Mad Max
A traumatized highway patrolman becomes a relentless avenger on the lawless roads of a collapsing near-future Australia.
Overview
In a desolate future, a lone patrolman seeks vengeance in a lawless wasteland.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- bleak
- frantic
- visceral
- late night action marathon
- cult film night
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the film as a visceral genre landmark whose inventive car stunts and crashes bring its violent dystopian world to life, despite polarized reactions to its ugliness and coherence.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The highway patrol is overstretched while criminal motorcycle gangs control roads and resources.
The film centers souped-up pursuit cars, motorcycle gangs, and meticulously staged crashes and stunts.
Max begins as a highway patrolman and turns toward revenge after devastating violence against those close to him.
Criminals forage for gasoline and scraps across barren Australian back roads and wastelands.
Films like Mad Max, and why
The Road Warrior
shares dystopian collapse, vigilante revenge, brutal road violence, and high-impact vehicular spectacle
Doomsday
shares near-future societal breakdown, outlaw gangs, stylized car action, and revenge-driven momentum
Death Race 2000
shares dystopian lawlessness, motorcycle gangs, kinetic pursuit sequences, and bleak social decay
The Rover
shares austere post-apocalyptic world-building, revenge themes, and visceral survivalist action
Movie Details
- Director
- George Miller
- Release Date
- 1979-04-12
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (5126)
Cast
- Mel Gibson
- Joanne Samuel
- Hugh Keays-Byrne
- Steve Bisley
- Tim Burns
- Roger Ward
- Vincent Gil
- Lulu Pinkus
- Lisa Aldenhoven
- David Bracks
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mad Max about?
- A traumatized highway patrolman becomes a relentless avenger on the lawless roads of a collapsing near-future Australia.
- What is Mad Max like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mad Max as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mad Max violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Mad Max as graphic.
- What did critics think of Mad Max?
- Critics broadly recognize the film as a visceral genre landmark whose inventive car stunts and crashes bring its violent dystopian world to life, despite polarized reactions to its ugliness and coherence.
- Which films are like Mad Max?
- Films with a similar feel include The Road Warrior, Doomsday, Death Race 2000, and The Rover.
- How long is Mad Max?
- Mad Max runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mad Max?
- In United States, Mad Max is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
