by Jarrod Sloane

And in this day and age, we can see them all on our smart TVs in the comfort of our own homes. Whether you have already seen these at a cinema back in the day or are checking them out for the first time, here is a list of some of the most iconic films from down under.

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

This one turned heads both nationally and internationally. In fact, Crocodile Dundee still gets mentioned quite a bit when Australians travel overseas. This story sees a pretentious New York journalist fall in love with our hero, Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan), a rugged bushman from the Australian outback during a work assignment down under. The fun and games begin when she takes him back to the United States. Significantly, Crocodile Dundee is the top grossing Australian film of all time. It tool $47,707,045 at the Australian box office and is the sixteenth top grossing film (national or international) in Australia.

Candy (2006)

Candy definitely pulls on the heartstrings. Dan (Heath Ledger) is an aspiring poet who introduces Candy (Abbie Cornish) to the world of drugs, and more specifically heroin. The duo fall in love, but their addiction gets the better of them—their downward spiral is harrowing to watch. The film, which is divided into three acts (Heaven, Earth and Hell) is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by author Luke Davies.

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

Rabbit-Proof Fence tackles the issue of Australia’s Stolen Generation, or the forcible removal of  indigenous children from their families by government agencies and church missions between 1910 and 1970. The movie tells the story of three Aboriginal children who decide to embark on a 2,400-kilometre journey back home after being taken away from their families. They follow the rabbit-proof fence through the outback, which was erected in 1907 to keep the bunnies at bay and is the longest unbroken fence in the world.

Romper Stomper (1992)

Recounting the late 1980s and early 1990s skinhead culture of inner-Melbourne’s Footscray, Romper Stomper showcases some of the most disturbing aspects of human nature. Some of the issues addressed in the movie are racism, drug abuse, guns, violence, excessive drinking—yep, this film has it all. Significantly, Romper Stomper is the film that put Russell Crowe in the spotlight. Starring as Hendo, the leader of a bunch of skinheads, he delivers an uncompromising performance that captures the brutality of the Australian underground at the time.

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