Muriel's Wedding, which starred a then-unknown Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths, was released in 1994 and has become a classic in Australian pop culture.

Now fans can celebrate with a Muriel-themed party at the National Film and Sound Archive on Friday night.

They can get up close to the iconic dresses from the film, including Muriel's original wedding dress, sans the gold tiara, and one of the peach bridesmaid dresses complete with tulle skirt and the matching shoes.

There'll be an exhibition of items from the movie and the set, a special anniversary screening of the film and a Q&A with producer Linda House.

Despite some of the cringe-worthy, unquestionably 90s aspects of the film, Meg Labrum, senior curator at the NSFA said its staying power came from the fact that it's just as relative today as 20 years ago.

"Watching it again the other week I was surprised how it still rang pretty true and the Australian part of it is still very recognisable," she said.

"The mix of the sadness and also the funny stuff is really quite clever - it's really interesting watching the film with a new audience."

The film was the breakout hit for both Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths, who have collectively gone on to win two Golden Globes, one Emmy Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and nine AFI Awards.

It was also the launching pad for Brisbane-born writer and director P.J. Hogan, who has since garnered credits to his name including My Best Friend's Wedding starring Julia Roberts, and Confessions of a Shopaholic with fellow Australian Isla Fischer.

Muriel is often remembered for its soundtrack of ABBA pop hits, but the Swedish band nearly put an end to the movie before it began filming, constantly knocking back requests to use their music.

"ABBA had apparently had a bad experience before with a film so were just saying, 'No we're not interested'. But as they got deeper into developing the film, it got critical that they had to have the ABBA music – there was nothing else that would fit," Labrum said.

"PJ [Hogan] said they were three weeks out from the actual shoot and they still didn't have permission, so PJ bought a ticket to Sweden and asked the producer to fax a copy over to ABBA to say he was on his way. Before he got on the plane they finally succumbed and decided that if he was this keen, they were willing to give the okay."

For Friday's celebrations, visitors are encouraged to dig deep in their wardrobes and dress in a former wedding or bridesmaid dress, or even a retro tulle number.

The NFSA has also launched ongoing online exhibition, Muriel's Wedding: Renewing Our Vows which features rare behind-the-scenes videos, costumes, oral histories, posters, photographs and other documents from the film.

The Muriel's Wedding exhibition and screening is on at 7pm at the National Film and Sound Archives. Tickets $20 from the NFSA reception on 6248 2000. The online exhibition is accessible at nfsa.gov.au.

GREAT LINES

"You're terrible Muriel"

"Deidre Chambers, what a coincidence!"

"I advise women on their lipstick, base and eye liner. But you should all know about make-up. Your wives must be geishas." Deidre Chambers to Japanese business men.

"The truth? Golly, I tell the truth too." Rhonda

TRANSFORMING TONI

The movie showed Toni Collette's ability to morph from frump to phwoar, something she's done time again in her movie career. For her role as Muriel, Collette reportedly gained about 18kg in seven weeks with the help of a dietician.

YOU'RE TERRIBLE

While not one of the major characters in the film, it is actually Muriel's sister Joanie Heslop (played by Gabby Millgate) who is responsible for the famous line, "You're terrible Muriel". Millgate, who has appeared in a number of Australian comedies and dramas since, is a Canberran, who went to Merici College.

THE HESLOPS

PJ Hogan has said that he drew on the characteristics of his sister and her stormy relationship with their politician father when writing the roles of Muriel and Bill Heslop (played by Bill Hunter).