Joh: Last King of Queensland poster

Joh: Last King of Queensland

A captivating and cautionary portrait of one of Australia’s most controversial politicians, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, whose career can be seen as a playbook for the Trump era.

0.0(0)20251h 39m1

Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen reigned over Queensland for 19 tumultuous years (1968–1987). Hugely popular, he presided over enormous growth, but corruption raged under his tenure, as did electoral manipulation and often violent suppression of dissent. This film tells Joh’s story through rare archival footage and revelatory interviews, exploring a life shaped by a hard yakka, god-fearing upbringing on his family’s farm. Trump’s spectre is evoked in Joh’s famously mangled and meandering way of speaking – brilliantly dramatised by Richard Roxburgh – alongside his unyielding execution of power and the desperate denial of his final days in office.

Share WhatsApp Telegram
Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
  • australian politics
  • queensland, australia
  • queensland

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

Australia

Where to watch

Availability for Australia. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Stream

  • Stan logoStan

Gallery

Still from Joh: Last King of QueenslandStill from Joh: Last King of QueenslandStill from Joh: Last King of QueenslandStill from Joh: Last King of Queensland

Videos

Release dates

  • AustraliaAU

    • PremiereSydney Film Festival7 Jun 2025
    • TVMA 15+22 Jun 2025
    • PremiereVision Splendid Outback Film Festival29 Jun 2026

Frequently asked questions

Joh: Last King of Queensland was released on 7 June 2025.

Member reviews

Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

Member comments

0

Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

More like this