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Mad Max

Play trailer Poster for Mad Max R 1980 1h 33m Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Mad Max

Mad Max

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Empire Magazine 05/30/2007
4/5
Simple, but effective. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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 Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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. See more 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. See more Smyles A. @Smyles Mar 24 One of the greats. Gree up watching this franchise and wow. Amazing. See more dan M. @AstroCreep79 Jan 27 Absolutely love the Max movies and the OG is no different See more Ry N @RyGuy Jan 21 MFP officer, Max, goes up against a gang of Road Warriors in a dystopian future after losing his family. This sets up the universe, but it has a different feel from the rest of the franchise and the revenge story starts late in the film. See more Sam R @legomyeggo1215 Dec 23 Honestly It just wasn't that great. See more Read all reviews
Mad Max

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Cast & Crew

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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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Mad Max

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Movie Info

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)