Mad Max

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Mad Max

R

Released Jun 13, 1980

1h 33m

Action

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

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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

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.

Apr 27, 2018

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

[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.

May 11, 2015

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Empire Magazine

Simple, but effective.

Rated: 4/5

May 30, 2007

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

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.

Jul 12, 2025

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Arthur Steele

Birmingham Mail

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.

Apr 23, 2025

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Shaurya Chawla

InSession Film

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

Rated: A-

Apr 21, 2025

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James

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/24

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HameZz O

George Miller did not have a ton to work with because of budget I'm guessing. Still I like the newer Mad Max movies much more. Mad Max Fury Road was brilliant and felt more at what George Miller was trying to get to in the first one but just didn't have the material. I didn't feel much of the revenge that it seemed he wanted you to feel or what revenge stories are supposed to make you feel. Actually once his son died I did think to myself, "Mel Gibson better kill all of them." But everything leading up to that wasn't the most interesting or captivating in really almost anyway. Except for the opening car chase, that was special.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

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Cem Okan Y

I believe the recent touch on this series is spot on thanks to today's technology. This original movie is not so one when you compare it with the ones in the last decade.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 33 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

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john h

An original revenge film with enough experimental filmmaking and bombastic but effective, subtle acting for it to be considered a cult classic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

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Patrick L

The greatest movie of all time per budget! Australian cinema at its best No one in America can make a better movie for less money. ok not the best review but l was 15 when l first saw this. LOL

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

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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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93%

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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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