Entertainment
The Most Influential Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller Ever Storms New Streaming Home
Although the Mad Max franchise is undeniably in a state of disarray right now, there’s no denying how influential the original movie has been in the dystopian sci-fi genre. Released in 1979, the original Mad Max not only introduced the talents of director George Miller to the world, but also launched Mel Gibson as a movie star and became a rare crossover hit. Looking back, the movie has little in common with what the franchise became over the years, but its anarchic spirit has seeped into many an imitator over the years, and even some movies that seemingly had little to do with it. Audiences can revisit the glory of the original Mad Max in December, as it heads to Prime Video.
The movie celebrated its 45th anniversary just last year, when Miller returned to the world he created with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The movie infamously bombed at the box office, grossing just over $170 million globally against a reported $168 million budget. The Mad Max franchise might have begun with a scrappy little movie made by inventive Australians, but it has certainly morphed into something more majestic. The original made a huge impression, grossing over $100 million worldwide against a reported budget of less than $1 million. A sequel, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, followed in 1981, and a third installment, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, was released in 1985. It wasn’t until two decades later that Miller unleashed Mad Max: Fury Road, which featured Tom Hardy in the central role instead of Gibson.
The ‘Mad Max’ Franchise Is Stuck in Limbo
The original Mad Max was a critical hit as well, and is now sitting at a “certified fresh” 89% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus reads, “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.” The franchise’s top-rated movie remains Fury Road, which is sitting at a near-perfect 97% score. Beyond Thunderdome, on the other hand, is the least-liked installment, although it has its fans. Because of Furiosa‘s box office failure — remember, even Fury Road underperformed — the franchise seems to be stuck in limbo, although Miller has said that he has more up his sleeve.
You can watch the original Mad Max on Prime Video beginning December 1, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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April 12, 1979
- Runtime
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91 minutes
- Director
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George Miller
- Writers
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James McCausland
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Joanne Samuel
Jessie Rockatansky
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