It’s the year 2002. Steve Irwin is the biggest thing on the planet. He's wrestling saltwater crocodiles, shouting "Crikey!" at every venomous snake in the Outback, and basically carrying Animal Planet on his sun-reddened shoulders. Then, someone at MGM says, "Let's put him in a spy thriller."
The result was The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.
Looking back at it now, the movie is a fever dream of early 2000s energy. It’s half-documentary, half-fictional action flick, and 100% bizarre. Most people remember the Khaki King for his tragic end or his incredible conservation work, but this weird cinematic detour is a fascinating relic of how Hollywood tried—and mostly failed—to bottle the Irwin magic.
What Actually Happens in Steve Irwin Collision Course?
The plot is... a lot. Basically, a top-secret U.S. satellite explodes, and a tracking beacon falls into the Australian Outback. A massive crocodile decides this beacon looks like a snack and swallows it. Enter the CIA. They think the beacon is a world-changing piece of tech and send agents to get it back.
Meanwhile, Steve and Terri Irwin are just out there being themselves. They’re filming their show, rescuing "un-loveable" animals, and they get tasked with relocating a problem crocodile.
Here is the kicker: Steve has no idea he’s in a spy movie.
Because of the way the film was shot, Steve and Terri are convinced the CIA agents following them are just "poachers." They spend the whole movie trying to save the crocodile from these "bad guys," never realizing they’re caught in an international espionage plot involving a fictionalized George W. Bush.
The Two-Movie Problem
One of the strangest things about Steve Irwin Collision Course is how it looks. If you watch it closely, the aspect ratio actually changes.
The scenes with Steve and Terri are shot in a 1.85:1 ratio—the standard for TV at the time—to make it feel like an episode of The Crocodile Hunter. When the movie cuts to the CIA agents or the cattle farmer Brozzie Drewitt (played by the hilarious Magda Szubanski), it switches to a 2.35:1 widescreen cinematic format.
It’s literally two movies stitched together. You've got a nature documentary fighting for screen time with a bumbling comedy. Honestly, it’s a mess, but it’s a lovable mess.
Steve Had No Idea What Was Going On
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly back when the movie launched, Steve revealed something pretty shocking. He and Terri weren't allowed to see the script for the "movie" parts.
"The movie section of it I had nothing to do with, and we actually weren't allowed to see the film until the premiere," Steve said.
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The director, John Stainton, wanted Steve to stay completely natural. He didn't want him "acting." He wanted the raw, hyperactive, animal-loving Stevo that people saw on TV. So, while actors like Lachy Hulme and Kenneth Ransom were playing serious spies, Steve was just out there genuinely wrestling a 12-foot crocodile in the mud.
It was real. Steve got hit in the head by a croc underwater. He got his shins shredded. He even had to delay filming for ten days after a wild kangaroo he was trying to rescue kicked him in the face and split his lip.
That wasn’t a stunt. That was just a Tuesday for Steve Irwin.
Why the Movie Still Matters (Despite the 53% Rotten Tomatoes Score)
Critics weren't exactly kind to the film. Most felt the "spy" plot was a waste of time. Roger Ebert famously said it was basically just a couple of likable people lecturing us on animals while almost being killed.
But for a generation of kids, Steve Irwin Collision Course was a gateway drug to conservation.
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- It funded the Zoo: The movie grossed about $33 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. A huge chunk of the Irwins' earnings went straight back into Australia Zoo and land conservation.
- The Message: Unlike most action movies, the "hero" doesn't use a gun. He uses a rope and a lot of heart.
- The Legacy: It showed that you could be a global superstar without changing who you were. Steve didn't put on a tuxedo. He stayed in his khakis.
The "Schizophrenic" Production
Director John Stainton was adamant that Steve shouldn't "enter the movie world." He wanted the world to enter Steve's.
This created a "schizophrenic" viewing experience where the Irwins are talking directly to the camera—as they always did—but the other actors are ignoring the camera completely. It makes no sense if you think about it for more than five seconds.
Why are the CIA agents not seeing the camera crew following Steve?
How does Steve not realize there’s a massive production happening around him?
The movie never explains it. It just asks you to go with the flow. And you do, because Steve's enthusiasm is infectious. You've got a guy who finds a satellite beacon in crocodile poop and thinks it’s a "discarded children’s spinning top." It’s ridiculous, and that’s why it works.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to revisit this piece of 2000s history, here's what you need to know:
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- Where to Watch: It’s often buried in the "Kids" section of streaming services like Apple TV or Amazon, but it’s worth the rental fee just to see the behind-the-scenes footage of Steve actually working with the animals.
- Look for the Differences: Try to spot the moment the aspect ratio shifts. It’s a great lesson in cinematography and how not to blend genres.
- The Bindi Cameo: If you stay through the credits, you'll see a very young Bindi Irwin. It’s a bittersweet reminder of how long the Irwin family has been at this.
- Support the Cause: The movie was a commercial for wildlife protection. If the film makes you nostalgic, the best way to honor that is by supporting Wildlife Warriors, the charity Steve and Terri started in 2002—the same year the movie came out.
Steve Irwin Collision Course isn't a masterpiece of cinema. It’s not Citizen Kane. But it’s a pure, unadulterated look at a man who loved the world more than he feared it. It’s weird, it’s clunky, and it’s undeniably Steve.
To get the most out of the experience today, watch it not as a "spy movie," but as a high-budget time capsule of the world's most famous wildlife warrior at the absolute peak of his powers.
Next Steps for Conservation Fans:
You can directly support the Irwin family's ongoing work by visiting the Australia Zoo website or donating to Wildlife Warriors. Most of the land Steve bought with his movie earnings is still being protected today by Terri, Bindi, and Robert.