A Compendium of Antipodean Crime Drama
by BristleKRS | created - 22 Jul 2013 | updated - 29 Oct 2014 | PublicA bunch of flamin' gallahs, hoons, standover men, bikies and other criminal elements, both Aussie and Kiwi...
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Blue Murder (1995)
198 min | Crime, Drama
Set in 1980s Sydney, this acclaimed mini-series tells the story of the relationship between corrupt Detective Roger Rogerson and one of Australia's most infamous criminals Neddy Smith.
Stars: Richard Roxburgh, Tony Martin, Steve Bastoni, Gary Day
Votes: 1,114
Stone cold classic, pairing up bent cop Roger Rogerson and steely standover man Neddy Smith.
2. Scales of Justice (1983)
80 min | Drama
Scales of Justice is a fictional yet controversial exploration of various levels of corruption within Australian law enforcement.
Stars: Don Reid, Dennis Miller, Brian McDermott, Tim Robertson
Votes: 53
A three-part meditation on police corruption.
3. The Snowtown Murders (2011)
Not Rated | 119 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Based on true events, 16 year-old Jamie falls in with his mother's new boyfriend and his crowd of self-appointed neighborhood watchmen, a relationship that leads to a spree of torture and murder.
Director: Justin Kurzel | Stars: Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris, Bob Adriaens
Votes: 20,639 | Gross: $0.01M
Numbing film about the 'Snowtown Murders' in a small South Australia backwater.
4. Chopper (2000)
R | 94 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Chopper tells the intense story of Mark "Chopper" Read, a legendary criminal who wrote his autobiography while serving a jail sentence in prison. His book, "From the Inside", upon which the film is based, was a best-seller.
Director: Andrew Dominik | Stars: Eric Bana, Simon Lyndon, Vince Colosimo, Renée Brack
Votes: 41,535 | Gross: $0.23M
The film about a self-publicising standover man that opened the door to the Underbelly brand of sexified true crime drama franchise.
5. The Great Bookie Robbery (1986)
60 min | Crime, Drama
Based in Melbourne, Australia in the 1980s, a true story about a group of men desperate for money who plan one of the greatest heists in Australian history. Bigger then any of their ... See full summary »
Stars: John Bach, Catherine Wilkin, Gary Day, Bruno Lawrence
Votes: 186
Top little heist mini-series, with solid performances throughout, and impressive perms all round.
6. Killing Time (2010–2011)
60 min | Crime, Drama
The story of disgraced lawyer Andrew Fraser's rise from a small time lawyer to successfully defending the most infamous criminals this country has ever seen, and his ultimate downfall and imprisonment for five years in maximum security.
Stars: David Wenham, Diana Glenn, John Brumpton, Colin Friels
Votes: 382
Disgraced brief-of-choice for Victoria crims Andrew Fraser looks back on the path that led him to prison.
7. Joh's Jury (1993 TV Movie)
98 min | Drama
Dramatisation of the 1991 perjury trial of former Queensland state Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
Director: Ken Cameron | Stars: Simon Bossell, Penny Cook, Julie Hamilton, John Howard
Votes: 47
Great little drama about the perjury trial of ex-Queensland Premier Johannes Bjelke-Petersen.
8. The Clean Machine (1988 TV Movie)
90 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A new Premier is elected promising to clean up corruption. He sets up a taskforce headed by a traffic cop thinking he won't get far. But Inspector Riordan opens up a can of worms and won't let it go - all the way to the top.
Director: Ken Cameron | Stars: Steve Bisley, Marshall Napier, Peter Kowitz, Ed Devereaux
Votes: 47
A new team of police 'untouchables' is brought in to clean up cop corruption - but how high does it go?
9. Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy (1990 TV Movie)
100 min | Thriller
Dramatization of Operation Seville, an investigation into corruption within the New South Wales police force.
Director: Ken Cameron | Stars: Luciano Catenacci, Terry Gill, Frankie J. Holden, Gerard Kennedy
Votes: 12
What is it with NSW cops and corruption?
10. Police State (1989 TV Movie)
95 min | Drama
An account of events in Queensland from 1959 to 1988 as disclosed by the Fitzgerald inquiry. Queensland had become as close to a police state as anything since the convict era.
Director: Chris Noonan | Stars: Bill Hunter, Max Phipps, Nick Tate, Gerry Connolly
Votes: 11
This time it's Queensland bent cops...
11. Animal Kingdom (2010)
R | 113 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A seventeen-year-old navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.
Director: David Michôd | Stars: James Frecheville, Guy Pearce, Joel Edgerton, Bryce Lindemann
Votes: 60,541 | Gross: $1.04M
A whole feature film about those naughty Pettingills...
12. Underbelly (2008–2013)
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Each season of this multi-award-winning television series takes you through a 13-episode run in the rise and fall of real-life Australian underworld figures as told from both sides of the law.
Stars: Caroline Craig, Paul Tassone, Dieter Brummer, Daniel Roberts
Votes: 5,291
The one that got the ball rolling in recent years, first focusing on the true crime shenanigans in Melbourne of the likes of Alphonse Gangitano, the Carlton Crew and then the Moran-Williams gang feud, then fitted around the likes of the Mr Asia smack connect, Sydney's King Cross, 1920s razor gangs and much else besides.
13. Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here (2011 TV Movie)
Crime, Drama
The tragic story of the 1998 murders of Victoria Police officers Rod Miller and Gary Silk.
Director: Shawn Seet | Stars: Brett Climo, Greg Stone, Jane Allsop, Dimitri Baveas
Votes: 372
A TV movie from the Underbelly franchise delving into the Silk-Miller cop killings.
14. Underbelly Files: Infiltration (2011 TV Movie)
85 min | Crime, Drama
Two Victorian police officers go undercover to bring down the Australian branch of the Calabrian mafia. A true story.
Director: Grant Brown | Stars: Sullivan Stapleton, Valentino del Toro, Jessica Napier, Buddy Dannoun
Votes: 288
Undercover in the Calabrian mob.
15. Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away (2011 TV Movie)
Crime, Drama
The story of David McMillan an Australian drug smuggler and the only person in history to escape from Klong Prem prison in Bangkok.
Director: Cherie Nowlan | Stars: Toby Schmitz, Claire van der Boom, Aaron Jeffery, Brendan Cowell
Votes: 284
An Aussie drug smuggler tries to escape from a Thai gaol.
16. Janus (1994–1995)
50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Four members of the infamous Hennessey clan are acquitted of the shooting of two policemen in a bungled bank heist. Melbourne is shocked as brothers Mal and Steve, along with brother-in-law Darren Mack and friend Ken Hardy, walk free.
Stars: Chris Haywood, Simon Westaway, Jeremy Kewley, Felix Nobis
Votes: 107
17. Phoenix (1992–1993)
50 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Phoenix is an Australian police drama television series.
Stars: Simon Westaway, Peter Cummins, Sean Scully, Susie Edmonds
Votes: 172
18. Fat Tony & Co (2014)
42 min | Crime
A mini-series that uncovers the story of one of Australia's most notorious criminals, Tony Mokbel.
Stars: Robert Mammone, Gyton Grantley, Shane Jacobson, Madeleine West
Votes: 670
19. Underbelly: Land of the Long Green Cloud (2011)
60 min | Crime, Drama
The story of Marty Johnstone, Andy Maher & Terry Clark's rise in the Drug trade
Stars: Daniel Musgrove, Thijs Morris, Jamie Irvine, Holly Shanahan
Votes: 194
20. Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms (2012)
45 min | Drama
The story of the Milperra massacre, when the bikie clubs the Bandidos and Camoncheros went to war on Father's Day in suburban Sydney.
Stars: Callan Mulvey, Matt Nable, Susie Porter, Maeve Dermody
Votes: 843
21. Harry (2013)
60 min | Crime, Drama
Gritty and suspenseful, this award-winning drama probes the narcotics underworld of New Zealand's largest city and the toll it takes on those caught in its grip.
Stars: Oscar Kightley, Sam Neill, Hunter Kamuhemu, Erroll Shand
Votes: 253
22. Old School (2014)
Comedy, Crime
The eight-part series follows the adventures of the retired criminal Lennie Cahill and the retired cop Ted McCabe.
Stars: Bryan Brown, Sam Neill, Sarah Peirse, Hanna Mangan Lawrence
Votes: 575
Tell Your Friends