Mad Max

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Mad Max

R

1980

1h 33m

Action

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In a not-too-distant dystopian future, when man's most precious resource -- oil -- has been depleted and the world plunged into war, famine and financial chaos, the last vestiges of the law in Australia attempt to restrain a vicious biker gang. Max (Mel Gibson), an officer with the Main Force Patrol, launches a personal vendetta against the gang when his wife (Joanne Samuel) and son are hunted down and murdered, leaving him with nothing but the instincts for survival and retribution.

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Critics Consensus

Staging the improbable car stunts and crashes to perfection, director George Miller succeeds completely in bringing the violent, post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max to visceral life.

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Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

04/27/2018

If punk is a sensibility as well as an adjective, Mad Max is a punk movie. Its Australian setting enhances it, authenticating its futuristic aura.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

05/11/2015

[The] film has been consigned to the grind houses, where audiences are responding as Miller wants them to. From there Mad Max will find its way to the film schools and revival houses, where its tough-gutted intelligence may be appreciated.

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Empire Magazine

05/30/2007

4/5

Simple, but effective.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Jul 12

Mad Max is a dynamic debut feature from George Miller, rich with the visual ingenuity his later films would be known for in spite of its budgetary limitations.

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Arthur Steele

Birmingham Mail

04/23/2025

One of the most horrific experiences I have suffered even by current grisly standards... The kind of ghoulish satisfaction that crowds once got from watching murderers disembowelled in public.

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Shaurya Chawla

InSession Film

04/21/2025

A-

While Mad Max may not be the best movie from George Miller, given his work in The Road Warrior, Fury Road and Furiosa, it serves as an incredibly effective entry into the world of fire and blood

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James

05/25/2024

Probably the best Mad Max movie in the series. The best, most developed villains in the series for sure. In fact The Toecutter is one of the best all-time villains in cinema. So great to see this classic movie on the big screen. I hope the Gateway will also show The Road Warrior too.

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Justin M.

@RT41656336 Jun 2

Is it weird, yes. Does the acting have moment of fringe, yes. Does the score sound way too cheesy, yes. Does it still rock, totally. Sets up the universe, made on a shoestring budget, sweet stunts…I really did enjoy it.

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Jamal P

@RT39995825 May 14

This was not good. It kinda sucked. I was with my friend and we were super excited, so it was a total disappointment. So we just watched some JJK instead of finishing.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 30

Mad Max (1979) is one of those rare films that feels raw, stripped-down, and completely committed to its vision. It’s not just a post-apocalyptic action movie—it’s a gritty chase film that builds tension through atmosphere, practical stunts, and a relentless sense of momentum. What makes it stand out is how effective it is with so little. The world feels worn-out and dangerous without needing heavy exposition, and the low-budget aesthetic actually adds to its authenticity rather than holding it back. The pacing is tight, and once it gets moving, it rarely lets up. The reason it doesn’t quite hit a perfect 10 for me is more about its rough edges—some performances and early filmmaking limitations show its age—but honestly, that’s part of its charm too. It’s clearly a landmark film that helped define an entire genre of action cinema. Overall, it’s very close to perfect: 9/10.

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Smyles A.

@Smyles Mar 24

One of the greats. Gree up watching this franchise and wow. Amazing.

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dan M.

@AstroCreep79 Jan 27

Absolutely love the Max movies and the OG is no different

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George Miller

Director

Mel Gibson

"Mad" Max Rockatansky

Joanne Samuel

Jessie Rockatansky

Hugh Keays-Byrne

Toecutter

Steve Bisley

Jim Goose

Roger Ward

Fifi Macaffee

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Synopsis

In a not-too-distant dystopian future, when man's most precious resource -- oil -- has been depleted and the world plunged into war, famine and financial chaos, the last vestiges of the law in Australia attempt to restrain a vicious biker gang. Max (Mel Gibson), an officer with the Main Force Patrol, launches a personal vendetta against the gang when his wife (Joanne Samuel) and son are hunted down and murdered, leaving him with nothing but the instincts for survival and retribution.

Director: George Miller
Producer: Byron Kennedy
Screenwriter: James McCausland, George Miller
Distributor: American International Pictures
Production Co: Crossroads, Kennedy Miller Productions, Mad Max Films
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 13, 1980, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 24, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)