Every Mad Max Movie, Ranked

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The Mad Max series is remarkably consistent – it’s never truly been bad. While two of the films are significantly stronger than the others, even the weaker entries still offer thrilling action sequences and a bleak, compelling world. In fact, each installment usually delivers on at least one of those fronts. The franchise also played a huge role in bringing Australian cinema to international audiences and launched the career of its creator, director George Miller. Mad Max will likely be the first thing people associate with Miller’s impressive filmography for years to come.

It’s quite a compliment, especially when you consider George Miller’s impressive career – he directed The Witches of Eastwick, wrote and directed Lorenzo’s Oil, wrote Babe and its sequel, and created the Happy Feet films. While he’s clearly a talented and diverse filmmaker, Mad Max remains his most iconic work. So, out of his five action movies, which one stands out as the best?

5) Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Many fans consider Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome to be among the weakest films in the Mad Max series, often ranking it alongside another entry as the worst. However, the two films are considered poor for different reasons.

The third film in the Mad Max series attempts to raise the tension, though the stakes aren’t particularly high overall, except for one key moment. However, it feels somewhat disconnected from the previous films, similar to how the Ewoks felt in Star Wars. It’s essentially a Peter Panstyle adventure set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic world. While Tina Turner’s performance as Aunty Entity and Max’s battle with Master Blaster are highlights, the film’s lighter tone often clashes with the grittiness of The Road Warrior, making it feel like a separate universe. Given the financial success of the second film, the creative choices made in Beyond Thunderdome* seem puzzling – why change a formula that worked so well?

4) Mad Max

As a movie fan, it’s wild to think about how incredibly profitable the original Mad Max was – it’s still considered one of the best investments ever made in filmmaking! But honestly, it feels totally different from the sequels. It just doesn’t quite have the same energy as the other films, you know? Even Thunderdome, which gets a lot of flak, actually did a better job of capturing that chaotic, post-apocalyptic vibe.

Although the first film is set in a future Australia falling apart due to an oil crisis, it doesn’t really capture the feeling of a true dystopia. Despite abandoned buildings and a still-functioning police force, things feel surprisingly ordinary. While a dangerous motorcycle gang is present, the movie lacks the desolate, post-apocalyptic atmosphere that defines the rest of the series. Max also works best as a solitary character, and if the story includes his family, they need to be fully developed and meaningful, rather than simply existing to motivate his rage.

3) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

While perhaps a little lengthy, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga deserves recognition as the most ambitious film in the series. It might add unnecessary complexity to Furiosa’s backstory, but it’s largely a visually impressive and thought-provoking movie. Plus, Chris Hemsworth’s performance as Dr. Dementus is among his very best.

While George Miller has talked about revisiting the Mad Max universe after Furiosa, the film didn’t do as well as hoped, making another installment less probable. However, Furiosa did demonstrate that Miller still has creative and compelling ideas for expanding that world.

2) Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

The original Mad Max film deliberately gave Max a rather bland personality, and that characteristic has remained consistent throughout the sequels. It’s interesting that the connection he formed with his dog in Mad Max 2 (released as The Road Warrior in the US) hasn’t been explored further, considering how little development his family received in the first film. This makes his bond with the dog, and the dog’s eventual fate, all the more impactful – mirroring the tragic outcome for Max’s wife and child.

The Road Warrior is so effective because Max’s stoic nature feels believable given the chaotic world the film portrays. We understand his self-preservation, but also see hints of the decent person he once was, like when he gives a child a music box. The movie provides just enough character development to make us feel connected to Max and curious about his story. It also features two compelling villains: Lord Humungus and Wez.

1) Mad Max: Fury Road

With its stunning practical effects and memorable, customized vehicles, Mad Max: Fury Road is the most exciting film in the Mad Max series. However, its greatness isn’t just about the action and visuals.

Fury Road stands out as the best Mad Max film because it shifts the focus away from Max himself. The story truly centers on Imperator Furiosa, and like Max, her past remains largely a mystery, yet she’s a compelling character. We quickly understand she’s risking everything to rescue women from a cruel tyrant who forces them to bear his children, making her a truly admirable hero. Combined with some of the most incredible action sequences ever filmed, and a standout villain in Immortan Joe, Fury Road easily takes the top spot.

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2025-12-14 03:13