Local cinema guide
Movies Filmed in Canberra
From Netflix blockbusters to home-grown dramas, Canberra has quietly become a compelling backdrop for Australian and international film productions. Here are the most iconic movies and series shot in the capital, with the exact locations you can visit.
Iconic films shot in the capital
- 1
Apex
This Netflix sci-fi action thriller stars Bruce Willis in a lethal hunting scenario. Much of the production used Canberra’s striking modern architecture and open landscapes as a futuristic backdrop. Locals spotted film crews around Civic and near Parliament House during the summer shoot.
- Parliament House
- Civic
- Lake Burley Griffin foreshore
- 2
The Code
A tense political thriller that aired on ABC, The Code was filmed extensively in Canberra to capture the atmosphere of federal power and bureaucratic intrigue. The series used actual government buildings and Canberra’s polished public spaces to create an authentic sense of national tension.
- Parliament House
- Departmental offices
- Canberra Airport
- 3
Galore
Set during the catastrophic 2003 Canberra bushfires, Galore follows a group of teenagers navigating love and loss amid ash and uncertainty. The film was shot in real Canberra suburbs and bushland, giving it an intimate, place-specific texture that resonates with locals who lived through that summer.
- Canberra suburbs
- Bushland reserves
- ANU surrounds
- 4
Noise
A psychological crime drama starring Brendan Cowell, Noise follows a young police officer suffering from tinnitus after a traumatic event. The film used Canberra’s quieter streets and institutional interiors to heighten its unsettling mood, with several scenes shot around the city centre.
- City centre
- Government buildings
- Inner suburbs
- 5
The Rage in Placid Lake
A quirky Australian comedy about a teenager who decides to become ‘normal’ after finishing school. The film features distinctly Canberra suburban backdrops, including local schools and streets, giving it a familiar feel for residents who recognise the garden-city landscape.
- Canberra suburbs
- Local schools
- Shopping centres
Why filmmakers choose Canberra
Canberra offers a rare combination for filmmakers: world-class institutional architecture, vast natural bushland, and uncrowded urban streets. The city’s planned layout means crews can move between Parliament House, the National Gallery, and Brindabella backdrops in a single day. For productions like Apex, this versatility allowed futuristic city scenes and open wilderness sequences without leaving the ACT.
Local crew depth has also grown steadily. The Canberra film community now supports location scouts, unit bases, and post-production support that would have been impossible two decades ago. Screen Canberra and related agencies continue to promote the region as a viable alternative to Sydney and Melbourne for budget-conscious productions.
Visiting the locations yourself
Many of the spots featured in these films are publicly accessible. Parliament House offers daily tours that take you through corridors seen in The Code. Lake Burley Griffin’s foreshore, used in Apex, is perfect for a morning walk. The suburbs and bushland around Mount Ainslie and the ANU campus still carry the same light that cinematographers chased for Galore.
If you are a local film buff, keep an eye out for temporary road closures and production signs. Canberra’s small size means word travels fast when a major production is in town, and spotting a film crew has become something of a local sport.
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