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Action western

True History of the Kelly Gang (2020): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

True History of the Kelly Gang (2020) movie poster

True History of the Kelly Gang is a 2020 action western directed by Justin Kurzel, starring Asmara Feik as Young Maggie Kelly, Winona Keegan and Essie Davis. It is partly based on True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $471,152 worldwide. It won 3 awards from 12 nominations, including Best Costume Design at the AACTA Awards 2020. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10.

IMDb rating
6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
80%
worldwide gross
$471.2K
awards won
3
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True History of the Kelly Gang (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 4m (124 min)
Director
Justin Kurzel
Genres
Action , Biography , Drama , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is True History of the Kelly Gang About?

The premise of True History of the Kelly Gang without spoilers, adapted from True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 19th-century Australia, Ned Kelly, portrayed by George MacKay, grows up in a harsh landscape under oppressive English rule. His mother, Essie Davis, encourages rebellion, while he finds guidance from bushranger Harry Power, played by Russell Crowe. This mentorship leads Ned down a path of vengeance as he fights for survival and rallies others to challenge their oppressors, leading to escalating conflict and a fight for freedom.

True History of the Kelly Gang Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • alternate history
  • australian folklore
  • suit of armor
  • woman spits on a woman
  • character name in title
  • australia
  • criminal gang
  • 1870s
  • based on novel
  • based on true story
  • australian history
  • historical fiction
+38 more
  • murder
  • death
  • violence
  • revenge
  • fight
  • bushranger
  • irish australian
  • irish culture
  • outlaw
  • australian bush
  • falling in love
  • bank robbery
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • passion
  • chase
  • escape
  • gang
  • police officer
  • male nudity
  • pubic hair
  • male pubic hair
  • prostitute
  • held at gunpoint
  • horse
  • killing an animal
  • australian western
  • man wears a dress
  • crotch grab
  • crotch grabbing
  • hanging
  • ned kelly character
  • year 1867
  • mother son relationship
  • begins with text
  • voice over letter
  • outlaw gang
  • writing a letter
  • fiction versus fact
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Cast & crew

True History of the Kelly Gang Cast & Characters

Asmara Feik leads the cast as Young Maggie Kelly, with Winona Keegan as Young Kate Kelly and Essie Davis as Ellen Kelly. Directed by Justin Kurzel; 19 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in True History of the Kelly Gang

· 15 more
From the director

More from Justin Kurzel

More films directed by Justin Kurzel, best-rated first: The Order, Macbeth, Nitram and Assassin's Creed.

Full filmography
Ratings

True History of the Kelly Gang Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave True History of the Kelly Gang 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in art & craft (82) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

72 /100

True History of the Kelly Gang Echo Score Breakdown

True History of the Kelly Gang offers a striking visual experience yet struggles with uneven pacing and limited replay value. The film’s direction and cinematography consistently draw praise for their bold stylization and disciplined execution, while performances range from incendiary to occasionally one-dimensional. The narrative is original but sometimes bogged down by sagging sequences and opaque plotting. Sensory components such as soundtrack choices and disorienting imagery intensify the mood but may challenge accessibility. Altogether, the film stands as an ambitious but polarized piece of cinema.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 82

    In terms of Art & Craft, the film succeeds with bold visual design and disciplined direction. Stylized cinematography captures both panoramic bushland and claustrophobic interiors with equal impact, while production design reinforces the gritty tone. Editing choices maintain dramatic tension in key sequences. This aspect remains the film’s primary strength, delivering a cohesive and provocative aesthetic throughout.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are a mixed asset. Lead and supporting actors deliver moments of nuanced intensity, particularly in portraying Ned’s evolving psyche, yet some arcs feel underdeveloped and accents occasionally distract. Emotional resonance emerges in key relationships but falters in one-dimensional passages. Overall, this aspect offers solid work tempered by uneven depth.

  • Story & Flow 70

    Regarding Story & Flow, the narrative stands out for its originality and thematic ambition but suffers from uneven pacing and occasional opacity. The blend of myth and history provides compelling context, yet some segments lag and certain plot points require external research to fully grasp. Engagement fluctuates between riveting set pieces and slower stretches. Ultimately, the story maintains interest despite these inconsistencies.

  • Sensory Experience 82

    In terms of Sensory Experience, the film’s soundtrack and sound design contribute to its disorienting atmosphere. Occasional anachronistic music choices juxtapose with naturalistic soundscapes, heightening tension in pivotal scenes. Visual styling, from gritty textures to dynamic framing, complements the score to immerse viewers. This cohesive sensory approach amplifies the emotional impact and fosters a visceral engagement throughout.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    When considering Rewatch Factor, the film offers limited replay value due to its unrelenting bleakness and ambiguous resolution. While the aesthetic and thematic layers may prompt further analysis for some viewers, the weighty tone and sparse memorable moments constrain repeat enjoyment. As a result, the likelihood of revisiting this narrative for pure entertainment purposes remains modest.

Plot

True History of the Kelly Gang Plot Summary

What happens in True History of the Kelly Gang from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Based on Peter Carey’s novel of the same name, this film presents a dramatically reimagined tale of the life of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang, who evade the law during the tumultuous 1870s.

The story begins with Ned’s father, John “Red” Kelly (played by Gentle Ben Corbett), an Irishman deported to a prison colony in Van Diemen’s Land. He eventually establishes his family in Victoria, Australia, after marrying Ellen Kelly (Essie Davis). Tragically, Red’s numerous run-ins with the authorities culminate in his imprisonment and subsequent death when Ned is just twelve.

Full summary

The whole story of True History of the Kelly Gang, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

True History of the Kelly Gang Box Office

True History of the Kelly Gang grossed $471,152 worldwide. $33,817 came from the US and Canada and $437,335 (93%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$471.2K

US & Canada
$33.8K
International
$437.3K
US & Canada 7% Rest of the world 93%
Awards

True History of the Kelly Gang Awards & Nominations

True History of the Kelly Gang won 3 awards from 12 nominations, including Best Costume Design at the AACTA Awards 2020.

3 wins12 nominations1 ceremony

Videos

True History of the Kelly Gang Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers and 2 featurettes.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Featurette George MacKay, Justin Kurzel & Essie Davis on True History of the Kelly Gang | Film4 Interview
  • Featurette True History of the Kelly Gang Q&A with Justin Kurzel, George MacKay, Essie Davis and Earl Cave
Quiz

How Well Do You Know True History of the Kelly Gang?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
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  10. Question 10: not answered

What year does the film 'True History of the Kelly Gang' take place?

Details

True History of the Kelly Gang Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “The true History of the Kelly Gang” and “켈리 갱의 진실”.

Also known as
  • The true History of the Kelly Gang
  • 켈리 갱의 진실
  • Outlaws - Die wahre Geschichte der Kelly Gang
  • 穿著裙子的凱利黑幫
  • Le Gang Kelly
  • Outlaws
  • La verdadera historia de la Banda de Kelly
  • Истинската история на бандата на Нед Кели
  • Подлинная история банды Келли
  • A Verdadeira História de Ned Kelly
  • 켈리 갱
  • 凯利帮的真实历史
+16 more
  • Prawdziwa historia gangu Kelly'ego
  • Истинита прича о Келијевој банди
  • Kelly Çetesi'nin Gerçek Hikayesi
  • Pravdivý příběh Neda Kellyho a jeho bandy
  • Правдива історія банди Келлі, კელის ბანდის ნამდვილი ამბავი
  • A Kelly banda igaz története
  • 凱利幫的真實歷史
  • ההיסטוריה האמיתית של כנופיית קלי
  • Νεντ Κέλι, ο Νο 1 Καταζητούμενος
  • O Bando de Ned Kelly
  • トゥルー・ヒストリー・オブ・ザ・ケリー・ギャング
  • سرگذشت حقیقی دار و دسته کلی
  • Tikra Keli gaujos istorija
  • La veritable història de la banda de Kelly
  • Resnica o Kellyjevi tolpi
  • Istinita povijest Kellyjeve bande

Seen True History of the Kelly Gang?

FAQ

True History of the Kelly Gang FAQ: Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of True History of the Kelly Gang, each answered in a sentence.

How long is True History of the Kelly Gang?

True History of the Kelly Gang runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).

When was True History of the Kelly Gang released?

True History of the Kelly Gang was released on April 24, 2020.

Who directed True History of the Kelly Gang?

True History of the Kelly Gang was directed by Justin Kurzel.

More films by Justin Kurzel

Who is in the cast of True History of the Kelly Gang?

True History of the Kelly Gang stars Asmara Feik as Young Maggie Kelly, Winona Keegan as Young Kate Kelly and Essie Davis as Ellen Kelly, among 19 credited actors.

How much did True History of the Kelly Gang make at the box office?

True History of the Kelly Gang grossed $471,152 worldwide ($33,817 domestic, $437,335 international).

How is True History of the Kelly Gang rated?

True History of the Kelly Gang has 6.0/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.

Is True History of the Kelly Gang based on a book?

Yes. True History of the Kelly Gang is partly adapted from True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey.

What awards did True History of the Kelly Gang win?

True History of the Kelly Gang won 3 awards from 12 nominations, including Best Costume Design at the AACTA Awards 2020.

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