Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia premiered in Albury yesterday and was met with rave reviews as about 400 people watched the day-time showings.

In a first, sales and marketing manager Gabe Jackson said the movie was programmed to run in Gold Class for the next four weeks and had already sold out for the next three weekends.

“We haven’t done that before, not even for Star Wars or Batman,” Mr Jackson said.

“The demand has been really good and it has created a really big buzz which has even outshone Quantum Solace.

“It’s probably the most eagerly anticipated Australian film since Crocodile Dundee, which ran for 11 months.

“In the last couple of months since the end of filming there has been a pretty big buildup to today — the publicity machine has worked really well for the film.”

While Mr Jackson said the film was unlikely to run as long as 11 months because of more regular screenings, Australia is set to be on screens until February.

Meanwhile, public opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of the movie which tells the story of English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and The Drover (Hugh Jackman), who journey across Australia’s landscape.

“People should go and have a look, it’s just unbelievable,” Trish Cerminara said.

“Nicole Kidman is beautiful, as a performer she is always so composed, and Hugh Jackman’s your typical ocker Aussie.

“Its portrayal of Aboriginal culture is fantastic, particularly for what non-Aboriginal people tried to do to help them.

“I didn’t think it was too long at all; I had my Coke and Cherry Ripe and I was set.”

However, despite the rave reviews in Albury, Luhrmann’s $130 million film hasn’t hit quite the same notes in the US.

“Baz Luhrmann hasn’t made a movie since 2001’s Moulin Rouge,” wrote NY Daily News critic, Elizabeth Weitzman, who gave the epic film two out of five stars.

“So wouldn’t you think he’d have taken the time to get this one right?”