Two large-budget international movies, including the next Marvel superhero Thor instalment, will be filmed in Australia from next year.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced a deal to film Marvel Studios film Ragnarok - starring Chris Hemsworth - and an untitled Alien film by 20th Century Fox and director Ridley Scott on home soil.

The films are a product of recent trips to the United States during which Ms Bishop spruiked Australia's highly-qualified workforce, innovative technology, stable economy and low dollar.

"The Australian Government believes our prosperity and economic growth as a nation depends on much on seizing new opportunities," Ms Bishop said.

Minister Bishop used Question Time to point out the benefits of the deal, saying it will see $300 million invested in Australia from offshore.

"The spinoff for tourism will be significant," she told Parliament. "We do have the evidence for these expectations. The Pirates of the Caribbean filmed on the Gold Coast resulted in foreign investment of $100 million into Australia. It employed over 2,600 Australians."

Arts Minister Mitch Fifield said the announcement is a credit to the Prime Minister and evidence of him delivering on a policy of supporting innovation and jobs.

"The PM has taken a minute-by-minute interest in this venture," he said.

"He was determined to see that this would be landed, and I think the announcement that we are making today is a concrete example of what the PM means when he talks about the agility of government, the agility of industry, to support innovation and to deliver jobs."

Minister Fifield said the benefits for tourism and the economy are quantifiable and substantial.

"$47.25 million is giving us this opportunity, which will help combine with the skill, talent and resources of these production houses to help secure these films, and what this means in numbers is over $300 million of investment in Australia that would otherwise be invested elsewhere.

"What it means is 3,000 direct jobs for Australians. And it also isn't just the ability for us to highlight Australia as a place to film and do business, it also presents the opportunity for us to showcase Australia."