Desert Movies

From David Lean, starring Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins
Rated Approved

Lawrence of Arabia tells the epic story of T.E. Lawrence, a British officer who united the warring Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks. He leads a band of Bedouin warriors in a wildly successful campaign to take Damascus from the Ottoman Empire. In the process, Lawrence develops a deep appreciation for the culture and traditions of the Arab people. The film follows Lawrence's remarkable journey from the desert wastelands of Arabia to the heights of international fame and controversy. This classic epic was directed by David Lean and stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography.

From George Miller, starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz
Rated R

Mad Max: Fury Road is an action-packed thriller directed by George Miller. The movie follows a man named Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) as he is thrown into a post-apocalyptic wasteland and is captured by a ruthless warlord, Immortan Joe. With the help of Furiosa (Charlize Theron), Max must battle Joe and his army in a thrilling journey for survival. Along the way, Max and Furiosa join forces with a group of renegade warriors to fight off Joe's forces in fast-paced and intense car chases. As the stakes get higher and Joe's forces become stronger, Max and Furiosa must find a way to survive and escape the clutches of the evil tyrant. In the end, Max and Furiosa must use all of their courage, ingenuity, and strength to make it out alive.

From George Miller, starring Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps
Rated R

The Road Warrior is a post-apocalyptic action film directed by George Miller and released in 1981. The film stars Mel Gibson as "Mad" Max Rockatansky, a drifter and survivor who is thrust into a struggle between two rival gangs. After a nuclear war, the world's remaining resources are scarce and a once-thriving society has been reduced to a few scattered nomadic communities. Max teams up with a small group of survivors, who are attempting to transport an oil refinery across the wasteland to the safety of their home. With the help of his trusty car and weapons, Max fights against the brutal gang of marauders who are trying to take the refinery for themselves. As the fight rages, Max must not only save the refinery and his new friends, but also his own soul. The film is a thrilling action-adventure that explores the bleakness of a post-apocalyptic future while also providing an inspiring tale of hope and redemption.

From Ted Kotcheff, starring Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond, Chips Rafferty, Sylvia Kay
Rated R

Wake in Fright is a 1971 thriller directed by Ted Kotcheff. The film follows schoolteacher John Grant (Gary Bond) who, while en route to Sydney from his teaching post in the Outback, stops in the mining town of Bundanyabba. The locals there are intimidating and violent, and Grant soon finds himself embroiled in a dangerous game of two-up and gambling. As Grant's luck runs out, he finds himself in a downward spiral of alcohol abuse, physical degradation, and psychological breakdown. He must find a way to escape the nightmare before he is completely destroyed by the town and its inhabitants.

From Nicolas Roeg, starring Jenny Agutter, David Gulpilil, Luc Roeg, John Meillon
Rated GP

Walkabout is a 1971 film directed by Nicolas Roeg that follows the story of two urbanized children, a teenage girl and her young brother, as they struggle to survive in the Australian Outback. After their father suffers a breakdown, he leaves the children in the middle of nowhere and they must fend for themselves. The children are saved by an Aboriginal boy, who helps them learn how to survive in the harsh desert environment. As they journey together, the three experience culture clashes and come to understand each other's lives more deeply. Ultimately, they must each confront their own fears and limitations in order to come away from the adventure with newfound courage and understanding.

From Stephan Elliott, starring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp, Rebel Penfold-Russell
Rated R

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian comedy-drama film written and directed by Stephan Elliott. The story follows two drag queens, Mitzi (Hugo Weaving) and Adam/Felicia (Guy Pearce), and a transsexual, Bernadette (Terence Stamp), who travel across the Australian Outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a tour bus they have named Priscilla, along the way encountering various groups and individuals. The journey provides a source of self-discovery for the three protagonists, and ultimately draws them closer together. The film also explores themes of homophobia, racism, and sexism, as well as the cultural acceptance of homosexuality and transgender people. Priscilla was a success at the box office and went on to become a cult classic.

From Jamie Uys, starring N!xau, Marius Weyers, Sandra Prinsloo, Louw Verwey
Rated PG

From Cornel Wilde, starring Cornel Wilde, Gert van den Bergh, Ken Gampu, Patrick Mynhardt
Rated Approved

From Peter Weir, starring Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Dragos Bucur
Rated PG-13

From Jee-woon Kim, starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung, Je-mun Yun
Rated R

From Naji Abu Nowar, starring Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen, Hassan Mutlag Al-Maraiyeh, Jack Fox
Rated Not Rated

From Alejandro Jodorowsky, starring Alejandro Jodorowsky, Brontis Jodorowsky, José Legarreta, Alfonso Arau
Rated Not Rated

From Roland Emmerich, starring Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson, Viveca Lindfors
Rated PG-13

From L.Q. Jones, starring Don Johnson, Jason Robards, Susanne Benton, Tim McIntire
Rated R

From David Lynch, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Francesca Annis, Leonardo Cimino
Rated PG-13

From Wes Craven, starring Susan Lanier, Robert Houston, John Steadman, Janus Blythe
Rated R

From Directors: Ben Howling, Yolanda Ramke, starring Simone Landers, Martin Freeman, Marlee Jane McPherson-Dobbins, Lily Anne McPherson-Dobbins
Rated TV-MA

From Jonás Cuarón, starring Gael García Bernal, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Alondra Hidalgo, Diego Cataño
Rated R