CAST
DAVID ARGUE, MARY COUSTAS, BRUCE SPENCE, MICHAEL CARMAN

DIRECTED BY
DAVID PARKER

Part innovative comedy, part damnation of the film industry, Hercules Returns is an all-round cracker of a movie, as three owners of a new independent cinema are forced to provide voice overs on the Italian classic Hercules as a sold out crowd watches on.

CAST
SAM WORTHINGTON, TIMOTHY SPALL, DAVID WENHAM, FREYA STAFFORD, GARY SWEET, DAVID ROBERTS, DAVID FIELD

DIRECTED BY
JONATHAN TEPLITZKY

Set amongst the sun and surf of the Gold Coast, Getting’ Square is a witty crime movie about a career criminal (Sam Worthington) trying to go straight. Written and directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, the film features a scene stealing performance from David Wenham as a mullet wearing junkie wanted by cops and crims alike.

CAST
PAUL MERCURIO, TARA MORICE, BILL HUNTER, PAT THOMSON, GIA CARIDES, BARRY OTTO, SONIA KRUGER

DIRECTED BY
BAZ LUHRMANN

Baz Luhrmann’s first movie, Strictly Ballroom is a slice of eccentric fantasy only an Australian could make, with the glitzy world of ballroom dancing given a funny and fantastical makeover in its story of a dance king (Paul Mercurio) and an ugly duckling (Tara Morice) finding love on the dance floor.

CAST
PAUL HOGAN, LINDA KOZLOWSKI, MARK BLUM, JOHN MEILLON, DAVID GULPILIL, REGINALD VELJOHNSON

DIRECTED BY
PETER FAIMAN

A global smash hit that took star/writer Paul Hogan away from frying a “shrimp on the barbie” and onto the world stage, Crocodile Dundee combined Hogan’s brand of Aussie larrikinism with slick filmmaking to make for one of the first accessible Australian comedies that was enjoyed by Aussie and Yank alike.   

CAST
HEATH LEDGER, BRYAN BROWN, ROSE BYRNE, DAVID FIELD, SUSIE PORTER, STEVE LE-MARQUAND, STEVEN VIDLER

DIRECTED BY
GREGOR JORDAN

Gregor Jordan’s dark comedy about a bumbling wannabe criminal’s run-in with a crime boss (Bryan Brown) was the first to feature Heath Ledger at his magnetic best, portraying physical comedy and heartfelt drama with equal ease.

CAST
SAM NEIL, PATRICK WARBURTON, KEVIN HARRINGTON, TOM LONG, ELIZA SZONERT, TAYLER KANE, ROY BILLING

DIRECTED BY
ROB SITCH

Following a classic like The Castle (see #1) would be a hard task for any filmmaker, yet director Rob Sitch and his Working Dog mates (they behind cult Aussie TV shows Front Line and The Late Late Show) did just that with another classic in The Dish.

Based on the real life occurrences surrounding the city of Parkes involvement with the 1969 moon landing (with their satellite used to transmit imagery from the iconic moment), The Dish melded Australian history with entertaining fiction to make one of the better Aussie comedies.

CAST
JOSH LUCAS, RACHEL TAYLOR, LUKE FORD, NOAH TAYLOR, ARTHUR ANGEL, JOHN BATCHELOR, KEISHA CASTLE-HUGHES

DIRECTED BY
KRIV STENDERS

The darling of the Australian box office took many by surprise with its sweet and gut busting funny story about how a loveable mutt affectionately named “Red Dog” touched the lives of a mining community in Western Australia.

Directed by Kriv Stenders (a filmmaker usually known for his dramas), the film refuses to resort to being quirky in order to the effective.

A great cast featuring Josh Lucas, Racheal Taylor and Noah Taylor all put in solid performances, but its Koko the kelpie dog who makes the biggest impression.  

CAST
SHANE JACOBSON, ROLAND JACOBSON, EVE VON BIBRA, CHRIS DAVIS, GLENN PREUSKER, CLAYTON JACOBSON

DIRECTED BY
CLAYTON JACOBSON

Perhaps the best example of toilet humour in a comedy, Kenny told the story of waste management supervisor Kenny (Shane Jacobson), a sweet natured bloke who has to deal with a bitch of an ex-wife, a bitter father and the stigma of his profession.

Shot as a mockumentary, this product from Jacobson brothers Shane and Clayton (director) was made on very little yet took the Australian box office by storm, thanks to its witty one liners and the good nature of its leading character.

CAST
TONI COLLETTE, RACHEL GRIFFITHS, BILL HUNTER, SOPHIE LEE, JEANIE DRYNAN, MATT DAY, DAN WYLLIE

DIRECTED BY
P.J. HOGAN

The film which introduced the world to Toni Collette and gave ABBA a new dose of popularity, Muriel’s Wedding is both funny with its unique eccentricities and sad with its family dramatics.

Collette played Muriel, an ugly duckling who lies and schemes her way to her dream wedding, only to lose track of herself in the process.

Written and directed by P.J. Hogan, Muriel’s Wedding has still proven to be the directors best work, with a slew of Hollywood projects (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Peter Pan) no coming close to the raw emotion found here.  

CAST
MICHAEL CATON, STEPHEN CURRY, SOPHIE LEE, ANNE TENNEY, TIRIEL MORA, ERIC BANA, CHARLES ‘BUD’ TINGWELL

DIRECTED BY
ROB SITCH

The debut film from the Working Dog team marked not only the arrival of Australia’s best comedic film, but The Castle also created a shift in Aussie lingo with its many catch phrases (“Tell ‘em their dreaming”, “Love the serenity”) thrown about with many a chuckle.

The Castle told the story of Daryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton), a proud family man who takes on the government when they forcefully try to take his home situated right next to Melbourne airport.

With a cracking script, brilliant performances and its beautifully portrayed message about the lengths a man will go to protect his home, The Castle is heartfelt and extremely funny.