When Crocodile Dundee hit theaters in 1986, it wasn’t just a box office smash—it was a cultural phenomenon. Audiences around the world fell in love with the rugged Australian outback, the charming rogue Mick Dundee, and the captivating journalist Sue Charlton, played by the stunning Linda Kozlowski. But while the movie served up plenty of action and humor, there’s one scene fans still talk about to this day—and here’s the shocking twist: it wasn’t acting.
Yes, one of the film’s most iconic—and intense—scenes was completely real, and not even Kozlowski realized what was happening until the cameras were already rolling.
The Swamp Scene That Went Off Script
You probably remember the scene. Sue, played by Kozlowski, ventures off into the Australian bush alone. She kneels near the water’s edge to fill a canteen… when suddenly a massive crocodile lunges from the swamp, jaws wide open, heading straight for her. It’s a terrifying moment. But what most viewers don’t know is that croc was real—and it wasn’t supposed to be that close.
In a recent interview for an Aussie film retrospective, a now-retired crew member dropped a bombshell:
“That was one of the only moments where everyone genuinely freaked out. The croc’s movement wasn’t part of the stunt—it broke its tether.”
Kozlowski’s Real Fear Was Caught on Camera
Watch the scene closely, and you’ll notice something most missed for years: Kozlowski doesn’t scream in that over-the-top, theatrical way. Her reaction is one of genuine terror, her eyes wide, breath short, backing away frantically. That’s because she thought she was going to die.
“They told me the crocodile was animatronic or at least safely chained,” she said years later in a now-resurfaced interview. “But when it moved like that, I knew something wasn’t right. For a second, I honestly thought, ‘This is it.’”
Paul Hogan to the Rescue – Literally
Paul Hogan, who played the titular Mick Dundee and was also the film’s co-writer, wasn’t just a smooth operator on screen. In real life, he leapt into action, grabbing Kozlowski and pulling her back just in time—before the animal lunged again. The camera crew, assuming it was all part of the performance, kept filming.
Only when the director yelled “CUT!” and the crew rushed in did everyone realize how close they had come to disaster.
Why the Scene Was Never Removed
Despite the near-death moment, producers chose to keep the scene in the final cut—though they edited around it carefully to avoid controversy. They even downplayed the danger during press tours, calling it “movie magic.” But now, nearly 40 years later, the truth is out.
“It was too good,” said the film’s editor. “The raw fear, the movement, the timing—it was like lightning in a bottle. None of us wanted to cut it.”
What Happened to the Crocodile?
According to set insiders, the crocodile was a semi-trained animal used for limited scenes. It had been used in wildlife shows before but was known to be “temperamental.” After the incident, it was reportedly removed from production entirely and returned to its handlers in the Northern Territory—never used in film again.
The Aftermath for Kozlowski
The ordeal left Linda Kozlowski shaken. She later said it was one of the scariest moments of her life—and not something she ever wanted to repeat.
“People ask me why I left acting,” she once said. “Honestly, after something like that, your perspective changes.”
Ironically, that scene became one of the most replayed and talked-about moments of the film, even helping skyrocket her fame. Kozlowski went on to marry co-star Paul Hogan, though the pair later divorced. Still, their chemistry—fueled in part by real-life adrenaline—remains immortalized on film.
Fans Are Still Stunned
When the behind-the-scenes truth recently resurfaced on a viral TikTok video, viewers were floored. “You mean that scream was REAL?” one user commented. Another wrote, “I always thought she was an amazing actress. Turns out she was just genuinely terrified.”