IMDb 6.3 1985 HD

Burke & Wills

Burke & Wills

1985
Adventure Drama History
140 min PG-13 Australia
4.5 / 10
6.3 IMDB

A story based on true events about two explorers on a doomed journey trying to cross Australia on foot in the 19 century.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Mark Turnbull / Craig Bolles / Tony Mahood / Craig Sinclair / Moya Iceton / Graeme Clifford
Starring
Jack Thompson / Nigel Havers / Greta Scacchi / Matthew Fargher / Ralph Cotterill / Drew Forsythe / Chris Haywood / Monroe Reimers

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

ambitious tragic historical challenging epic performative vast somber enduring dramatic fateful

Reviews

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 21, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

The ambition to film the epic journey of Burke and Wills is evident, and Jack Thompson certainly commits to the role of the determined explorer. Nigel Havers offers a competent performance as his companion, but the chemistry between…

C
Caspian Finch
May 21, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A potent and visually arresting exploration of courage and folly, 'Burke & Wills' stands as a significant piece of Australian cinema. Jack Thompson is superb as the resolute Burke, a man etched with the ambition that both defined…

B
Beatrix Croft
May 21, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

While 'Burke & Wills' attempts to chronicle a monumental chapter in Australian exploration, it often feels weighed down by its own historical significance. Jack Thompson’s Burke is a figure of restless energy, well-matched by Nigel Havers’ more contemplative…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 21, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This rendition of the Burke and Wills saga is a commendable effort, capturing the stark beauty and brutal indifference of the Australian outback. Thompson delivers a performance steeped in the hubris and conviction of Burke, a man driven…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 21, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Jack Thompson embodies the driven, perhaps overly optimistic, Robert O'Hara Burke in this earnest portrayal of a defining Australian expedition. Nigel Havers provides a steady counterpoint as Wills, their dynamic forming the core of the narrative's emotional arc.…

FAQs

The Burke and Wills expedition remains a pivotal, albeit somber, moment in Australian history due to its ambition and tragic outcome. They were the first Europeans to attempt a south-to-north crossing of the continent, a feat of immense bravery and national significance at the time. Their failure to survive the return journey, however, became a profound national tragedy, serving as a stark lesson about the unforgiving nature of the Australian interior and the limits of human endeavour. Their story continues to capture the public imagination.