Three Films You Should Watch Before Visiting Australia

One of my favorite ways to connect with a new country or culture is through its film. But before I came to Australia, I struggled to name more than a handful of Australian classics, aside from Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman’s Australia or the Mad Max franchise. It made me realize how much of Australian cinema flies under the radar internationally, especially the stories that capture everyday life, subtle humor, and the complexities of identity outside of the usual outback tropes or Crocodile Dundee clichés.

The three iconic Australian movies I suggest in this post—Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Rabbit-Proof Fence—each offer a different lens into the heart and history of the country. The beauty of these films is that they don’t try to represent all of Australia—they’re personal, awkward, imperfect, dark, and sometimes quite strange. They offer a glimpse into the country’s emotional landscape: its underdogs, its contradictions, its warmth, and its harsh realities. These three movies surprised me by moving beyond the usual stereotypes and offering more of a nuanced, heartfelt portrait of Australian life. I hope they do the same for you.

1. Muriel’s Wedding (1994)

“You're terrible, Muriel.”

This offbeat gem is as quirky and heartfelt as the country itself. Set in the fictional coastal town of Porpoise Spit, Muriel’s Wedding follows socially awkward and emotionally stunted Muriel Heslop as she escapes her small-town life in search of happiness, self-worth, and of course—a wedding.

Muriel’s Wedding is an absolute cult classic in Australia, where it’s loved for its iconic one-liners, ABBA-soaked soundtrack, and awkward, earnest charm. Internationally, it may not have reached full-blown cult status, but it’s a beloved under-the-radar favorite among fans of character-driven, eccentric films. Watching it is like getting an inside joke—one that will make your time in Australia feel even more connected. It also captures a particular brand of Aussie humor: dry, self-deprecating, and frankly quite absurd.

Muriel’s Wedding initially surprised me with its blatant quirkiness, to the extent that it made me question which elements were culturally specific and which were just part of the film’s whimsical style. However, it ultimately delivers a profound emotional journey—one that echoes the raw vulnerability and complex coming-of-age struggles found in ’80s Brat Pack classics like The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire. Beneath its humor lies a sincere exploration of identity and the longing for acceptance, leaving you with the same kind of emotional resonance you get after watching Pretty in Pink—only with a distinctly Australian flair.

2. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

“That’s just what this country needs: a cock in a frock on a rock.”

Equal parts camp and cultural commentary, this road trip movie follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they travel across the Australian Outback in an old school bus named Priscilla. Along the way, they face prejudice, forge friendships, and dazzle small towns with glitter, music, and stilettos.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert showcases Australia’s vast and rugged landscapes like no other film. From red desert plains to eccentric roadside stops, it offers a vivid taste of the outback—revealing a land that is as isolating and unforgiving as it is breathtakingly beautiful. This movie captures the vast emptiness of Australia’s arid interior, highlighting just how immense the landscape is and how dangerous it can be.

At it’s core though, the film highlights the cultural tension between the flamboyant expressiveness of drag and the deeply conservative communities scattered across rural Australia—a contrast of glitter and heels against a backdrop of dust, silence, and side-eye. It’s a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and resilience, performed in places where it’s often met with discomfort or outright hostility. The film reminds me of Will Ferrell’s new documentary, Will & Harper, about the journey he and Harper Steele, a transgender woman, take on a road trip across America. Both films explore the experience of being visibly queer in spaces that weren’t built to accept you, and the strength required to navigate those spaces.

I really enjoyed this film and appreciated how it offers meaningful insight into the ways culture, environment, and identity intersect in Australia’s complex social landscape, on top of it being quite the show and highly entertaining.

3. Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

“We’re going home.”

No visit to Australia is complete without acknowledging the country’s Indigenous history and ongoing struggles. Rabbit-Proof Fence, based on a true story, follows three Aboriginal girls who escape a government settlement and walk 1,500 miles across the desert to return to their families. Set in 1931, it’s a powerful and haunting look at the Stolen Generations—Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their families as part of a government policy aimed at assimilating Indigenous children into white society. The film is a sobering, necessary reminder of what colonization has cost Aboriginal communities—and why it’s so important to listen, learn, and engage respectfully as a visitor. While this story carries a heavier tone than the previous two films, it’s an essential watch that sheds light on a devastating part of Australia’s past.

I was taken aback by the remarkable performances of the young girls—quiet, powerful, and heartbreakingly real. It is one of those gut-wrenching stories that keeps you rooting for the protagonists every minute of every scene.

The film left me with so many questions that prompted my own research into the complex and painful legacy of colonization and its ongoing effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and how those dynamics have evolved—and in many ways, still need to evolve—today. Watching this film doesn’t just illuminate a dark chapter in Australia’s past but challenges you to better understand its present, and to move through this country with a deeper sense of empathy, accountability, and respect.

Final Thoughts

In a world dominated by Hollywood and American stories, Australian film feels like a breath of fresh air—rarely shoved in your face, but quietly offering something different. If you’re heading to Australia soon, or just curious to understand the country beyond the usual tourist spiel, these three films are a solid place to start. They offer a glimpse from the inside—covering the awkward, the bold, and the uncomfortable truths that aren’t in the guidebooks. Hopefully, they’ll give you a richer, more honest sense of what Australia really feels like. Happy watching!!

Image Credits & Disclaimer

Images used in this post are film stills and promotional materials from the following films:

• Muriel’s Wedding (1994) – © Roadshow Entertainment

• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) – © MGM / PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

• Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) – © Miramax Films / Australian Film Finance Corporation

These images are included for editorial and commentary purposes only under the principles of fair use (or fair dealing in applicable jurisdictions). All copyrights remain with their respective owners. If you are the rights holder and would like an image removed, please contact me.