<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> US $16.5 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Tomorrow, When the War Began is a 2010 Australian action - adventure war drama film written and directed by Stuart Beattie and based on the novel of the same name (the first in a series of seven) by John Marsden . The film was produced by Andrew Mason and Michael Boughen . The story follows Ellie Linton, one of seven teenagers waging a guerrilla war against an invading foreign power in their fictional hometown of Wirrawee . The film stars Caitlin Stasey as Ellie Linton and features an ensemble cast including Rachel Hurd - Wood, Lincoln Lewis and Phoebe Tonkin . Production began in September 2009 . </P> <P> Principal photography began on 28 September 2009, and concluded on 6 November 2009; filming took place in the Hunter Region and the Blue Mountains, in New South Wales . The teaser trailer for the film was released on 31 March 2010 . The film was released in Australia and New Zealand on 2 September 2010 . It was later released on 15 April 2011 in the United Kingdom, and on 24 February 2012 in the United States . </P> <P> The film begins with a video log by Ellie . She asks the camera how she can tell their story . She suggests to herself "from the beginning ." </P>

Where was tomorrow when the war began filmed