The Legend of Molly Johnson

Play trailer

1:37

The Legend of Molly Johnson

2022

1h 49m

Drama

Western

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

In 1893 on an isolated property, a heavily pregnant woman named Molly Johnson (Leah Purcell) and her children struggle to survive the harsh Australian landscape; her husband is gone, droving sheep in the high country. Molly then finds herself confronted by a shackled Aboriginal fugitive named Yadaka (Rob Collins). As an unlikely bond begins to form between them, secrets unravel about her true identity. Meanwhile, realizing Molly's husband is missing, new town lawman Nate Clintoff becomes suspicious and sends his constable to investigate. The deadly encounter between Molly, Yadaka and the constable results in a tragic chain of events with Molly becoming a symbol of feminism and anti-racism.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson occasionally struggles to cohere, but writer-director-star Leah Purcell offers a unique, compelling perspective on historic myths.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

Aug 19, 2022

3.5/4

Purcell has taken Lawson’s character and given her a name, a history, and a story worthy of the word 'legend.'

Go to Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Aug 19, 2022

Purcell [gives] a heartrending lead performance, playing a woman whose iron will may not be able to withstand the mob’s prejudices.

Go to Full Review

Teo Bugbee

New York Times

Aug 18, 2022

It’s an earnest film, one that glows with pride at Aboriginal resilience. But the impression it leaves is didactic, a saints and demons fable that meanders to foregone conclusions.

Go to Full Review

Izzie Austin

ScreenHub

Sep 10, 2026

3.5/5

A terrific film and a wonderful example of the stories that can be told when you revise an old genre to tell an old story from a new point of view.

Go to Full Review

Erica Richards

InSession Film

Jul 8, 2024

C

A sad and desolate story that will leave you with no desire to ever revisit it...

Go to Full Review

Loren King

Newport This Week (RI)

Sep 30, 2022

Australian writer, director and actress Leah Purcell not only creates a powerful, original character for herself to play in The Legend of Molly Johnson, but she gives the durable, male-centered western genre a feminist slant.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Michael S

@Mikey8oy Jun 1, 2026

A great fictional story to spread more division and hatred in the world.

See more

Mark H

@RT71680076 Oct 27, 2025

Powerful truth telling that no one can afford to miss. As a piece of film it is beautifully shot, the plot is compelling and the acting compelling. I started watching it doubtful. I ended deeply affected by the way it beautifully wove a narrative about courage in the face of cowardly brutality and the power of both truth and family. Leah Purcell and Rob Collins, in particular, were superb. Don’t miss.

See more

B A

@RT72601162 Aug 10, 2025

1hr 30 minutes of beautiful wild landscapes and beatiful bronse Oz story. Then morphed into shakespear speach, sadistic, bizare, tangent, decline into sad anthropological abyse. I wanted the heros to live. There was no cliché clique Tarentinoesque cartoon characters. Choreography 10 editing 8 due to Script 7 acting 8. Music 8 Music mix 5 Please have another go at this again when you have the energy. Love all.

See more

David S

@RT52395619 Jan 26, 2025

This movie was awful. It really should have been pretty good, but whoever directed it is an idiot. So much wasted air, a lot of pointless dead end stories. And the suspenseful music, like way too much at odd times. It sucked

See more

Andrew M

@RT82994984 Jan 7, 2025

A great Australian story with stunning scenery and cinematography. A movie narrative with great acting throughout.

See more

Debbie B

@RT40637292 Dec 7, 2024

Awesome cinematography. Heart wrenching story, with powerful performances by Leah Purcell, Rob Collins and Malachi Dower-Roberts.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Leah Purcell

Director

Leah Purcell

Molly Johnson

Rob Collins

Yadaka

Sam Reid

Sergeant Klintoff

Jessica De Gouw

Louisa

Harry Greenwood

John MaPharlen

Atlantis

97%

68%

Atlantis

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Atlantis

Love Life

87%

94%

Love Life

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Love Life

Here We Are

100%

100%

Here We Are

Watchlist

Small, Slow But Steady

100%

62%

Small, Slow But Steady

Watchlist

Princess

67%

%

Princess

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Legend of Molly Johnson: Trailer 1

1:37

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1893 on an isolated property, a heavily pregnant woman named Molly Johnson (Leah Purcell) and her children struggle to survive the harsh Australian landscape; her husband is gone, droving sheep in the high country. Molly then finds herself confronted by a shackled Aboriginal fugitive named Yadaka (Rob Collins). As an unlikely bond begins to form between them, secrets unravel about her true identity. Meanwhile, realizing Molly's husband is missing, new town lawman Nate Clintoff becomes suspicious and sends his constable to investigate. The deadly encounter between Molly, Yadaka and the constable results in a tragic chain of events with Molly becoming a symbol of feminism and anti-racism.

Director: Leah Purcell
Producer: David Jowsey, Angela Littlejohn, Greer Simpkin, Bain Stewart, Leah Purcell
Screenwriter: Leah Purcell, Leah Purcell
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Bunya Productions, Doco Digital, Oombarra Productions
Genre: Drama, Western
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 19, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2022
Runtime: 1h 49m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings