Straight to the pool room!
The Castle is our favourite Aussie film because it talks about the value of experience.
Nearly 30 years after it first hit Australian cinemas, The Castle has been crowned Australia’s favourite film.
That’s according to a reader poll conducted by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald – and I suspect they are not alone in loving this classic comedy.
The poll reaffirms what many Australians – especially those who remember the 1990s well – have long known: that this modest, low‑budget comedy captures something enduring about who we are as a nation.
Released in 1997, The Castle tells the story of the Kerrigan family, ordinary suburban battlers fighting the compulsory acquisition of their beloved home, which just happens to be right next to an airport.
What makes the film so powerful is the way it presents a cross‑section of Australian life. The characters are funny, familiar, and sometimes exaggerated, but they are always grounded in reality.
From backyard barbecues and rissoles for dinner, to questionable DIY renovations and unwavering family loyalty, The Castle gently pokes fun at everyday Australians while also celebrating them.
One of the film’s most fondly remembered figures is the barrister, Lawrence Hammill QC, played with warmth and dignity by the late Charles “Bud” Tingwell.
Realising the family’s solicitor, Dennis Denuto, is out of his depth,
Hammill steps forward as a principled senior professional who believes in fairplay and justice.
We can identify with the idea that experience, integrity, and compassion still have a vital place in public life – and that sometimes it takes an elder statesman to “go into bat” for ordinary people when it really matters.
The film, which still regularly pops up on television and is available on the Stan streaming service, has aged well – as have its stars.
Michael Caton, 82, who played the stubborn but lovable Darryl Kerrigan, and Anne Tenney, 72, who portrayed his quietly supportive wife Sal, are now widely respected as senior figures in Australian film and television.
The top five films in the poll also included Gallipoli, Muriel's Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, and The Dish (which was produced by the same company, Working Dog, that made The Castle).
But The Castle remains the number one favourite because it reminds us that a home is more than bricks and mortar, that decency matters, and that a fair go is worth fighting for.
As Dennis Denuto might say, it’s all about the vibe.
Photo by Aboodi Vesakaran/Pexels
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