Rotten Tomatoes Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Back to the Outback

Play trailer 2:29 Poster for Back to the Outback PG 2021 1h 32m Kids & Family Comedy Adventure Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Tired of being locked in a reptile house where humans gawk at them like they're monsters, a ragtag group of Australia's deadliest creatures plot a daring escape from their zoo to the Outback, a place where they'll fit in without being judged for their scales and fangs. Leading the group is Maddie (Isla Fisher), a poisonous snake with a heart of gold, who bands together with a self-assured Thorny Devil lizard Zoe (Miranda Tapsell), a lovelorn hairy spider Frank (Guy Pearce), and a sensitive scorpion Nigel (Angus Imrie). But when their nemesis -- Pretty Boy (Tim Minchin), a cute but obnoxious koala -- unexpectedly joins their escape, Maddie and the gang have no choice but to take him with them. So begins a hair-raising and hilarious road trip across Australia, as they are pursued by a zookeeper Chaz (Eric Bana) and his adventure-seeking mini-me (Diesel La Torraca). Directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, and also featuring the voices of Rachel House, Keith Urban, Celeste Barber, Wayne Knight, Lachlan Power, and Jacki Weaver, BACK TO THE OUTBACK is an animated adventure that proves just because something's different, doesn't mean it isn't beautiful.
Watch on Netflix Stream Now

Where to Watch

Back to the Outback

Critics Reviews

View More
Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald 12/11/2021
Gorgeous character design and some delightful voice performances elevate this uneven CGI romp in which a bunch of "ugly" Australian animals break out of a zoo and head for the outback. Go to Full Review Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald 12/11/2021
3.5/5
The slapstick is seasoned with some dryly laconic jokes and a lot of wit has gone into the score, which ranges from surfing hits to Charles Aznavour. Go to Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com 12/10/2021
2/4
There's just too little fresh creative passion here in a project that's sometimes sweet but also remarkably programmatic. Go to Full Review Mat Brunet AniMat's Review (YouTube) 02/16/2022
5/10
Back to the Outback is probably a cute adventure for children, but outside of that, its just a generically forgettable animated kids film. Go to Full Review John Serba Decider 12/20/2021
Back to the Outback is an adequate time-waster for young audiences, even if it's not particularly original or funny. Parents won't quite need to shoot themselves with a tranq dart to survive it, but it probably wouldn't hurt. Go to Full Review Rendy Jones Rendy Reviews 12/10/2021
3.5/5
An endearing and charming animated feature that pays tribute to the continent it's set in while providing an enriching tale of not judging a book by its cover. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Davi R @Davizola 1d Belo filme, bonitinho e emocionante! See more Easton B @Ebmoviemaster2026 5d NOT A BAD MOVIE, IT HAS A GREAT THEME ABOUT FAMILY. 🐨🐍🦂🦎🕷️!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more diogo13 T @Tua_mera Jul 15 The role reversal between cute and dangerous animals had promise, but quickly falls into a generic narrative, with childish jokes and a completely predictable script. Visually colorful and competently animated, it fails to bring any novelty or originality to the genre. See more Oly T @Olyrates Jun 20 Amazing movie that I wish I could watch for the first time again. Must watch! See more Miguel C @Miguel3110 Dec 30 De volta ao Outback (ou "Próxima Parada: Lar Doce Lar," no Brasil) é uma aventura linda e terapêutico, mostrando que as aparências não devem ser levadas em conta e com uma animação linda e roteiro bem-escrito. See more Vivienne G @RT40495128 Oct 4 Loved this movie. It was refreshing to watch a movie without any alterior motives. Just a lovely story and so good to watch with my children. I highly recommend it and hope they make more like it!! See more Read all reviews
Back to the Outback

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Clare Knight

Director

Harry Cripps

Director

Isla Fisher

Maddie

Tim Minchin

Pretty Boy

Eric Bana

Chaz

Guy Pearce

Frank

More Like This

View All
The Bad Guys 87% 93% The Bad Guys Watchlist TRAILER for The Bad Guys The Addams Family 2 28% 69% The Addams Family 2 Watchlist TRAILER for The Addams Family 2 Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget 83% 69% Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Watchlist TRAILER for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank 56% 67% Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank Watchlist TRAILER for Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank The Boss Baby: Family Business 47% 89% The Boss Baby: Family Business Watchlist TRAILER for The Boss Baby: Family Business Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Back to the Outback

Back to the Outback: Trailer 1 Back to the Outback: Trailer 1 2:29 Now Playing View more videos
View All

Back to the Outback

Back to the Outback (2021) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Tired of being locked in a reptile house where humans gawk at them like they're monsters, a ragtag group of Australia's deadliest creatures plot a daring escape from their zoo to the Outback, a place where they'll fit in without being judged for their scales and fangs. Leading the group is Maddie (Isla Fisher), a poisonous snake with a heart of gold, who bands together with a self-assured Thorny Devil lizard Zoe (Miranda Tapsell), a lovelorn hairy spider Frank (Guy Pearce), and a sensitive scorpion Nigel (Angus Imrie). But when their nemesis -- Pretty Boy (Tim Minchin), a cute but obnoxious koala -- unexpectedly joins their escape, Maddie and the gang have no choice but to take him with them. So begins a hair-raising and hilarious road trip across Australia, as they are pursued by a zookeeper Chaz (Eric Bana) and his adventure-seeking mini-me (Diesel La Torraca). Directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, and also featuring the voices of Rachel House, Keith Urban, Celeste Barber, Wayne Knight, Lachlan Power, and Jacki Weaver, BACK TO THE OUTBACK is an animated adventure that proves just because something's different, doesn't mean it isn't beautiful.
Director
Clare Knight, Harry Cripps
Producer
Daniela Mazzucato
Screenwriter
Harry Cripps
Distributor
Netflix
Production Co
Weed Road Pictures, Netflix Animation, Reel FX Creative Studios
Rating
PG (Rude/Suggestive Material|Action)
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 3, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 10, 2021
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings