Designed to celebrate the nation’s history, achievements and diversity, Australia Day (January 26) has been an official public holiday Down Under since 1994.
And what better way to honour the country that has produced so many film stars (including no less than six Academy Award winners) than watching one of the many great Australian movies currently on Netflix.
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From psychological horrors and post-apocalyptic dramas to creature features and camp comedies, here’s a look at ten of the best.
The Babadook
The Babadook himself may have become an unlikely LGBT icon as of late, but he still remains one of the most terrifying creatures in modern horror.
The story of a widowed mother desperately trying to cope with her hugely troubled six-year-old son, this cult classic boasts a mesmerising lead performance from Essie Davis, who was unarguably robbed of an Oscar nomination.
These Final Hours
An apocalyptic sci-fi with a difference, this low-budget Aussie film sees a troubled young man seek redemption by saving the life of a young girl looking for her estranged father.
Just so happens that this is on the same day that the world is about to end, and the pair end up forging an unlikely bond amid a chaotic backdrop of wild orgies, random killings and mass suicides.
Tomorrow, When The War Began
An impending apocalypse also provides the setting for this under-rated young adult movie based on John Marsden’s same-named novel.
A curious mix of high-school angst and explosive action, Tomorrow, When The War Began follows the fortunes of eight teenage students whose coastal hometown is suddenly invaded by a foreign military group.
Rogue
A group of tourists who fall foul of a man-eating crocodile, Rogue may sound like the kind of hilariously awful trash you’d find on the SyFy channel.
But starring a pre-famous Sam Worthington, this 2007 indie horror is a surprisingly tense, well-paced and inventive watch which does for alligators what Jaws did for sharks.
Holding The Man
Starring Craig Stott and Ryan Corr, Holding The Man is the emotionally devastating adaptation of late Australian activist Timothy Conigrave’s memoir.
A more intimate alternative to Ryan Murphy’s similarly-themed A Normal Heart, this 2015 indie explores the relationship between two young lovers that is cruelly cut short by the 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis.
The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert
The road trip has never looked more fabulous than it does in this colourful cult classic about two drag queens and a transgender woman travelling across the Australian outback in a tour bus named Priscilla.
Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp play the three touring buddies in question in a smart, funny and touching comedy drama that has become an integral part of Australia’s pop-culture.
Berlin Syndrome
Despite its title and presence of German leading man Max Riemelt (Sense8), Berlin Syndrome is in fact an Australian psychological thriller about a one-night-stand that goes terribly wrong.
Teresa Palmer (Hacksaw Ridge) co-stars as a photojournalist who initially appears to have been accidentally locked in the apartment of Riemelt’s sports teacher, only to discover that she has become his captive.
Head On
If you’re old enough to remember 90s teen drama Heartbreak High, get ready to see its leading pin-up in a whole new light.
Set over a 24-hour period, the uncompromising and unsettling Head On stars Alex Dimitriades as a repressed gay teen who attempts to deal with his identity by immersing himself in the world of casual sex and recreational drugs.
Oddball And The Penguins
If you want something to entertain the kids this Australia Day, look no further than the charming crowd-pleaser that is Oddball And The Penguins.
The tale of an eccentric chicken farmer who trains a Maremma sheepdog to protect his hometown’s penguin population, this 2015 Aussie flick sounds like pure fantasy, but is actually based on a true story.
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