Swinging Safari (2018)

A sun-scorched Australian comedy-drama where a beached whale, a suburban key party, and the 1970s collide with gloriously chaotic results.

Swinging Safari - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Swinging Safari
  • Release Year: 2018
  • Directed by: Stephan Elliott
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Comedy, Drama
  • Runtime: 1h 37m
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • Release Date (Theatrical): January 18, 2018 (Australia)
  • Alternative Titles: Flammable Children (AU), '75 nyara (HU)
  • Production Companies: Wildheart Films, See Pictures
  • Production Countries: Australia

Swinging Safari - Plot

1975: A 200-ton blue whale gets washed up on a local beach and the kids think it's the biggest thing that's ever happened in Australia. Behind closed doors, the Mums and Dads of a quiet suburban street are going to celebrate in their own special way, by joining the sexual revolution and throwing a wife-swapping key party. And like the rotting whale, it's all about to go spectacularly wrong.

Swinging Safari - Trailer

Watch the official trailer and see the 1970s suburban mayhem unfold:

Staying alive was harder than you think.

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Swinging Safari - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Stephan Elliott

Main Cast

  • Guy Pearce
  • Kylie Minogue
  • Radha Mitchell
  • Julian McMahon
  • Asher Keddie
  • Jack Thompson
  • Jacob Elordi
  • Jeremy Sims
  • Atticus Robb
  • Darcey Wilson

Writers

  • Stephan Elliott

Producers

  • Jamie Hilton
  • Al Clark

Swinging Safari - FAQs

Where can you stream Swinging Safari online?

Swinging Safari is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Free ad-supported viewing is available on Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Plex, and Fawesome.

Is Swinging Safari based on a true story?

Swinging Safari is not based on a single true story, but it draws heavily on director Stephan Elliott's own childhood memories growing up in suburban Australia during the 1970s. The beached blue whale incident is inspired by real events, and the cultural atmosphere of the era — including the swinger party scene — reflects genuine social trends of the time.

Who are the main actors in Swinging Safari?

The film features an ensemble Australian cast led by Guy Pearce and Kylie Minogue as Keith and Kaye Hall, Radha Mitchell and Julian McMahon as Jo and Rick Jones, and Asher Keddie and Jeremy Sims as Gale and Bob Marsh. Jack Thompson plays the Mayor, while Jacob Elordi appears as Rooster.

What is Swinging Safari about?

Set in 1975 suburban Australia, the film follows a group of neighbourhood kids captivated by a massive beached blue whale while their parents throw a chaotic wife-swapping key party. Directed by Stephan Elliott, it blends coming-of-age nostalgia with sharp adult comedy, capturing the absurdity and excess of the 1970s with irreverent wit.

Did Swinging Safari mark Jacob Elordi's early career?

Yes. Swinging Safari was one of Jacob Elordi's earliest feature film roles before he rose to international fame with The Kissing Booth and Euphoria. He plays Rooster, a teenage character in the suburban neighbourhood story, giving audiences an early glimpse of the Australian actor's screen presence.

What genre is Swinging Safari?

Swinging Safari is a Comedy and Drama — often described as a period comedy-drama. It blends raucous humour with nostalgic coming-of-age storytelling, set against the backdrop of 1970s Australian suburban life, the sexual revolution, and the spectacle of a 200-ton blue whale stranded on a local beach.

How long is Swinging Safari?

Swinging Safari has a runtime of 97 minutes, or approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes. It was released in Australia on January 18, 2018, and was directed by Stephan Elliott, who is best known for The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

How was Swinging Safari received by critics?

Critical reception was mixed. Reviewers praised the film's vibrant period atmosphere, committed ensemble performances, and Elliott's anarchic energy, but some found the humour uneven. Audiences generally responded warmly to its nostalgic charm and the strong chemistry among the cast, particularly Pearce, Minogue, and Mitchell.

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