Lexi Webster
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy, comprising a series of post-apocalyptic and dystopian action films. While the films do not explicitly confirm their setting, there are many references to Australian slang, cars, and locations, leading audiences to believe that the films are set in Australia. The prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga confirms that all Mad Max films, including the ambiguous Fury Road, are set in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country where the movies take place is stated or not | No, it is not overtly stated |
| Visuals of Australian locations | Yes, in the first movie, there are shots of the Hall of Justice, West Gate Bridge, and Sydney Harbour |
| Cars used in the movie | Australian-made cars and Ford Falcons |
| Australian slang used | Yes, from "Fang it" to "Guzzoline", "Right-o" to "Thunder up" |
| Director of the movie | Australian, George Miller |
| Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga confirms the location | Yes, it is set in Australia |
| Setting of the movie | The Wasteland |
| History of Australia in the movie | Likely the same as real Australian history until the early 1980s or late 2010s in the reboot timeline |
| Oil crisis | Yes, there is a fuel shortage scenario |
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What You'll Learn
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise
The film takes place in a dystopian Australia where the government is no longer able to effectively protect its citizens. Max is a skilled policeman trying to keep order on the highways. When a vicious biker gang murders his wife and child, Max kills them in revenge. Disillusioned by the collapse of ordered society, Max quits his job and becomes a wanderer in the wasteland.
The Mad Max films have never explicitly confirmed where they are set, but they integrate Australian slang, cars, and locations throughout the franchise. For example, in the first film, the Hall of Justice is reminiscent of Melbourne and features a shot of the West Gate Bridge. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome also shows a shot of Sydney Harbour. The cars in the films are also specific to the Australian market, such as the Ford Falcons driven by the MFP in the first film.
The prequel film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga confirms that all Mad Max films, including Fury Road, are set in Australia. The film zooms in on the continent from outer space, confirming that everything from The Greenplace to The Citadel is located in Australia. The next Mad Max movie will likely be a Fury Road prequel set in Australia, continuing the geographical theme established in previous films.
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The films are set in a dystopian Australia
The Mad Max film series is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. The films revolve around the character of Max Rockatansky, a highway policeman in a future, dystopian Australia. The first film, released in 1979, is a traditional origin story, depicting a world where the government can no longer effectively protect its citizens. As Australian society collapses due to war, resource shortages, and ecocide, Max becomes a wandering drifter in the wasteland, encountering pockets of civilisation that draw him into their conflicts.
While the films do not explicitly state their setting, they integrate Australian slang, cars, and locations. For instance, the Hall of Justice in the first film resembles Melbourne and features a shot of the West Gate Bridge. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome also includes a shot of Sydney Harbour. The prevalence of Australian-made cars, such as the Ford Falcons driven by the MFP, further hints at an Australian setting.
The prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga confirms that all Mad Max films, including Fury Road, are set in Australia. The film opens with a shot of the continent from outer space, dispelling any remaining ambiguity about the location. This confirmation aligns with the inspiration drawn from Australia's history, specifically the 1973 oil crisis, which influenced the film's exploration of individuals taking desperate measures to maintain their mobility.
The unique blend of Australian slang, car culture, and post-apocalyptic settings has made the Mad Max films a significant part of Australian cinema, impacting both local and global audiences and solidifying their place in pop culture.
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Australian slang, cars and locations are featured
While the Mad Max films do not explicitly state their setting, they feature Australian slang, cars, and locations, confirming that the story takes place in Australia.
The films are filled with Australian slang, such as "Fang it", "Guzzoline", "Right-o", and "Thunder up". The cars in the films are also specific to the Australian market, with the MFP driving Ford Falcons in the first film. The films also showcase Australian car culture, with vehicles representing independence, freedom, status, and Australian ideals of masculinity.
In terms of locations, the first Mad Max film features shots of the Hall of Justice, which is reminiscent of Melbourne, and even includes a shot of the West Gate Bridge in the background. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome shows what is left of Sydney Harbour in the post-apocalyptic world. The film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga further confirms the Australian setting by zooming in on the continent from outer space.
The history of Australia in the Mad Max films is also similar to that of real Australian history, including the inhabitance of First Nations peoples, colonisation in the 18th century, and events such as the Commonwealth unification and the designation of Canberra as the capital. The films also allude to a severe oil crisis, fuel shortages, and the collapse of Australian society, leading to lawlessness and looting.
Overall, the integration of Australian slang, cars, and locations throughout the Mad Max franchise strongly suggests that the story is set in Australia.
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The first three films were shot in Australia
The Mad Max film series is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. The first film in the series was released in 1979, followed by three sequels: Mad Max 2 (1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). The first three films in the Mad Max series were primarily shot in Australia, with the country serving as the primary setting for the post-apocalyptic world depicted in the films.
The first Mad Max film, released in 1979, was set in a dystopian future Australia experiencing societal collapse due to war, critical resource shortages, and ecocide. The film follows Max Rockatansky, a skilled policeman trying to keep order on the highways in a world where the government can no longer effectively protect its citizens. The Australian setting is subtly integrated into the film through the use of Australian slang, cars, and locations. For example, the Hall of Justice location in the film is distinctly Melbourne, featuring the West Gate Bridge in the background.
Mad Max 2, released in 1981, continued the story of Max Rockatansky in the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland. The film depicts a world where global war has destroyed remaining world governments, and gangs and warlords dominate the landscape. While the film does not feature as many overt references to Australian locations as the first film, it still maintains a strong connection to the Australian setting through its themes and visuals.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, released in 1985, concludes the original trilogy. The film introduces the remains of Sydney Harbour, reinforcing the Australian setting of the first two films. By this point in the series, Max has fully embraced his role as a wandering drifter in the wasteland, periodically encountering pockets of civilisation. The film further explores the collapse of Australian society and the struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
While the fourth film, Mad Max: Fury Road, does not feature any explicit references to its Australian setting, it was still largely shot in Australia. The film continues the story of Max and introduces new characters, including Imperator Furiosa, portrayed by Charlize Theron. The spin-off film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, released in 2024, confirms that all Mad Max films, including Fury Road, are set in Australia.
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Furiosa confirms the films are set in Australia
The Mad Max films have never explicitly confirmed where they are set. However, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga confirms beyond a shadow of a doubt that all Mad Max films, including Fury Road, are set in Australia. In its opening shot, the film zooms in on the continent from outer space, confirming that everything from The Greenplace to The Citadel is located in Australia. The film also features several locations, like The Citadel and Bullet Farm, which were also part of Mad Max: Fury Road.
The next Mad Max movie will likely be a Fury Road prequel set in Australia, continuing the geographical theme established in previous films. The Mad Max films have always maintained an air of ambiguity surrounding their setting, but Furiosa finally offers some answers. Screenwriter James McCausland and director George Miller recounted how the 1973 oil crisis in Australia put the nation on edge and inspired the first Mad Max movie. Given this, it is not surprising that the film's story unfolds on the Oceanic continent.
The Mad Max movies have adopted various Australian slang to hint at their setting, from "Fang it" to "Guzzoline," "Right-o" to "Thunder up." Australian cars and locations have also been subtly integrated throughout the franchise. For example, in the first Mad Max film, the Hall of Justice is reminiscent of Melbourne and features a shot of the West Gate Bridge in the background. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome also shows a shot of Sydney Harbour in the post-apocalyptic world.
While Mad Max: Fury Road does not draw any references to Australia, Furiosa takes the franchise back to its roots. The film was shot in Australia, with filming locations across New South Wales, including Broken Hill, Hay, and Silverton.
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Frequently asked questions
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. While none of the films explicitly state that they are set in Australia, the prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga confirms that all Mad Max films are set in Australia.
The films include Australian slang, cars, and locations. In the first film, the Hall of Justice is reminiscent of Melbourne and features a shot of the West Gate Bridge. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome shows a shot of Sydney Harbour.
Mad Max: Fury Road does not explicitly mention its setting. However, it is assumed to be set in Australia, like the first three films.
The next Mad Max film will likely be a prequel to Fury Road, set in Australia.
