industry for a greater part of the 20th century. We saw him marrying Priscilla and having a child together.
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Moulin Rouge!
This Australian film was released back in 2001. It is a romantic movie made in the form of a musical. Baz Luhrmann has directed the project. It is his second venture on this list to be majorly successful. The story of Moulin Rouge throws light on a young English poet. He follows Christianity. Although, there is no stopping when it comes to feelings and heart. He falls in love with a cabaret and courtesan named Satine. The film was a huge success among the people. It was made on a budget of just 50 million dollars. It later grosses more than 179 million dollars upon its release. The story begins in Paris, and we see how these two young lovers navigate their love despite all of the challenges.
The Great Gatsby
One of our personal favorites as well, The Great Gatsby, is a production from Australia. It is again directed by Baz Luhrmann. We see an ensemble cast in the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. Leonardo plays the role of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who is madly in love with a woman named Daisy. The story has been taken from the novel of the same name, which was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald back in 1925.
Jay Gatsby is popular among the elite class of New York for throwing lavish parties. He is the most eligible bachelor in the city. The story is narrated from the perspective of Nick Carraway. He is my neighbor of Gatsby. This movie shows his experiences with the great Mr. Gatsby living on Long Island in New York. The film was made on a budget of 150 to 190 million dollars. It earned more than 353 million upon its release.
It was appreciated by fans and critics alike. We see the film beginning with Nick Carraway as he describes to the doctor a man who was full of hopes. Throughout the film, we see Gatsby throwing lavish parties in the hopes that the love of his life, Daisy, would attend at least one of them and they two might meet. I suggest you watch the film to have a dose of this classic novel.
Peter Rabbit
The last on our list of highest-grossing Australian films is Peter Rabbit. The film was released in 2018. It is an animated film and has the genre of action as well as comedy. This amazing animated film throws light on the adventures of Peter Rabbit, a character straight out of Beatrix Potter’s books. Peter is struggling with a variety of problems. He has to deal with the situation, as is the nephew of late Mr. McGregor.
He has arrived at the place. It is obvious that Peter and his family are not the ones to keep it together. Thus, they risk the chance of getting caught with this new person at the place. The film was a huge success at the box office. It was made on a budget of just 50 million dollars. Although, upon its release, the film grossed more than 351 million dollars.
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