Updated May 2025 by Backpackers World Team
Originally published By: Alison Mass in June 2017
Australia might not be the first place you think of when it comes to Hollywood movies - but its cities, coasts, and outback have starred in more blockbusters than you’d expect. From Sydney’s CBD to the wilds of Tasmania, here are 10 famous movies you didn’t know were filmed in Australia.
Baz Luhrmann’s lavish take on The Great Gatsby used the International College of Management in Manly as the iconic exterior of Gatsby’s mansion. The film’s opulent driveway entrance was captured on Cooks Road in Centennial Park. It’s one of the most visually extravagant films shot in Australia - and the locations are right in the heart of Sydney.
This cult classic may feel like it was set in a futuristic U.S. city, but The Matrix was filmed almost entirely in Sydney. Landmarks like the Martin Place fountain, Sydney Tower, and St. James Railway Station are easily recognisable. Fans can still walk the same streets as Neo and Morpheus - if they know where to look.
Babe, the story of a pig who wants to be a sheepdog, was filmed in the lush green hills of Robertson in NSW’s Southern Highlands. The area’s rolling farmland was the perfect backdrop for this Aussie-American co-production, which blended real animals and animatronics to global acclaim.
Directed by Angelina Jolie, Unbroken was filmed at multiple locations around NSW. From Pitt Street’s transformation into wartime Japan to scenes shot on Cockatoo Island, Werris Creek, and the Blacktown International Sportspark, the film showcases Australia’s versatility in replicating global locations.
While Lion begins in India, most of the film was actually shot in Australia - split between Melbourne and various locations across Tasmania. Nicole Kidman filmed all of her scenes in Australia, helping to bring this emotionally powerful story to life in two of the country’s most photogenic regions.
Although set in Texas, Ghost Rider starring Nicolas Cage was filmed entirely in Melbourne. The crew managed to shoot the entire movie within a 20-block radius of the city centre, showing just how adaptable Melbourne can be as a filming location.
Originally meant to be filmed in the Caribbean, Fool’s Gold relocated to Queensland due to hurricane season. Most of the beach scenes were shot around the Great Barrier Reef and the Gold Coast, where the cast stayed in luxurious coastal homes during filming.
Several key scenes in Mission: Impossible 2 were shot around Sydney. Argyll Street in The Rocks stood in for Seville, Spain - the crew even aged the street to give it an older European look. Many action-packed moments were also filmed in Sydney’s CBD, making it a standout among action movies filmed in Australia.
Fox Studios in Sydney played a central role in the production of Superman Returns. The high-octane car chase outside the “Metropolis Museum” was filmed in Martin Place, with much of the city doubling for the fictional Metropolis throughout the movie.
One of Nicole Kidman’s early breakout roles, Dead Calm was shot entirely in Australia. The psychological thriller was filmed on and around the Great Barrier Reef, with additional scenes along the Gold Coast. It’s a classic example of how Australia’s oceans and coastlines have helped shape big-screen stories.
While originally intended to be filmed in Broken Hill like earlier Mad Max films, unexpected weather forced production to move to Namibia. Still, several key sequences - especially early development and stunt testing - were shot in Australia, and the franchise remains an iconic representation of Aussie post-apocalyptic cinema.
This powerful historical thriller was filmed in Tasmania’s dense forests and rugged wilderness. Though heavy in tone, its haunting cinematography highlights some of Australia’s most untouched natural locations, making it a standout example of how the landscape shapes a story.
Australia’s landscapes, cities, and coasts have made it a favourite filming location for international blockbusters. From the futuristic streets of The Matrix to the lush countryside of Babe, these movie filming locations are just a bus ride or road trip away. Add a few to your travel plans - and watch the magic come to life.
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