by Rick Zamovich
Whilst you may not think it, Australia is a magnet for international productions, with more than 30 international film and TV productions under the country’s belt. Production in Australia has recently reached a high of $1.04 billion in 2020/21, with numbers only expected to grow. Ready to be even more blown away? Here are five famous movies that were filmed in Australia.
The Matrix
The Matrix follows the life of computer hacker Neo, who is liberated from a simulated world by a beautiful stranger, Trinity. Once he escapes The Matrix, he learns the shocking truth – that machines are incubating humans to harvest their electric energy. Almost all of The Matrix was filmed in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District with a budget of $63 million – producers were keen to capture the city’s anonymous skyscrapers. Filming began in March 1998 before being wrapped up in August 1998.
Thor: Ragnarok
A popular Marvel installment, Thor: Ragnarok was filmed at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast and surrounding locations in Queensland, Australia. The movie follows Thor as he becomes imprisoned on the planet, Sakaar. In a race against time, Thor must return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of ruthless villain Hela.
Filming commenced in 2016 before the movie’s release the following year. The movie had a grand-scale budget of $180 million.
The Great Gatsby
Directed by proud Sydneysider and Australian Baz Luhrmann, around 40% of The Great Gatsby was filmed in and around Sydney. The movie follows Nick Carraway as he tells the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who is pursuing the rich young lady, Daisy Buchanan, who he has loved since his youth.
Filming occurred from September to December 2011, with a $105 million production budget. Sets were built in Centennial Park by the producers to recreate Gatsby’s estate, driveway as well as Nick Carraway’s house.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Boasting blue, Caribbean-like waters, it isn’t hard to tell that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was filmed on Aussie grounds. Most of the movie filming took place on the Gold Coast with a starting budget of $230 million.
This fifth instalment of the series follows Jack, played by Johnny Depp, as he embarks on an adventure with the goal of finding the legendary Trident of Poseidon. While on his quest, he attempts to stop Captain Salazar, an evil pirate who wants to rule the seas. Aside from the glamorous world of Hollywood, Pirates of the Caribbean has even influenced various other entertainment products. For example, the game 1429 Uncharted Seas by Thunderkick, takes inspiration from the movie as players explore the unknown seas and what lies beneath.
Ghost Rider
Released in 2007, Ghost Rider tells the story of stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who becomes the Ghost Rider in exchange for his soul. As the Ghost Rider, Johnny fights the devil himself, the son of Mephistopheles, named Blackheart in the movie.
Whilst the movie is mostly set in Texas, it was primarily filmed around Melbourne, where nearly all of the movie’s locations were filmed within a 20-mile radius. The movie had a budget of $110 million, albeit box office revenue was over $228 million making the movie a huge success.
Conclusion
As you can see, Hollywood isn’t the only place where huge blockbusters are made! If you ever plan to visit Australia, why not take a trip to some of these movie locations? Besides, you never know what other movie hotspots could be right under your nose.
