Ruqayyah Snyder
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. The first Mad Max film, released in 1979, is an Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller in his directorial debut. The film stars Mel Gibson as Mad Max Rockatansky, a police officer turned vigilante in a dystopian near-future Australia in the midst of societal collapse. Mad Max became the first in the series, spawning 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 franchise are confirmed to be set in Australia, while the fourth film, Fury Road, is believed to be set in a 'mythological' post-apocalyptic Australia, although this is not explicitly stated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mad Max franchise | Australian media franchise |
| Created by | George Miller and Byron Kennedy |
| First film release | 1979 |
| First film director | George Miller |
| First film budget | A$400,000 |
| First film gross revenue | Over US$100 million worldwide |
| First film car designer | Peter Arcadipane |
| First film stars | Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward |
| First film setting | Melbourne, Australia |
| Sequels | Mad Max 2 (1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) |
| Spin-off | Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) |
| Fury Road setting | Post-apocalyptic Australia |
| Fury Road director | George Miller |
| Fury Road writers | George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nico Lathouris |
| Fury Road stars | Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron |
Explore related products
![Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91Z9gNQ5RxL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Mad Max [4KUHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81CwBRIEa2L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Mad Max (Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/910w8uu1kWL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Mad Max [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81jJv4B-N4L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise
The Mad Max franchise consists of four films, with the first one giving rise to three sequels: Mad Max 2 (1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Miller directed or co-directed all four films. While the first three films are confirmed to be set in Australia, the setting of Fury Road is less clear. Some viewers assume it is set in Australia due to the presence of Aboriginal Australian characters and the character Max's tendency to dwell in Australian outbacks in the previous films. However, the film lacks specific references to Australian locations seen in the earlier films.
The Mad Max films follow the titular character Max as he navigates a post-apocalyptic wasteland, encountering remaining pockets of civilization and getting entangled in their struggles. The series has had a significant impact on popular culture, influencing apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction and expanding into other media, including video games and comic books. Fury Road received Academy Award recognition in 2016, winning six of its ten nominations.
The Mad Max films feature references to Australian culture and locations. The cars used in the films, such as the Ford Falcons driven by the Main Force Patrol in the first film, are specific to the Australian market. Additionally, certain visuals in the films point to Australian locations, such as shots of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne in the first film and the remains of Sydney Harbour in Thunderdome.
Understanding Australia's Interbank Rate: How It Works
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The films are set in a dystopian future Australia
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. The films centre on a series of post-apocalyptic and dystopian action films set in a future, dystopian Australia.
The first Mad Max film, released in 1979, is a traditional origin story. In a dystopian Australia, the government no longer has the capacity to effectively protect its citizens. Max Rockatansky, a skilled policeman, tries to keep order on the highways. When Max takes his family on a beach holiday, a vicious biker gang murders his wife and child. Max kills the gang in revenge. Disillusioned by the collapse of ordered society, Max quits his job and becomes a wanderer in the wasteland.
The remaining Mad Max films follow Max's comings and goings in the wasteland. By Mad Max 2, global war has destroyed the remaining world governments. Old society has collapsed, and gangs and warlords dominate the wasteland. Isolated pockets of civilisation remain, desperately preserving remnants of pre-apocalyptic technology, especially oil refineries.
In Mad Max: Fury Road, the fourth film in the franchise, the remaining trappings of pre-apocalyptic civilisation have been replaced by a system of ruthless warlords, who dominate Australia's remaining agricultural and industrial centres with their private armies. Max, still wandering the wasteland, is captured by the warlord Immortan Joe. He escapes when Joe's lieutenant, Furiosa, attempts to flee Joe's fortress with his remaining wives. Max and Furiosa team up to fend off Joe's army so that they can reach Furiosa's home.
The films make many references to Australian slang, and some of the locations are unmistakably Australian. For example, the first film features shots of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, and Thunderdome features shots of Sydney Harbour. The cars in the films are also specific to the Australian market, and the MFP exclusively drives Ford Falcons in the first film.
Currency Conversion: Exploring Australian Dollar Equivalents
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Mad Max (Decades Collection with CD) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81+-oRJYWgL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The films were directed by Australian George Miller
The Mad Max film series was created by Australian director George Miller and producer Byron Kennedy. Miller directed or co-directed all four films in the franchise, as well as the 2024 spin-off Furiosa: A Mad Max Story.
Miller's debut as a director came with the first Mad Max film in 1979, which he also co-wrote with James McCausland. The film was shot in and around Melbourne and lasted for six weeks. It starred Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky, a police officer in a future Australia that is experiencing societal collapse due to war, critical resource shortages, and ecocide.
The film was a commercial success, earning more than $100 million worldwide in gross revenue on a budget of just $400,000. It also won four AACTA Awards and held the record in the Guinness Book of Records for the most profitable film for twenty years. The success of Mad Max opened the global market to Australian New Wave films.
Miller continued to direct the Mad Max sequels, including Mad Max 2 (1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). The latter film was written by Miller, Brendan McCarthy, and Nico Lathouris and starred Tom Hardy as Mad Max. While the first three films in the franchise are clearly set in Australia, the setting of Fury Road is less obvious, with some viewers interpreting it as a 'mythological' post-apocalyptic 'anywhere'. However, Miller has stated that the film takes place in Australia, and there are still references to Australian locations and culture throughout the film.
Governing Australia: Pre-Federation Era Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Mad Max opened the global market to Australian New Wave films
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. The first Mad Max film was released in 1979, and the film franchise has since grown to include three sequels and a spin-off, with a sixth film set to be released in 2024. The Mad Max films are set in a dystopian future Australia, where societal collapse is caused by war, critical resource shortages, and ecocide. The story centres on Max Rockatansky, a highway policeman who becomes a wandering drifter in the wasteland after his wife and child are murdered by a vicious biker gang.
The success of Mad Max has been credited with opening the global market to Australian New Wave films. The film became a top-grossing Australian film, holding the record in the Guinness Book of Records for the most profitable film ever made for twenty years until The Blair Witch Project claimed the record in 1999. Mad Max's influence extended beyond the Australian film industry, with its impact on global cinema, including the endorsement of Quentin Tarantino. The film's gritty, action-packed style and its reflection of Australian culture and societal issues have made it a classic in the post-apocalyptic film genre.
The Australian New Wave movement revitalised Australian cinema post-WWII, fostering new talent and diverse storytelling styles. This movement birthed iconic films like Mad Max and stars such as Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman. The Australian New Wave can be traced back to the efforts of Prime Ministers John Gorton and Gough Whitlam, whose governments from 1968 to 1975 invested heavily in rescuing the Australian cinema industry. This period of Australian cinema, from 1970 to 1985, saw an explosion of new films with fresh creative minds and stars who would become legends in the industry.
Mad Max, in particular, exemplifies the Ozploitation subgenre of Australian New Wave, which encompasses the wacky, lurid, and action-packed B-movies of the era. The film's depiction of car chases and explosions, influenced by the culture of hoon-driving and vehicular recklessness in Australia, has become a defining feature of the post-apocalyptic genre. The success of Mad Max and its sequels, nestled within the Australian New Wave, further solidified the movement's impact on global cinema.
The Mad Max films have had a significant impact on popular culture, influencing apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction in various media, including video games and comic books. The franchise has received critical acclaim, with Fury Road winning six Academy Awards from ten nominations and topping several lists of the best films of the decade. The films' influence extends beyond Australia, with their lasting impact on global cinema and popular culture, solidifying their place as iconic contributions to the Australian New Wave.
Rhyolite in Australia: Where Is It Located?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Mad Max was banned in New Zealand and Sweden
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. The film series centres on a post-apocalyptic and dystopian Australia. The first Mad Max film was released in 1979, followed by Mad Max 2 (1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). The franchise has had a significant impact on popular culture, influencing apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, video games, and comic books.
Despite its popularity and critical acclaim, Mad Max faced censorship issues in some countries, including New Zealand and Sweden. In New Zealand, the original 1979 film was banned due to its violent content and resemblance to real-life events. Specifically, the film depicted a scene where the character Goose is burned alive inside his vehicle by a gang, mirroring a real-life incident involving an attempt by gang members to set a police officer, Sergeant Charles O'Hara, on fire. The Chief Censor banned Mad Max in 1979 for "violence and anti-social behaviour," and this decision was upheld by the Films Censorship Board of Review in 1980. The ban was eventually lifted in 1983 after the success of the less violent and more action-packed sequel, "The Road Warrior," but the film retained a restrictive R18 rating in New Zealand.
In Sweden, Mad Max faced censorship as well, although the details are less clear. It is known that the film was banned or heavily edited in Sweden due to its violent content. This was likely due to the country's strict regulations on violent media at the time. However, it is unclear if the ban was lifted or if the film was eventually released in a censored version.
The censorship of Mad Max in New Zealand and Sweden highlights the differing cultural attitudes towards violence in media and the role of censorship boards in making these decisions. While some countries may view certain films as unacceptable or inappropriate for their audiences, others may have more lenient standards or prioritize the artistic expression and impact of the film. In the case of Mad Max, the violent content and resemblance to real-life events crossed a line for New Zealand and Sweden's censorship boards, leading to the film's ban or heavy editing.
It is worth noting that the impact of the ban in New Zealand and Sweden was relatively limited, as the film still gained widespread popularity and critical acclaim internationally. Additionally, the ban was temporary, and the film was eventually made available to audiences in both countries, albeit with restrictions in place.
Declaring Bankruptcy in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Mad Max is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. The first three films in the series are set in Australia, with the fourth film's setting being less clear.
Mad Max centres on a series of post-apocalyptic and dystopian action films. The series follows Max, who starts the series as a police officer in a future Australia that is experiencing societal collapse due to war, critical resource shortages, and ecocide. Max becomes a wandering drifter in the wasteland, encountering remaining pockets of civilisation, which rope him into their political machinations or personal problems.
Mel Gibson originally portrayed the series's title character, Max Rockatansky, in the first three films, while Tom Hardy and Jacob Tomuri portrayed the character in the later two films. Other cast members include Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, and Roger Ward.
Mad Max became a top-grossing Australian film and was credited for further opening the global market to Australian New Wave films. The film initially received a polarised reception upon its release, although it won four AACTA Awards and set a Guinness record for most profitable film.
