The Legend of Molly Johnson

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1:37

The Legend of Molly Johnson

2022

1h 49m

Drama

Western

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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.

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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.

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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.'

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Erica Richards

InSession Film

Jul 8, 2024

C

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

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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.

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Michael S

@Mikey8oy Jun 1, 2026

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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Andrew M

@RT82994984 Jan 7, 2025

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

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Debbie B

@RT40637292 Dec 7, 2024

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

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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

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