The Violent Earth is a 1998 French-Australian co-production miniseries set in New Caledonia from 1888 to 1977. It was broadcast on the Nine Network in Australia.
The series is set in New Caledonia, and follows the Australian-Irish Sutton family and the indigenous Kanaks amidst French colonialism.
The series is adapted from the novel Terre violente by Jacqueline Sénès. Production on the series was supposed to begin in 1995, however, it did not begin until 1997. It had a budget of $10 million. The Violent Earth is a co-production between Gaumont and Crawford Productions. It was filmed on-location in Paris, Noumea, Port Douglas and Melbourne. The Violent Earth was broadcast from 17 September 1999 in Australia.
At the 40th Australian Film Institute Awards, The Violent Earth received nominations for Best Television Mini-Series or Telefeature, Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama, and Best Screenplay in a Television Drama.