With more weeks of staying at home lying ahead, you might be looking for some fresh content to light up your TV or laptop screen.
And what better way to get more familiar with Australia than by exploring some of its very best screen content? To help get you started, here are some of the best local TV shows and movies that will take you on a virtual tour of Australia from the comfort of your own home.
Victoria
Ronny Chieng International Student
Written by and starring Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng, this ABC comedy series follows Chieng on his international student journey in Melbourne. The series is partly fictional, but takes heavy inspiration from Chieng’s own experience studying at the University of Melbourne.
The series is currently available to stream on Stan, though the show does appear on ABC iView from time to time.
The Other Guy
The Other Guy is a fun comedy that follows a popular radio DJ named AJ who realises his girlfriend has been cheating on him with his best friend, causing AJ to re-enter the world of dating.
The series is available to stream on Stan.
Upper Middle-Class Bogan
Upper Middle-Class Bogan centres on a doctor named Bess who learns that she was adopted as a child. Bess then tries to find her biological family and learns, to her horror, that they’re a bogan family from Melbourne’s outer suburbs. The show is a fun watch and offers great insight into Aussie culture (if you’re not familiar with the Australian term ‘bogan’, definitely give the show a try!).
The series is available to stream on both Stan and Netflix, making it incredibly easy to access.
Bloom
A Stan original, Bloom is a six-part series focused on the discovery of a plant that has the power to restore youth. The show explores human nature as the plant leads people to commit terrible deeds for its youth-restoring qualities. Season two has just been released on Stan, so now is the perfect time to start watching!
Glitch
Glitch is an ABC drama set in the fictional Victorian town of Yoonara and focuses on seven people who mysteriously return from the dead. And, despite being in perfect health, these people have no memory of their prior life.
The series is available to stream on Netflix.
New South Wales
Rake
Rake stars Richard Roxburgh as Cleaver Greene, a Sydney-based defense lawyer with self-destructive qualities. The series follows Greene as he defends the accused of crimes ranging from bigamy to cannibalism.
The series is available to stream on both Netflix and Stan.
Babyteeth
A film packed with international Aussie stars (you may recognise Eliza Scanlen from Little Women and Ben Mendelsohn from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Ready Player One and Captain Marvel), Babyteeth offers a gritty, but uniquely beautiful, view of Sydney. Bring tissues – this is a sad one.
This film is available to rent on Amazon Prime and YouTube.
No Activity
No Activity was the first series to be produced as a Stan Original and follows two Sydney-based detectives on a stakeout. The series boasts an impressive cast, with Rose Byrne, Tim Minchin and Sam Simmons all making appearances.
Western Australia
Breath
Breath is a 2017 drama film based on the Tim Winton novel of the same name. The film follows two young surfers who meet an older, more experienced surfer who pushes them to greater heights.
The film is available to stream on Stan.
Tasmania
The Gloaming
Created by Stan and filmed and set in Tasmania, The Gloaming follows a troubled detective named Molly McGee as she attempts to uncover the story behind the murder of an unidentified woman, with the case eventually being linked to a cold case from the past.
Rosehaven
Filmed in the Huon Valley, Tasmania, Rosehaven is a sitcom written by and starring Luke McGregor that draws inspiration from his parents’ lives in real estate. The series follows Daniel (McGregor), who moves back to his hometown in Tasmania to help his mother run the family real estate business.
The show is available to stream on YouTube and Google Play.
South Australia
Pine Gap
Pine Gap is an intense political thriller that has filming locations in both the Northern Territory and South Australia. The series follows American and Australian intelligence agents as they keep the Pine Gap facility secure.
The series is available to stream on Netflix.
The Babadook
The Babadook is one of the most famous Australian films of recent years. Starring Essie Davis, the film combines themes of mental health and supernatural horror in a unique and terrifying manner. The movie was filmed on location in Adelaide, making South Australia the home of the Babadook!
The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Northern Territory
Top End Wedding
Top End Wedding is an Australian romantic comedy set in the vast and beautiful Northern Territory. The film follows Lauren and Ned as they go on a mission to find Lauren’s mother after she goes missing in the far north of Australia.
The film is available to stream on both YouTube and Google Play.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is an Australian classic and is required viewing for anyone in Australia. The film follows two drag queens and a transgender woman who go on tour across Australia. While the film is a comedy, it does well to balance the comedic with emotional moments.
The film is available on YouTube, Google Play, and Foxtel.
Sweet Country
Sweet Country tells the story of an old Aboriginal farmer who goes on the run after shooting a white man in self-defence. The film isn’t just a fantastic piece of cinema, but also an introduction to the struggles of Indigenous Australians. It’s ideal viewing for those who may be unaware of Australian history.
The film is available on YouTube and Google Play.
