In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Max
...
...
...
Tim Burns ...
Roger Ward ...
...
David Bracks ...
Bertrand Cadart ...
...
Robina Chaffey ...
Stephen Clark ...
Mathew Constantine ...
Jerry Day ...
Reg Evans ...
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Storyline

Taking place in a dystopian Australia in the near future, Mad Max tells the story of a highway patrolman cruising the squalid back roads that have become the breeding ground of criminals foraging for gasoline and scraps. When his wife and child meet a grisly end at the hands of a motorcycle gang, Max sets out across the barren wastelands in search of revenge. Written by Cole Matthews

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The Film That Started It All See more »


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

| |  »

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

21 March 1980 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Mad Max  »

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Gross:

AUD 5,625,000 (Australia)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (special edition)

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The car that Max drives (a black "Pursuit Special"; the phrase "the last of the V8s" was used once, and later as "the last of the V8 interceptors" was used until Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)) is a production car, the Ford "XB Falcon Coupe", sold in Australia from December 1973 until August 1976. The car in the film had a standard 351 cubic inch (5.75 litre) V8 motor. See more »

Goofs

During an early chase sequence the yellow police car can be seen upside down in two shots before it crashes. See more »

Quotes

Goose: We'll See you on the road, skag! We'll See you on the road like we saw The Nightrider!
Johnny the Boy: We remember The Nightrider! And we know who you are!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Shattered: Sound of a Strap (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

Jessie's Theme
(uncredited)
Written by Nic Gazzana
Performed by Joanne Samuel
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Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

Mad Max is a true classic!
1 May 2000 | by (Sweden) – See all my reviews

Max is the ultimate avenger!

Set in a near future, Max, a high-way patrol officer, tries to stop a violent motorcycle gang.

This is a simple plot, but it is so well done and well filmed that this movie is a real classic action film.

I like Mad Max (1979) better than Mad Max 2 (1981). Most people seem to think that the second one is even better, but I can't agree on this because of several things:

First of all, this first Max movie has got a very important question, and that is that the violence of today are going to be worse tomorrow. The film dares to view violence even more than most movies do today, and I think this is a good thing, that helps to make this film trustworthy.

The acting is better in Mad Max than in the sequels, and the feeling of a near, almost broken down society with a small police force is more interesting than the post-nuclear situation that the second and third film tries to show us.

The car crashes and the pursuit in the openings of Mad Max are truly incredible. Never before had such nice work been put on celluloid.

Overall Mad Max is a true classic! Before this movie, science-fiction/action films weren't as good.

If You haven't seen it, try to get hold of the non-dubbed version.


29 of 48 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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"The Last of the V8's" Theory GatorMouth
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