Crocodile Dundee (released in theaters on September 26, 1986) bounds onto the screen as a delightfully charming, hugely funny romantic adventure that seamlessly bridges the rugged Australian Outback with the bustling concrete jungle of New York City.
The narrative follows Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski), an ambitious New York feature writer who travels to the remote Northern Territory of Australia to report on Michael J. “Crocodile” Dundee (Paul Hogan).
Mick is a legendary bushman who allegedly survived a harrowing attack by a massive saltwater crocodile, aided by his business partner Walter Reilly (John Meillon) and Aboriginal friend Neville Bell (David Gulpilil).
Fascinated by Mick’s rugged charisma and unique wilderness skills, Sue invites the legendary woodsman back to Manhattan to experience urban life firsthand.
Thrown into the dizzying chaos of New York City, Mick proves to be a delightfully unbothered, endearing fish out of water.
Navigating upscale dinner parties, high-society suitors like Sue’s arrogant fiancé Richard (Mark Blum), and street-level encounters with local driver Gus (Reginald VelJohnson), Mick applies his straightforward bush wisdom to every urban hurdle.
He casually foils muggers, tames partygoers, and disarms threats with quiet confidence—and his legendary Bowie knife.
As Sue accompanies him across the city, she finds herself falling deeply for his genuine warmth, culminating in a iconic, crowded subway station romantic finale where she chooses Mick over her high-society life.
Crocodile Dundee (Photo/Paramount Pictures)
Reception for Crocodile Dundee
Crocodile Dundee grossed $8 million on its opening weekend, finishing No. 1 at the box office, topping Stand by Me ($2.7 million) and Top Gun ($2.6 million).
The film remained in the top spot at the box office for nine weeks and inside the top 10 for 24 weeks en route to grossing $174.9 million.
Roger Ebert gave Crocodile Dundee two out of four stars in his review.
The film was followed by Crocodile Dundee II in 1988 and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles in 2001.
Legacy
Crocodile Dundee‘s legacy stands as a monumental landmark in global cinema, exploding into a massive worldwide box-office sensation and defining Australian pop-culture influence in North America during the 1980s.
The feature catapulted Hogan to international superstardom, earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, and launched a beloved, multi-film franchise.
Beyond its commercial triumph, the picture gave cinema one of its most universally recognized lines of dialogue – “That’s not a knife… THAT’S a knife” – which remains an enduring pop-culture meme decades later.
Crocodile Dundee is remembered as a heartwarming, brilliantly written cross-cultural comedy that defined an era with its breezy charm, sharp comedic timing, and irresistible lead chemistry.
