Mad Max

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Mad Max

R,

1980,

1h 33m,

Action/

Adventure

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Watchlist

Watchlist

89%

70 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

100,000+ Ratings

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.

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

Apr 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

May 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

May 30, 2007

4/5

Simple, but effective.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Jul 12, 2025

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

Apr 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

Apr 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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Ron S

Apr 17, 2019

For action fans, this isn't actually the first movie I'd recommend. There actually isn't as much action as you'd expect. It's more a film that mixes some action with drama and revenge thriller. But this is a fun film after all, and for a flick made on a low-budget, it's pretty well done, the memorable car crash stunts are impressive, and young Mel Gibson is iconic as Mad Max. It's funny to see him in this flick, before he'd go on to directing some great films. Overall, Mad Max is a good movie about a crumbling and crime-filled society, and I'm very curious to check out the 1982 sequel. Recommended!!

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Hermione W

Apr 14, 2019

https://www.ynet.co.il/home/0,7340,L-8,00.html

Luke P

Mar 11, 2019

I think Mad Max (1979) is the best of the Mad Max trilogy

Albus P

Feb 19, 2019

Definitely one of the best movies i ever saw in my entire life.The beautiful moments when Max was with his wife, then the action. (YEAH)

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Draco M

Feb 2, 2019

An impressive achievement considering the lack of a budget, Mad Max is an enjoyable action flick with a good performance from Mel Gibson, in the role that made him a star despite the early installment weirdness what with society doing okay even if this universe's Australia is still a terrible world to live in and being far too short. The good stuff only happens at the end. And when that occurs, there's no proper "The End" stuff. The movie just stops dead in its tracks and cuts to the credits. Whatever, Mad Max is still a good movie that was ahead of its time.

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Harry L

Jan 7, 2019

Mel Gibson is amazing. His movies are always great!

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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

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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)

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