American critics have panned it as awfully big and kinda empty but Australian audiences, perhaps unsurprisingly, love Australia.

The Baz Luhrmann epic has left many US reviewers cold, with The Chicago-Tribune saying it verged on "morphing into a singing-cowboy musical".

Others said it lumbered along, plagued by bad acting and the unsettlingly tight appearance of Nicole Kidman's skin.

But ah, the Americans, what would they know? Nothing if you ask Australians who flocked to see the film on 304 screens across the nation on Wednesday.

Sydney schoolgirl Sarah Liu said the reviews didn't put her off seeing the $150 million romantic epic, but she conceded her interest had an awful lot to do with the newly-crowned Sexiest Man Alive, Hugh Jackman.

"... critics have their own opinion and we have ours," the 13-year-old said, adding that Jackman was "really hot for his age, you know".

Stan and Elva Plantzos from Camden bought tickets for the 10am screening at the inner Sydney Greater Union cinemas because they wanted to be among the first in the country to see it.

"We thought we'd see it on the first day because it's Australia, about Australia," Mr Plantzos said.

"And Nicole Kidman, we love her."

Mrs Plantzos said as soon as she saw the trailers for the movie she was hooked.

"I wasn't going to come and see it because I didn't think it would be much, until I saw the shorts last week in my local theatre and I thought, I've got to see it," she said.

Theatre-goers also gushed about Jackman, calling him stunning and a classic actor.

"He's got a great body on him, hasn't he?" pensioner June Russell declared, adding: "He scrubs up good".

Mrs Russell gave the movie a score of eight out of 10, and said it made her proud to be Australian.

Adelaide teacher Kay Sosnowski brought a group of Aboriginal students with her to see Australia, and they were heartened to see the storyline about the stolen generations.

"I'm teaching Aboriginal students and it tells their story, their side of the story a lot more," she said.

"I think it was quite well told."

Her student Nicole agreed: "How that little boy got taken by the ship across to the island (by the missionaries), that's what happened to my grandma. It was really good."

Even Americans in Australia seemed to go with the positive vibe.

"We've learned a lot about the stolen generations and all that stuff, and seeing it in the movie I think it meant a lot to Aboriginal people and it needs to be brought forward," Colorado woman Taylor Kannawin said.

Arizona native Brianne Bordman added: "It meant a lot for us to see it in Australia. I was emotional, I definitely cried a couple of times."