How a sketch comedian transformed into Australia's most notorious criminal for the screen

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before he was a Hollywood star, Eric Bana took on the role of Mark "Chopper" Read in a gritty 2000 crime drama. Directed by Andrew Dominik, the film captures the volatile life of a criminal author, earning critical acclaim and a lasting cult following for its intense, transformative lead performance.

The 2000 film Chopper, written and directed by Andrew Dominik, serves as a biographical portrait of Mark "Chopper" Read, a criminal turned author. The production faced significant hurdles, most notably the difficulty of securing the H Division of Pentridge Prison in Coburg, Victoria, for filming. Because the prison was closing, negotiations were complex, and production funding delays pushed back the shooting schedule.

To emphasize the contrast between Read's prison life and his experiences after release, Dominik split the production into two distinct visual styles. The prison sequences were filmed to appear sterile and plain. Conversely, scenes set in 1986 were designed with "visual overload," using specific lighting, film stock, and set colors to evoke a sense of paranoia and agoraphobia. This break in the schedule allowed Eric Bana to gain the necessary weight to portray the older version of Read.

Bana’s casting was personally suggested by Read himself after he saw the actor in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal. To prepare, Bana spent two days living with Read, and the production team interviewed many of his associates. The film was a success in Australia, grossing A$1.8 million in its opening week and knocking The Patriot from the top spot. It eventually earned a worldwide total of A$6.8 million, cementing its status as a cult classic.

Critical reception was largely positive, with reviewers praising the intelligence of Dominik's direction and Bana's performance. Roger Ebert noted that Bana possessed a quality that few actors could match, while Margaret Pomeranz described the achievement as extraordinary. The film remains a significant piece of Australian cinema, recently seeing a limited re-release in 2025 to mark its 25th anniversary.

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