The Greatest Australian Drama Films, Ranked

Updated May 22, 2021 1.2k votes 165 voters

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Vote up the best films made in the land down under.

These are the best Australian dramas, ranked from best to worst by user votes. Some Australian drama movies revolve around heartfelt love stories while other good Australian drama movies tackle important social and political topics. A few of the most entertaining Australian dramas even feature future Oscar winners.

What films will you find on this best Australian dramas list? In 1993, a little known actor, Russell Crowe, showed off his impressive acting abilities as the violent leader of a racist youth gang in the film, Romper Stomper. Seven years later, Crowe became everyone's favorite underdog in the award-winning film, Gladiator. Moulin Rouge! is another great Australian drama film.

Australian actor, Heath Ledger, starred as a young man addicted to heroin in Candy. Other good movies that are featured on this top Australian dramas list include Shine, The Proposition and Rabbit-Proof Fence.

Which movie do you think deserves the top spot on this list? Give your favorites a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

Photo: Romper Stomper (Australian Film Commission)

Ranked by

1
Gallipoli
Mark Lee, Mel Gibson, Bill Kerr
47 votes
- Released: 1981
- Directed by: Peter Weir
Archy (Mark Lee) and Frank (Mel Gibson) are two young Australian sprinters who want to join the army to fulfill their sense of duty. Turned down because they are too young, the pair hop a freight ...more
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2
Mad Max
Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne
36 votes
- Released: 1979
- Directed by: George Miller
In a not-too-distant dystopian future, when man's most precious resource -- oil -- has been depleted and the world plunged into war, famine and financial chaos, the last vestiges of the law in ...more
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3
Romper Stomper
Russell Crowe, Daniel Pollock, Jacqueline McKenzie
54 votes
- Released: 1992
- Directed by: Geoffrey Wright
Hando (Russell Crowe) and Davey (Daniel Pollock) are the leaders of a racist youth gang who spend their nights attacking Asian immigrants in a rough section of Melbourne. On the run after losing ...more
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4
The Road Warrior
Mel Gibson
30 votes
- Released: 1981
- Directed by: George Miller
After avenging the death of his wife and young son at the hands of a vicious gang leader, Max (Mel Gibson) drives the post-apocalyptic highways of the Australian outback, fending off attacks from ...more
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5
Dead Calm
Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane
24 votes
- Released: 1989
- Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Rae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, John (Sam Neill), struggle to overcome the sudden death of their young son. In an attempt to move past their loss, the couple take their yacht out for an ...more
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6
The Dressmaker
Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth
30 votes
- Released: 2015
- Directed by: Jocelyn Moorhouse
Accused of murder when she was a child, a dressmaker (Kate Winslet) returns to her small Australian town to seek revenge on the locals who did her wrong.

Gallipoli

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Mad Max

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Romper Stomper

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The Road Warrior

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Dead Calm

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The Dressmaker