It was a fantastic year for Australian Cinema, with each film I saw knocking it out of the park. There were intimate documentaries, films that held up a mirror to society, and those that brought the action to a new level.

This list will be looking more at the locally made Australian productions/co-productions and not just films filmed in Australia.

So without further ado, these are the best Australian Cinema in 2021. Be warned that there will be significant spoilers ahead for the films in question. Also, click on the banner/titles to go to the full reviews.  

High Ground

An exploration of the past that is both stunning and deeply uncomfortable

Directed by – Stephen Maxwell Johnson
Story by – Chris Anastassiades, Stephen Maxwell Johnson & Witiyana Marika
Screenplay by – Chris Anastassiades

Occupation: Rainfall

An Alien Invasion romp through the Australian Outback to the secret Pine Gap installation.       
Directed by – Luke Sparke
Written by – Luke Sparke with Dale Dye & Felix Williamson

The Dry

A shocking murder highlights the closeness and fragility of a small town

Directed by – Robert Connolly
Screenplay by – Robert Connolly & Harry Cripps
Based on – The Dry by Jane Harper

Penguin Bloom

A woman has to come to terms with a tragedy through the lens of raising a magpie

Directed by – Glendyn Ivin
Screenplay by – Shaun Grant & Harry Cripps
Based on – Penguin Bloom by Cameron Bloom & Bradley Trevor Greive

And the Winner is!!!!! – The Dry

January of 2021 was an absolute stunner for Australian films, with 4 of the 5 top-grossing outings in the cinemas being local films. All four happen to be on my list here. It was close, but The Dry just edged over the rest. The look at the façade of a close-knit small town slowly unravels as more of its dirt gets uncovered. Every frame of this film is stunning, and it carefully managed its two timelines to make those story moments hit hard. A strong ensemble cast hitting all the beats makes this film an absolute recommendation.        

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2021?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studio and artist of each film