by David Mead
In this beautiful country there has been a massive boost in revenue from tourism, culture, wildlife and a heap of entertainment value.
Here you can find some of the most familiar movies that you might have seen on TV or while browsing social media, that you might not have known were shot down under.
The Matrix
Sydney residents found themselves a bit lucky if they knew of the filming that was being done for this sci-fi trilogy.
In this epic blockbuster, you can see famous Australian places such as Martin Place Fountain, Adam St. Bridge, The Sydney Tower, and St James Railway Station. Australian viewers might have found themselves a bit gobsmacked while watching and became aware of what took place right on their doorstep. This is because the trilogy made a significant impact in the cinematic world.
Ghost Rider
Melbourne doesn’t get a lot of attention in the filming industry. In this film, Nicolas Cage plays the role of Johnny Blaze, the unfortunate man who saved the life of his father through a contract with the devil, only for his father to die in different circumstances.
In this movie, you can see St. Paul’s Cathedral, Southbank, The Telstra Dome which is now known as Marvel Stadium, and Yarra Footbridge, just some of the iconic filming locations within Melbourne City that make an appearance in the film.
Scooby Doo
The much loved childhood film Scooby Doo (2002) starring Sarah Michelle Geller, Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini and Neil Fanning as the Mystery Inc Scooby Gang, was filmed in Australia.
Queensland is a prime filming destination for most Hollywood movies filmed in Australia, known for its sun, sand and picture-perfect wavy blue beaches. Some people would even say that Australia, with its deadly venomous creatures isn’t that far away from being an actual Spooky Island.
Fools Gold
Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson joined each other again in this film after they worked on the romantic comedy film How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. Fools Gold (2008) was filmed in gorgeous sun-loving Queensland.
When the Caribbean isn’t available and a tropical location is urgently needed, where else would there be a prime location other than the Gold Coast? The film dives into the action and adventure which is sure to happen when treasure’s involved.
Aquaman
Raised in Perth, director James Wan took advantage of Australia’s beauty to set the stage for this vibrant, big-budget film telling the story of Atlantis’ missing king.
Even though extra footage was shot internationally, most cinematography took place on the Gold Coast and opened almost 600 jobs to locals. Aquaman became one of DC’s highest-grossing films to date, not only securing the franchise a sequel planned for this year, but a horror spin-off titled ‘The Trench’.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Boasting a reputation as being the biggest cinematic feature to be filmed on Australian soil, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales had many years of delays because of script and budgetary issues before starting production following a $20 million boost from the Australian government.
Filming commenced in Queensland’s suburbs and coastal region, and Pirates gave the state’s economy a boost of $100 million, which is almost as much as the financial revenue gained from ventures such as online poker Australia, and showed just how photogenic Australia’s geographical features can be.
Thor: Ragnarok
The latest in the Thor franchise, turning New Zealand director, Taika Waititi into a global name. Thor: Ragnarok was shot mostly in Queensland’s stunning Village Roadshow Studios and surrounding areas in the state.
The film not only allowed Waititi to bolster the local economy, but also placed emphasis on employing local Australians and New Zealanders as a crew. Ragnarok had an international income of 854 million US dollars while proving that Australia can be the best location for one of the largest cinematic universes.
Pacific Rim Series
The monstrous hit, Pacific Rim, made gigantic leaps in the Australian film industry. New South Whales was shown as a prime location for filming action sequences.
With Sydney’s contemporary look drawing films set in futuristic settings, Australia was perfect for filming. A sequel to the 2013 blockbuster, Pacific Rim: Uprising emerged in 2018 , where the Fox Studio Stages in Sydney were used for filming. A big part of filming occurred in and around recognisable Australian landmarks.
Mortal Kombat
While video game inspired movies have a less than favourable reception, the latest cinematic reboot of the arcade classic Mortal Kombat is arguably more true than the adaptions in the 90’s. This long anticipated movie, which was shot around Adelaide and South Australia, brought the extreme action the games were renowned for to the big screen.
