Bring Her Back Wins Big at AACTA Awards as Film Expands to Streaming

Danny and Michael Philippou’s horror film Bring Her Back dominated the 2026 AACTA Awards, taking home ten trophies including Best Film and Best Direction. The win, announced on February 6, 2026, marks the second time the Australian filmmaking duo has swept the country’s top film honors, following their success with 2023’s Talk to Me.

Sally Hawkins, who plays the film’s unsettling foster mother Laura, won Best Lead Actress. In her acceptance speech, Hawkins said, ‘I’m only as good as the people I’m working with and playing against. It was an honour to get this script, which had incredible, magical energy about it.’

Awards Season Success

Bring Her Back earned 16 nominations and converted 10 into wins. The haul included Best Film, Best Direction, Best Lead Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing, among others. Producer Samantha Jennings, accepting the Best Film award alongside the Philippou brothers, said, ‘We should all be inspired about what Australia is able to do and the fact there’s excitement about Australian stories and Australian point of views and vision.’

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards ceremony took place on the Gold Coast. The Philippou brothers, former YouTube creators known as RackaRacka, have now won the top film prize at the AACTAs for two consecutive feature films.

Streaming Rollout Continues

Following its theatrical run, Bring Her Back has become widely available on streaming platforms. The film debuted on HBO Max in the United States on October 3, 2025, with a linear premiere on HBO the following night. It later arrived on Netflix in several international territories, including a release on February 3, 2026.

The film grossed $39.1 million worldwide against a reported budget of $15 million. It holds an 89% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 79% audience score on the Popcornmeter.

What’s Next for the Philippou Brothers

In a September 2026 interview, the Philippou brothers confirmed that Talk to Me 2 remains in development. They also revealed they are finishing a documentary and may produce another original horror film before returning to the Talk to Me universe.

Bring Her Back stars Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, and Mischa Heywood. The film was written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman and produced by Causeway Films with backing from A24 and Sony Pictures.

The film remains available on HBO Max and Netflix in select regions. No further theatrical or streaming expansions have been announced.