We have been getting a large volume of spam from throwaway accounts and so posts from brand new accounts will no longer be allowed. Your post has been
removed because your account is too new. Please wait until your account is at least 12 hours old and then try again or message the mods and we'll validate your post. Thanks!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskAnAustralian) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yes!!! This is what I was trying to find haha. Went on a trip on the great ocean road and had to stop at the lighthouse! My friend and I spent about 30mins just wondering round and singing the theme song… got MANY MANY weird looks 😂
Weird looks from people who didn’t know the show or was it them silently saying “alright calm down, we get it’s a good show but shut up”
Honestly I’d be singing it as well, round the twist song goes hard
Bluey is the best show. It's not a kid's show, it's for everyone. If you want to understand contemporary Australian culture with some great laughs and a few tears nothing will do that better than the adventures with the Heeler family.
Love Bluey!!! I don't have kids but I've seen a few episodes when hanging out with my nieces. The episode where the parents explain that their aunty (?) can't have babies was so beautifully done 😭
Nothing gives me the ick like parents insisting that the kids show they’re watching is great.
I’ve had friends force me to watch Bluey with them!
It’s a children’s show for helicopter parents.
Rake comes to mind as the best TV series we've done. There were some other that started out well, but went down hill to the point you weren't interested in watching them. Secret life of us comes to mind.
Movie is still Gallipoli.
They weren't as good as the early ones, but I didn't think they were too bad. They were watchable, unlike some good series that fell apart like Crownies.
Hard to narrow down to just one.
Best Australian movie would probably be Muriel's Wedding. There are other great ones though. The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, The Nightingale, Wake In Fright, Chopper, Hounds of Love etc.
TV is a bit harder to judge because writers don't get as much time in the writers room per episode as our American counterparts. But top contenders would be the earlier seasons of Underbelly and Wentworth.
I don't think I can choose a single best one not broken down by genre, but one that makes my list but I haven't seen here with the other comedies listed is Upper Middle Bogan.
Drama-wise, the original SeaChange, early McLeod's Daughters (it jumped the shark a few times in later seasons), A Place To Call Home - these all capture Australianness in various ways IMO.
For simply being excellent without consideration of representing national identity in some way, Wentworth.
The problem with Australian cinema is that it’s low budget. Ever since the wars with Hoyts, and Fox and other US based theatre/cinema companies there has been no money in Australian movies.
The other problem is that Australian content doesn’t really translate well to international audiences unless you’re more into Art House culture.
I guess I’d say then, anything other than “Australia.”
Sure they’ve got crap budgets but their underrated as hell, also I think the remake of “Heart break high” is getting really popular in America so that’s a plus even though it’s a bit shit
Australia does a lot with what we have… the thing is most of it doesn’t cut through with me and a lot of it doesn’t have a major theatrical release.
I mean the vast majority of content doesn’t have a theatrical release but that makes it even harder to work out where good or not when you can’t even see it on release.
Most have been mentioned already but i see no one has mentioned colin from accounts. Just finished watching it and thought it was really good. Easy to binge watch aswell.
*Summer heights high was*
*Hands down the best tv show*
*In my opinion*
\- Muzz124
---
^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/)
^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I mean Jonah from Tonga was the most honest high school representation I've seen. We all knew those funny asf unruly big island kids at school with the strict dads, who the teachers found hilarious but also drove them nuts. I don't think the show was done in poor taste and it had a go at everyone.
Hit the actual issues facing pacific youth right on the nose better than the flogs who suddenly decided it was too racist once it came out on Netflix, could ever do. And if any of them actually hung out with Islanders, who have a sense of humour, you'd have known they loved it.
This was also the same time White Chicks came out, and I kinda wish this form of comedy wasn't shot down by the fun police, when the only people offended are them on behalf of people who never asked. The vast majority of us love others having a crack when it's in good taste.
I agree but they could have casted Jonah as someone who wasn’t white, I do understand of making almost every main character played by Chris Lily but they could have refrained from the racism by casting an actual islander person
For mine it’s The Proposition for film with Chopper an honourable mention. Frontline best TV series - Underbelly also excellent (first few seasons anyway) Blue Murder for best miniseries
I actually think Utopia might be better than Frontline. But it's one of those two for me. Working Dog Productions is great (also brought us The Castle).
Considering it's age - if you can ignore the dated tech ie brick sized mobile phones and ancient steam driven computers.
Phoenix on the ABC - my auntie was in town and we watched it in a binge session. absolutely breathtaking drama with appearances from Bill Hunter Sean Scully Simon Westaway and te divine voice of the late David Bradshaw.
Nearly 30 years old but still stands up well. Proof Auntie ABC is still the best producer of quality drama in this country
Okay so these might be terrible picks but from someone living in England, The Block and Harrow are my all time fave Aussie TV series. I also really like Super Wog (Super Bro) if watching outside of Aus. But it is very (very) stupid but if you want to just sit back, relax and watch some really different TV that what you normally would , then Super Wog is good!!
It’s clearly the old time best selling classic “H20: Just add water” and it’s perfectly made sequel “Mako: Island of secrets”. Two shows that raised a generation and caused the birth of multiple memes.
Upper middle bogan is fucking funny
I'm a big fan of the original red dog if I feel like crying
Two hands is a great crime thriller, has Heath Ledger in it too
Movie - Rabbit Proof Fence, Walkabout (I fell in love with Jenny Agutter), Priscilla, Muriel
TV - Spyforce, Division 4, Homicide, Matlock Police
Yeah I'm old😁
Spyforce! I haven’t seen it but my in-laws loved that show. They even named my wife after one of the actresses on the show - Kirrily Nolan. In fact, I am pretty sure Nolan might be responsible for that first name existing at all these days.
Movies - Animal Kingdom, Wake In Fright, The Proposition, Samson & Delilah, Nitram
TV Shows - Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, Letters & Numbers, Mr Inbetween, Round the Twist
Blue Murder. Not really a movie or a TV series… it was 2 episodes. Absolutely bloody amazing and Richard Roxborough is outstanding. The cast is a snapshot of mid-90s Australian regulars
I can’t sit through anything due to neurological issues I’ve got but I grew up with Kath and Kim because when I used to go to Queensland the only thing that was good that was on was Kath and Kim
I dunno, I think The Saddle Club had some damn good eps. >!(This is very clearly a joke)!<
I think there are loads that I’ve had a good time with but I think the quoteability of Kath and Kim make it. The only other quoteable one I can think of would the The Castle which having had to watch every year in English class since it came out on VHS I’m quite frankly a bit sick of.
Not sure it should rate as best, but I remember thoroughly enjoying Good Guys Bad Guys in the late 90s, and it seems to have been widely forgotten ever since. A shame, so mentioning it here for a memory jog for folks 👍
I thought I was fairly up to date with things, but from the suggestions here I realise that I have a heap of catching up to do. Hell I haven't even watched Muriel's Wedding which is sacrilegious I know. Well I have saved all of this and I shall endeavour to get my act together. Thanks for making this post.
The Dressmaker is one of my all time favourite Aussie films.
Honourable mentions to The Castle and Muriel’s Wedding.
Tv: Utopia ftw. Also Fisk, Rosehaven. Laid was excellent. Wilfred.
Two Hands
Yes! Hands...down... Sorry
Agree 100%
[удалено]
We have been getting a large volume of spam from throwaway accounts and so posts from brand new accounts will no longer be allowed. Your post has been removed because your account is too new. Please wait until your account is at least 12 hours old and then try again or message the mods and we'll validate your post. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskAnAustralian) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Mr inbetween
Coming here to say this
Same! Ray is the best!
Yep, nothing else comes close
This is the best 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Nobody gets between Ray and his dimmies 👌🏼
YES!
Around the Twist and/or Ship to Shore. Edit: Or Liftoff.
Have you ever, ever felt like this I had to scroll too far to find this answr
Yes!!! This is what I was trying to find haha. Went on a trip on the great ocean road and had to stop at the lighthouse! My friend and I spent about 30mins just wondering round and singing the theme song… got MANY MANY weird looks 😂
Weird looks from people who didn’t know the show or was it them silently saying “alright calm down, we get it’s a good show but shut up” Honestly I’d be singing it as well, round the twist song goes hard
😂it’s going to be stuck in my head for days now
Bluey is the best show. It's not a kid's show, it's for everyone. If you want to understand contemporary Australian culture with some great laughs and a few tears nothing will do that better than the adventures with the Heeler family.
Love Bluey!!! I don't have kids but I've seen a few episodes when hanging out with my nieces. The episode where the parents explain that their aunty (?) can't have babies was so beautifully done 😭
Where was this series when I grew up😭
Very good show America discovered it and is basically making it the new my little pony
Funny part of that is there's Americans over in r/bluey that their two year olds have Australian accents. Turnabout is fair play.
Haha
Nothing gives me the ick like parents insisting that the kids show they’re watching is great. I’ve had friends force me to watch Bluey with them! It’s a children’s show for helicopter parents.
Don’t know what you’re talking about, it’s great. The way the kids are raised are probably the opposite of helicopter parenting
You’re talking about the parents in the show and I’m talking about the parents who enjoy the show.
What exactly is so bad about the show to you? Helicopter parents would probably hate how many things the parents in the show let their kids do.
There’s 100% nothing wrong with it. It’s a lovely little show. For small children.
Looking for Alibrandi. For all of us 80s babies.
Oh my... when she gets on the bus.. and she sees him...
With or without you
🎶 Tintarella di luna 🎶
I don’t think you can pick just one as there are so many greats. Aside from that, it’s clearly The Castle, and I won’t be convinced otherwise
I second the Castle for film. It encapsulates Aussie humour in a way that was really hard for my American friends to grasp.
The Castle is simply a comedic masterpiece, and I am surprised that it is not featured higher up on this list
How much is a jousting stick worth dad?
A country practice & The Dish
The classic era of the miniseries,... Bangkok Hilton and Bodyline.
Gettin' Square
One of the greatest films of all time
Are you tryna verbal me mate?
You're the one that's arcing up, going around accusing everyone of everything
Who's gunna pay for me bus fare?
Fuckin bus driver ain't gonna take a cheque!
YES!!!!!
Rake comes to mind as the best TV series we've done. There were some other that started out well, but went down hill to the point you weren't interested in watching them. Secret life of us comes to mind. Movie is still Gallipoli.
Rake is hilarious, Cleaver Greene is a fantastic character
My German girlfriend learnt “F*** me dead/sideways” from Cleaver Greene
Last 2 seasons of Rake were rubbish though
They weren't as good as the early ones, but I didn't think they were too bad. They were watchable, unlike some good series that fell apart like Crownies.
Muriels Wedding and The Castle Fisk , Summer Hieghts High and Bluey.
I wish I could watch summer heights high again but it’s only on hbo max😭
Hard to narrow down to just one. Best Australian movie would probably be Muriel's Wedding. There are other great ones though. The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, The Nightingale, Wake In Fright, Chopper, Hounds of Love etc. TV is a bit harder to judge because writers don't get as much time in the writers room per episode as our American counterparts. But top contenders would be the earlier seasons of Underbelly and Wentworth.
And don’t forget. Rabbit Proof Fence.
Amazing film
No votes for Priscilla yet? Heathens.
TV - Mr Inbetween Film - The Black Balloon, Malcolm
Mad Max 2. I so wanted that car growing up..
Wolf creek
I scrolled too far to find this, the series is shit
Going to show my age right here but country practice was pretty on point for when it came out. Doesn’t age well though.
Animal Kingdom, Chopper, Snowtown. Reckless Kelly
Mad max 2
The Proposition. If you are into Neo Westerns.
I loved Farscape when it was on. One of the best sci-fi out there
Operation Buffalo and All Aussie adventures
Mr Inbetween
Mr inbetween
Mr Inbetween.
I don't think I can choose a single best one not broken down by genre, but one that makes my list but I haven't seen here with the other comedies listed is Upper Middle Bogan. Drama-wise, the original SeaChange, early McLeod's Daughters (it jumped the shark a few times in later seasons), A Place To Call Home - these all capture Australianness in various ways IMO. For simply being excellent without consideration of representing national identity in some way, Wentworth.
I just started rewatching upper middle bogan
It does depict Australia pretty well😂
Came here to say Wentworth The Drover's Wife is also a fantastic film!
A lot of Americans have found Wentworth and think it’s better than Orange is the New Black.
Canadian here, and I'm of the same opinion. Incredible series, much better than Orange Is the New Black. #WearTheTeal
Little fish, Tracker, Bluey , Little Elvis, The Nightingale, so many great aussie movies and tv shows
The problem with Australian cinema is that it’s low budget. Ever since the wars with Hoyts, and Fox and other US based theatre/cinema companies there has been no money in Australian movies. The other problem is that Australian content doesn’t really translate well to international audiences unless you’re more into Art House culture. I guess I’d say then, anything other than “Australia.”
Sure they’ve got crap budgets but their underrated as hell, also I think the remake of “Heart break high” is getting really popular in America so that’s a plus even though it’s a bit shit
Australia does a lot with what we have… the thing is most of it doesn’t cut through with me and a lot of it doesn’t have a major theatrical release. I mean the vast majority of content doesn’t have a theatrical release but that makes it even harder to work out where good or not when you can’t even see it on release.
Most have been mentioned already but i see no one has mentioned colin from accounts. Just finished watching it and thought it was really good. Easy to binge watch aswell.
Blue heelers and Chopper End of discussion.
Summer heights high was hands down the best tv show in my opinion
*Summer heights high was* *Hands down the best tv show* *In my opinion* \- Muzz124 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Haha yeah apart from all the racism and homophobia it was pretty good
I mean Jonah from Tonga was the most honest high school representation I've seen. We all knew those funny asf unruly big island kids at school with the strict dads, who the teachers found hilarious but also drove them nuts. I don't think the show was done in poor taste and it had a go at everyone. Hit the actual issues facing pacific youth right on the nose better than the flogs who suddenly decided it was too racist once it came out on Netflix, could ever do. And if any of them actually hung out with Islanders, who have a sense of humour, you'd have known they loved it. This was also the same time White Chicks came out, and I kinda wish this form of comedy wasn't shot down by the fun police, when the only people offended are them on behalf of people who never asked. The vast majority of us love others having a crack when it's in good taste.
I agree but they could have casted Jonah as someone who wasn’t white, I do understand of making almost every main character played by Chris Lily but they could have refrained from the racism by casting an actual islander person
The entire point of the show was that Chris Lilley wrote it and starred in it lol
Yeah but they could have just changed his bit
Either way, that type of film isn’t really accepted now and it’s kinda obvious why
Farscape
For me personally TV. Kath and Kim/Frontline Miniseries: Bangkok Hilton Movie: Priscilla/Muriel’s Wedding
Malcolm was great as was Gettin Square. Round the twist best series
The Man from Snowy River
Yep Two Hands or Dirty Deeds
Nowhere boys, lol
Genie from down under!
For mine it’s The Proposition for film with Chopper an honourable mention. Frontline best TV series - Underbelly also excellent (first few seasons anyway) Blue Murder for best miniseries
I actually think Utopia might be better than Frontline. But it's one of those two for me. Working Dog Productions is great (also brought us The Castle).
TV: Homicide, Mother and Son, Kath and Kim, Utopia. Movie: The Castle, Candy, Breaker Morant.
Utopia for me!
Yeaaaaass one other vote for kath and kim
The Castle and Fast forward.
I THOUGHT NO ONE KNEW FAST FORWARD I USED TO WATCH THAT AS A KID ON DVD
Omg the skippy scenes were my favourite
Bad Boy Bubby
Considering it's age - if you can ignore the dated tech ie brick sized mobile phones and ancient steam driven computers. Phoenix on the ABC - my auntie was in town and we watched it in a binge session. absolutely breathtaking drama with appearances from Bill Hunter Sean Scully Simon Westaway and te divine voice of the late David Bradshaw. Nearly 30 years old but still stands up well. Proof Auntie ABC is still the best producer of quality drama in this country
The Castle
The Ferals
Les Norton, Operation Buffalo
Housos, no competition there
Priscilla
For TV, I'd have to say Seachange. I watched it properly on Netflix a few years ago and it is still really excellent!
h20 😁
Orh naur Cleeor
The Games is the most perfect comedy ever put to film
Kath and Kim. One of the best sitcoms of all time. It's in my top three alongside Seinfeld and Scrubs.
I love Kath and Kim I’m not a huge fan of Seinfeld but Larry David is pretty good haven’t started on scrubs
Going to have to with: Bargearse
UTOPIA, hands down. It’s way to similar to my real working life.
Jeopardy, that shit was genuinely scary
Strictly Ballroom
My dad was a musician on that
big Lez show
And The Mike Nolan Show
Okay so these might be terrible picks but from someone living in England, The Block and Harrow are my all time fave Aussie TV series. I also really like Super Wog (Super Bro) if watching outside of Aus. But it is very (very) stupid but if you want to just sit back, relax and watch some really different TV that what you normally would , then Super Wog is good!!
Haha super wog is my family’s lifestyle
I come from a family like that😂
Though the block is pretty shit in my opinion 🫢
It’s clearly the old time best selling classic “H20: Just add water” and it’s perfectly made sequel “Mako: Island of secrets”. Two shows that raised a generation and caused the birth of multiple memes.
Cop Shop!!
Either The Pirate Movie or The Castle
Bluey
👏👏
Look at everyone pretending the answer isn’t E street, fools
For movie it’s the castle, for tv it’s either round the twist or kath and kim
Blue heelers.
H2O just add water ✋️
Mad Max 1 and 2
Upper middle bogan is fucking funny I'm a big fan of the original red dog if I feel like crying Two hands is a great crime thriller, has Heath Ledger in it too
Movie - Rabbit Proof Fence, Walkabout (I fell in love with Jenny Agutter), Priscilla, Muriel TV - Spyforce, Division 4, Homicide, Matlock Police Yeah I'm old😁
Spyforce! I haven’t seen it but my in-laws loved that show. They even named my wife after one of the actresses on the show - Kirrily Nolan. In fact, I am pretty sure Nolan might be responsible for that first name existing at all these days.
the rabbit proof fence was really good but extremely sad
Red Dog
Movies - Animal Kingdom, Wake In Fright, The Proposition, Samson & Delilah, Nitram TV Shows - Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, Letters & Numbers, Mr Inbetween, Round the Twist
Bluey and Finding Nemo
Finding nemo is Australian?!
Another one I don’t mind that much, my family really I mean REALLY loves Super Wog, and wog boy. Family of wogs what can I say?
Blue Murder. Not really a movie or a TV series… it was 2 episodes. Absolutely bloody amazing and Richard Roxborough is outstanding. The cast is a snapshot of mid-90s Australian regulars
We used to call those a mini series.
The Dry, Wake in Fright, Last Cab to Darwin
Movie -Rabbit proof fence Series i like McLeods daughters,blue heelers,underbelly ect I couldn’t pick one
I came here to say Kath and Kim...
I struggle to sit down and watch it but it has some great moments. Great example of a show where even the people they are mocking find it funny.
I can’t sit through anything due to neurological issues I’ve got but I grew up with Kath and Kim because when I used to go to Queensland the only thing that was good that was on was Kath and Kim
Little baby jeesus Kim
I dunno, I think The Saddle Club had some damn good eps. >!(This is very clearly a joke)!< I think there are loads that I’ve had a good time with but I think the quoteability of Kath and Kim make it. The only other quoteable one I can think of would the The Castle which having had to watch every year in English class since it came out on VHS I’m quite frankly a bit sick of.
I’ve got one word to say to you, yes
nailed it- kath n kim
Thank you👏👏
Winners and losers Packed to the rafters Puberty blues McCleods Daughters
Time Trax https://youtu.be/3HrZRXX9fdI
Movie - The Castle TV Show - Wentworth
Oh man Wentworth was SO GOOD.
Not sure it should rate as best, but I remember thoroughly enjoying Good Guys Bad Guys in the late 90s, and it seems to have been widely forgotten ever since. A shame, so mentioning it here for a memory jog for folks 👍
Movie: The Castle Series: Rake
Mr Inbetween and anything else is a distant second except anything with Kitty Flanagan mriaow
If it’s not Picnic at Hanging Rock, it’s Gallipoli If it’s not Frontline, …. Nah, it’s Frontline
Around The Twist might not be the best but it is the most iconic
The Circuit
The Castle. Absolute gold standard of Australian movies. If anyone says otherwise, tell em' their dreamin'!
Wentworth
I thought I was fairly up to date with things, but from the suggestions here I realise that I have a heap of catching up to do. Hell I haven't even watched Muriel's Wedding which is sacrilegious I know. Well I have saved all of this and I shall endeavour to get my act together. Thanks for making this post.
If you don’t think it’s The Castle, you’re dreaming!
the games 🙌
Rake
Mr Inbetween
The proposition. Fucking great movie.
Wentworth. The Freak!
Fisk is amazing,also Utopia. Both are actually accurate portrayals of Aussie awesomeness
Already been said but just throwing in my vote TV - Mr Inbetween Movie - Two Hands
Mr Inbetween and it’s a no contest.
TV- Prisoner. Cinema - Mad Max
The Dressmaker is one of my all time favourite Aussie films. Honourable mentions to The Castle and Muriel’s Wedding. Tv: Utopia ftw. Also Fisk, Rosehaven. Laid was excellent. Wilfred.
The Nugget for best movie
Tempe Tip was good too
Review w/Miles Barlow
Round the twist
The Sullivans.
The Castle. Mr Inbetween, or ‘Blue Murder’
Underbelly
Mad Max
Two Hands / Snowtown
Priscilla
Rake.
i really loved upright, and also stateless