Fans of 1986 comedy classic Crocodile Dundee expected a festive treat when the cult favourite aired on Boxing Day on Channel 5 – but found the film had been shredded for a 2024, pre-watershed audience.
Viewers claimed that nearly ten per cent of the original film felt like it had gone AWOL, with many of the most popular scenes removed prior to broadcast – because they’d aged badly in the ensuing decades since its 80s release.
The 80s film starred Paul Hogan as croc poacher Mick Dundee and Linda Kozlowski as New York reporter Sue Charlton, who persuades Dundee to head back to New York with her.
The movie’s tagline at the time was ‘From the Outback of Australia to urban jungle of New York, there’s no wilderness he can’t tame!’
It was a blockbuster hit and has remained a popular choice for broadcasters at Christmas – but some who saw it this week say the heavy editing for more sensitive viewers left the film ‘not making sense’.
One person wrote: ‘Well just watched the iconic #crocodiledundee – absolute belter of a film, but channel 5 decided to hack the film to bits.’
Another added: ‘How to ruin a film… Crocodile Dundee on @channel5_tv is unwatchable due to editing. Half the scenes make no sense. Bloody awful woke crap’.
One fan of the original wrote: ‘Someone tell me why Channel 5 bothers to show classic films.
The 1986 cult comedy classic saw Paul Hogan, right, star as Mick ‘Crocodile’ Dundee, with Linda Kozlowski playing Sue Charlton, the reporter who fell for the Aussie crocodile poacher
One of the scenes that didn’t make the 2024 cut from the original is the moment Mick Dundee counters a flick knife threat with his own hunting knife outside a posh New York hotel
‘Crocodile Dundee was so heavily edited because of perceived politically incorrect gags, that the whole point of the film is lost and frankly ruined.’
Another penned: ‘They’ve butchered crocodile Dundee to the point that the humour makes no sense.’
Scenes that are considered likely to be offensive to modern audiences include the moment when Mick is enjoying the company of Gwendoline in a New York bar.
When a friend points out that Gwendoline is in fact transgender, Dundee’s reaction is aggressive, leaving the scene now firmly on the cutting room floor.
Elsewhere, some fans say the best line in the film has been removed, involving the moment Mick and Sue are approached by a robber outside a swanky hotel.
When the man and his friends pull a flick knife on the couple, the crocodile hunter responds by pulling out his own much bigger hunting knife, with the line: ‘That’s not a knife, this is a knife’.
And a fight scene where the croc poacher questions the heritage of limo driver Gus has also been banished due to its racist overtones.
Dundee is heard asking the chauffeur, who helps him fight off an attacker in a Manhattan back street: ‘You sure you’re not Pitjantjatjara tribe?’
The Pitjantjatjara are an Aboriginal people from close to Uluru in Australia. Gus smiles, responding: ‘No man, Harlem Warlords!’
The bar scene featuring Mick Dundee and Gwendoline, who is transgender, doesn’t feature in the 2024 edit
And a fight scene that sees Mick Dundee ask his driver Gus: ‘You sure you’re not Pitjantjatjara tribe?’ after he helps him overcome an attacker has been dropped – Pitjantjatjara are aboriginal people who live in central Australia
A bar scene in which Mick Dundee chats to Gwendoline – until he realises she’s transgender and then becomes aggressive towards her – has also been cut from the edited version
Now almost 40 years old, the film, which spawned a sequel, has had major moments chopped out which featured transphobic and racist behaviour (Pictured: Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski in ‘Crocodile’ Dundee)
It’s not the only film to have scenes that were once deemed funny but are now considered highly offensive.
Richard Curtis’ 2003 hit Love Actually, considered a Christmas classic by many, has been accused of being ‘rife with tired, misogynistic romantic tropes’.
Many have said the plot revolving around Keira Knightley’s character Juliet is creepy and romanticises stalking.
The scene where Mark (Andrew Lincoln) arrives at Juliet’s front door with a series of signs proclaiming his love for her has frequently been labelled ‘creepy’.
In another scene, Juliet watches back a video of her wedding video, filmed by Mark, and sees herself zoomed in on throughout.
Love Actually is another Christmas favourite that hasn’t fared well; the scene where Keira Knightley’s character Juliet is door-stepped with emotional signs by Mark (Andrew Lincoln) has been accused of romanticising stalkers by some
And Martine McCutcheon’s character, Natalie, finds herself frequently on the end of ‘fat-shaming’ in the movie – she’s referred to as ‘plumpy’, ‘the chubby girl’ and having ‘huge thighs’ in the 2003 film
Then there’s Natalie, the lovable character played by Ms McCutcheon who works for the Prime Minister, portrayed by Hugh Grant.
After he falls in love with her, she is moved to a different department in No 10 but other characters repeatedly poke fun at her figure.
One viewer said: ‘I’m baffled by [the film’s] popularity. The fat-shaming of Martine McCutcheon’s character.’
Another added: ‘Some examples of how they refer to the character played by Martine McCutcheon – ‘plumpy’, ‘the chubby girl’, ‘sizeable a***’, and ‘huge thighs’ – it’s cringy and terrible.’
Another hit out at Mr Curtis, saying: ‘I turned off at the bit where Hugh Grant’s assistant says, ‘I think there is a pretty sizeable a*** there – huge thighs.’
Earlier this week, it was revealed an iconic star of Crocodile Dundee had died – Burt, the 5.1-metre 700kg monster crocodile from the comedy adventure film.
He was thought to have been over 90 years old and died in captivity in Darwin.
Crocosaurus Cove, a crocodile herpetarium and aquarium attraction which had kept Burt in captivity since 2008, announced the reptile’s death on December 23rd.
‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Burt, the iconic saltwater crocodile and star of the Australian classic Crocodile Dundee,’ the facility posted on its Facebook page.
‘Burt passed away peacefully over the weekend, estimated to be over 90 years old, marking the end of an incredible era.’
The herpetarium wrote a heartfelt tribute to the iconic creature, described as ‘one of the most recognised crocodiles in the world’.
‘Burt’s life story is one of strength, resilience and a personality as bold as the Top End itself,’ it wrote.
‘Captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River, Burt became one of the most recognised crocodiles in the world, appearing in Crocodile Dundee and helping to shape Australia’s image as a land of rugged natural beauty and awe-inspiring wildlife.
Crocosaurus Cove, the facility where the reptile lived in captivity since 2008, announced Burt’s death on Monday
In 2008, Burt made his way to Crocosaurus Cove, where he became a fierce and fascinating ambassador for crocodile education. Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor — an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm.
‘His fiery temperament earned him the respect of his caretakers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile.’
They continued: ‘Burt was truly one of a kind. He wasn’t just a crocodile; he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures.
‘While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years. Visitors from around the globe marvelled at his impressive size and commanding presence, especially at feeding time.
‘The team at Crocosaurus Cove would like to thank everyone who visited Burt and helped celebrate his remarkable life. As we mourn his loss, we are reminded of the vital role wildlife plays in our shared history and the importance of preserving it for future generations.’
