WHO WE ARE: The films Australia loved

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

List of the 125 highest-grossing movies of all time, and list of the 65 movies seen by the greatest number of Australians, prepared by David Dale from data provided by the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia. Last updated August 31, 2008.

For the latest media trends, bookmark http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare

Top flicks so far in 2008: The Dark Knight $45 million; Mamma Mia! $31m; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $29.5m; Sex and The City $27m; Kung Fu Panda $26m; I Am Legend $23m; Hancock $20.5m; Iron Man $20m; Alvin and the Chipmunks $17.5m; Get Smart $17m; Death At A Funeral $16m; 27 Dresses $15.5m; Bee Movie $15m; The Golden Compass $14.7m; Narnia: Prince Caspian $14m; National Treasure Book of Secrets $13m; Enchanted $12.5m; Dr Suess Horton Hears a Who $12m; American Gangster $11.5m; Juno $11.5m; You Don't Mess With The Zohan $11.2; Atonement $10.5m.

Chart 1: The Australian box office
1. Titanic (1997) $58 million
2. Shrek 2 (2004) $50m
3. The Return of the King (2003) $49m
4. Crocodile Dundee (1986) $48m
5. Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $47m
6. The Two Towers (2002) $46m
7. The Dark Knight (2008) $45m
8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) $42m
9. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999) $39m
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) $38 m
11. Babe (1995) $37m
12. Finding Nemo (2003) $37m
To read and discuss the complete charts, go to The culture

13 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) $37m
14. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) $35.5m
15. Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith (2005) $35m
16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) $35m
17. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005) $35m
18. Meet The Fockers (2005) $35m
19. Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones (2002) $34m
20. E.T. (1982) $33m
21. Matrix Reloaded (2003) $34m
22. Shrek The Third (2007) $34m
23. Jurassic Park (1993) $33m
24. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) $33m
25. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) $33m
26. Shrek (2001) $32m
27. Casino Royale (2006) $32m
28. The Simpsons Movie (2007) $31.5m
29. Happy Feet (2006) $31.5m
30. Gladiator (2001) $31m
31. Spider-Man (2002) $31m
32. Mamma Mia! (2008) $31m
33. Forrest Gump (1994) $30.5m
34. Star Wars (1977) $30m
35. Independence Day (1996) $29.5m
36. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) $29.5m
37. The Sixth Sense (1999) $29m
38 My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) $28m
39. Moulin Rouge (2001) $28m
40. Transformers (2007) $27.5m
41. The Lion King (1994) $27m
42. The Incredibles (2005) $27m
43. The Da Vinci Code (2006) $27m
44. Sex and the City $27m
45. Mrs Doubtfire (1993) $26m
46. Pretty Woman (1990) $26m
47. Kung Fu Panda (2008) 26m
48. Monsters Inc (2001) $25.5m
49. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) $25.5m
50. Madagascar (2005) $25m
51. Crocodile Dundee II (1988) $25m
52. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) $25m
53. Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006) $24.5m
54. Saving Private Ryan (1998) $24m
55. Spider-Man 2 (2004) $24m
56. Spider-Man 3 (2007) $24m
57. A Night At The Museum (2007) $24m
58 Twister (1996) $23.5m
59. Troy (2004) $23m
60. The Full Monty (1997) $23m
61. The Matrix (1999) $23m
62. Men in Black (1997) $23m
63. I Am Legend (2008) 23m
64. Mission Impossible 2 (2000) $22.5m
65. What Women Want (2000) $22.5m
66. Bridget Jones Diary (2001) $22.5m
67. Strictly Ballroom (1992) $22m
68. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) $22m
69. Ocean's 11 (2002) $22m
70. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) 22m
71. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) $21.5m
72. King Kong (2005) $21.5m
73. Ghost (1990) $21m
74. Meet the Parents (2000) $21m
75. Liar Liar (1997) $21m
76. Notting Hill (1999) $21m
77. War of the Worlds (2005) $21m
78. Sister Act (1992) $20.5m
79. Bruce Almighty (2003) $20.5m
80 Hancock (2008) $20.5
81. Ice Age (2002) $20.5m
82. Toy Story 2 (1999) $20m
83. Cast Away (2000) $20m
84. The Mask (1994) $20m
85. Stuart Little (2000) $20m
86. The Lost World (1997) $20m
87. A Bug's Life (1998) $20m
88. Dances With Wolves (1991) $20m
89. Miss Congeniality (2000) $20m
90. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) $20m
91. There's Something about Mary (1998) $20m
92. Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) $20m
93. Iron Man (2008) $20m
94. A Beautiful Mind (2002) $19.5m
95. Bean (1997) $19m
96. American Beauty (2000) $19m
97. Charlie's Angels (2000) $19m
98. As Good As It Gets (1998) $19m
99. Pearl Harbor (2001) $19m
100. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) $19m
101. Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle (2003) $19m
102. Terminator 3 (2003) $19m
103. Chicago (2003) $19m
104. Grease (1978) $18.5m
105. Die Another Day (2002) $18.5m
106. Borat (2006) 18.5m
107. Love Actually (2003) $18.5m
108. Matrix Revolutions (2003) $18m
109. The Mummy (1999) $18m
110. Fatal Attraction (1987) $18m
111. Aladdin (1993) $18m
112. The Bodyguard (1993) $18m
113. Speed (1994) $18m
114. Batman Forever (1995) $18m
115. The Dish (2000) $18m
116. The Mummy Returns (2002) $18m
117. Scooby Doo (2002) $18m
118. Bridget Jones 2: The Edge of Reason $18m
119. Cars (2006) 18m
120. Ocean's 13 (2007) $18m
121 Alvin and the Chipmunks (2008) $17.5m
122 Men in Black II (2002) $17.5m
123 Erin Brockovich (2000) $17m
124 Three Men and a Baby (1988) $17m
125 My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) $17m
126 Man From Snowy River (1982) $17m
127 Deep Impact (1998) $17m
128 Casper (1995) $17m
129 The Wedding Singer (1998) $17m
130 Wild Hogs (2007) $17m
131 Mr Bean's Holiday (2007) $17m
132 X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006) $16.5m
133 Dr Dolittle (1998) $16.5m
134 Wedding Crashers (2005) $16.5m
135 Cats and Dogs (2001) $16.5m
136 Ghostbusters (1984) $16.5m
137 Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994) $16.5m
138 Dumb and Dumber (1994) $16.5m
139 X-Men 2 (2003) $16.5m
140 Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (1991) $16.5m
141 8 Mile (2003) $16.5m
142 The Devil Wears Prada (2006) $16.5m
143 Hairspray (2007) $16.5m
144 Death At A Funeral (2007) 16.0m
145 The Bourne Supremacy (2004) $16m
(The Bourne Identity (2002) $13m; Grease (1978) $15.2; Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) $13.9m; Jaws (1975) $13.6m; The Sound of Music (1965) $13.0m)

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). His latest book is Soffritto -- A delicious Ligurian memoir. For further observations of Australian attitudes and behaviour, go to Who we are.

Total ticket sales in 2007: $895.4 million, second highest figure on record. Australian films had 4 per cent of the box office, if you include Happy Feet. To compare Australia's tastes with the world's, go to international box office.

Films seen by the greatest number of Australians
(estimated from box office total adjusted for ticket price that year)
1 The Sound of Music (1965)
2 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
3 Star Wars (1977/97)
4 Gone With The Wind (1939)
5 E.T (1982)
6 Titanic (1997)
7 The Sting (1973)
8 Grease (1978)
9 Shrek 2 (2004)
10 Jaws (1975)
11 The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
12 Dr Zhivago (1965)
13 The Towering Inferno (1974)
14 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
15 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
16 Ben Hur (1959)
17 Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
18 Babe (1995)
19 Jurassic Park (1993)
20 Crocodile Dundee Two (1988)
21 South Pacific (1958)
22 My Fair Lady (1964)
23 The Man From Snowy River (1982)
24 The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
25 The Ten Commandments (1956)
26 Pretty Woman (1990)
27 Finding Nemo (2003)
28 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
29 The Dark Night (2008)
30 Ryan's Daughter (1970)
31 Forrest Gump (1994)
32 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
33 Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
34 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
35 The Chronicles of Narnia (2005)
36 Meet The Fockers (2005)
37 Independence Day (1996)
38 Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones (2002)
39 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
40 The Lion King (1994)
41 Matrix Reloaded (2003)
42 Mrs Doubtfire (1993)
43 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
44 Shrek (2001)
45 The Exorcist (1973)
46 Gladiator (2001)
47 Return of the Jedi (1983/98)
48 The Sixth Sense (1999)
49 Ghostbusters (1984)
50 Happy Feet (2006)
51 Casino Royale (2006)
52 The Godfather (1972)
53 Moulin Rouge (2001)
54 Superman (1978)
55 Strictly Ballroom
56 The Empire Strikes Back (1980/97)
57 Gallipoli
58 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
59 The Dark Knight (2008)
60 Shrek The Third (2007)
61 Mad Max II (1981)
62 Spider-Man (2002)
63 My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
64 Ghost (1990)
65 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
66 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
67 The Simpsons Movie (2007)
68 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

The most successful Australian films of the 21st century: 1 Moulin Rouge $27.7m, 2 Lantana $12.3m, 3 Crackerjack $8.6m, 4 Man Who Sued God $8.5m, 5 Croc Dundee in Los Angeles $7.8m, 6 Kenny 7.6m, 7 Rabbit Proof Fence 7.5m, 8 Wolf Creek 6.1m, 9 Dirty Deeds 5.1m, 10 Japanese Story 4.5m, 11 The Crocodile Hunter 3.9m, 12 Little Fish 3.7m, 13 Fat Pizza 3.6m, 14 Ten Canoes 3.3m, 15 Kokoda 3.1m, 16 Boy Town 3.1m, 17 Look Both Ways 3.0m, 18 The Hard Word 2.9m, 19 Romulus My Father 2.5m; 20 The Black Balloon 2.2m

COMMENTS

Why not give a CPI adjusted ranking of films? Which one has grossed highest then?

Tribal Mind replies: Good idea. I have added that at the end of the main list.

by Brendan on January 23, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Thanks very much for that!

by Brendan on January 23, 2007 at 01:33 PM

I like the second list, but why not include the number of movie-goers?

by Jon on January 30, 2007 at 09:14 PM

3 Star Wars (1977/97)
...
9 Grease (1978)
You've included both original cinematic release and re-release years for Star Wars, but not for Grease (1998)?
I suppose this may mean you're only counting the 1978 gross, but I thought it best to check.
Interesting list, anyway. Thanks!

Tribal Mind replies: The grosses for all movies include all showings. I listed two dates for the three Star Wars flicks because they were new editions with extra footage.

by James C on February 22, 2007 at 12:28 AM

Good to see little piggy " Babe" holding his own there on both lists. What a clever and original film.

Thanks for the list...very interesting reading.

by Imforthewhales on March 27, 2007 at 10:43 AM

Could we please have a list of favorite Ozzie or at least non-Hollywood Films;so we can send it to our insular yank friends?

Tribal Mind replies: The list is what most Australians have been watching, based on ticket sales. They don't watch many Australian films.

by Michael in OZ on June 03, 2007 at 07:22 PM

Given how many people wait for DVD now (I confess I am one for all but a select set of movies) what are the odds of a movie achieving the box office of a Titanic or Shrek again until ticket prices reach $25 a pop?
Many movies are made now based on potential for DVD market as much as box office.
Would it be possible to see what the combined take from box office and dvd sales is for a random couple of movies? If different releases of Star Wars, for example, would make that difficult what about for a relatively recent flick that has not had 20 year anniversary/directors cut etc versions.

by Cat on June 22, 2007 at 01:56 PM

Just wondering how The Passion of the Christ ranks. It did really well overseas so I am surprised to see it missing from your lists.

Tribal Mind replies: It's not in the top 100, either of box office or ticket sales. It did much better in America than Australia

by Ayman Badr on August 07, 2007 at 02:50 PM

I have never been able to sit through The Sound of Music. It is my version of torture.

by Shoopie on August 17, 2007 at 01:52 PM

How about a list of the most seen movies of all time. i.e. add in the inflation adjusted box office with the ratings on TV. Have you got a list of what the top rated movies were on TV? - noting of course that since around 2001 the DVD has basically killed movies on free-to-air TV.

Tribal Mind replies: Sound of Music would still be number one. Go to "The TV shows Australia loved" at www.smh.com.au/tribalmind for the most watched movies on the box.

by the watcher on November 28, 2007 at 12:21 PM

Australia has always had a cultural cringe, and I think we always will.
Do you have any stats on how Aussie movies rate overseas? I'm guessing it's more depressing than these figures.
AND You know there's a problem when Fat Pizza is Australia's 13th most successful film.

by Scott on December 31, 2007 at 12:32 PM

Scott: "Australia has always had a cultural cringe, and I think we always will."
A very interesting point. I was watching the documentary 'the sounds of oz' last week and discovered the extent to which it existed in previous decades. Aussies not wanting to hear our own accents on the big screen.
I think you're criticism of Fat Pizza is a bit slack mate. Pizza was a such a brilliant show at irreverently exploring race relations in Australia. No other show comes close to matching it. Whilst the movie was alright, it still deserves recognition for its unique contribution to Australian television.
I'll forever believe that it's not often about the lack of quality in Aussie films, its the fact that distribution of them into suburban cinemas is almost non-existent, and you can attribute the poor performance at the box office of Aussie films in 2007 to this.
American corporations are determining what Australians watch at the cinemas. The cultural cringe and the 'America does it better' sentiment (which is a load of crap) means that so few people are interested in seeing aussie films. Marketing of these Hollywood films is so intrusive in Australia its definitely a matter of hype over substance (but isnt that marketing anyway!).
Tell me im paranoid, but a generation of teenagers will grow up not seeing any aussie shows on tv unless its new or aussie movies. Not to mention aussie music. For those who know about the American-Australian free trade deal, local content provisions are completely inadequate and could well erode Australian culture. thanks Mr Howard, Mr Vaile et al. you sold out on Aussie culture at the advantage for American 'Intellectual' property owners.
my favourite Aussie movie: the castle, followed by the night we called it a day.
How much did the Castle make at the box office? How do we get more Aussie films into cinemas? nationalise all cinema complexes?!

DD replies: The Castle made about $10 million at the Australian box office.

by Matt D on January 26, 2008 at 02:13 AM

I am still shocked that they gave an Academy Award to that patheticaly painful Chicago musical thing over The Two Towers.

by eastfem on February 04, 2008 at 02:12 PM

Good to see a list based on actual bums on seats rather than box ofice receipts.
Sadly though, no sign of Lawrence of Arabia or Coolangatta Gold.

by Allan Kelb on March 03, 2008 at 11:15 AM

An excellent undertaking, and a fascinating list - well done! I second the DVD idea - it would be interesting to see how it compares with the cinema viewing. I hardly go to the pics any more as my partner is deaf, and it's a bit of a waste of time for him.

by Ann on April 22, 2008 at 05:43 AM

I recently read the novel of Atonement, and thought it could easily have been trimmed by half. Presumably they did this with the film -- but one terrible error in the film is the all-important scene in the library. The book clearly describes a green desk lamp on a leather-topped table ; however, in the film, the green lamp is replaced by a white lamp (presumably to avoid a clash with the famous green dress). For a green-lamp-in-film-spotter like myself, this was a crushing distortion of the author's original intent.

by Professor Rosseforp on June 01, 2008 at 12:32 PM

Adjusting for inflation is good, but what about adjusting for population increases over the years?

Tribal Mind wonders: Surely the key question is how many people have seen the movie, which leads to how many people share the same ideas -- ie. what is at the core of Australian culture?

by Gert by Sea on August 07, 2008 at 01:02 PM

The Sun-Herald

Who We Are

WHO WE ARE: The films Australia loved

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