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Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

Mad Max 2 (original title)
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In the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline rich, community escape a band of bandits.

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(screenplay), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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8 wins & 10 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Max
...
Michael Preston ...
Pappagallo (as Mike Preston)
Max Phipps ...
...
Wez
Kjell Nilsson ...
The Humungus
Emil Minty ...
...
...
Arkie Whiteley ...
Steve J. Spears ...
Syd Heylen ...
Moira Claux ...
David Downer ...
David Slingsby ...
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Storyline

A former Australian policeman now living in the post-apocalyptic Australian outback as a warrior agrees to help a community of survivors living in a gasoline refinery to defend them and their gasoline supplies from evil barbarian warriors. Written by Daniel Williamson

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

In the future, cities will become deserts, roads will become battlefields and the hope of mankind will appear as a stranger. See more »


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

21 May 1982 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior  »

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,527,864 (USA) (21 May 1982)

Gross:

$9,003,011 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (heavily cut)

Sound Mix:

(35 mm prints) (as Dolby Stereo)| (70 mm prints)

Color:

(archive footage)|

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The first Australian film mixed in a Dolby soundtrack. See more »

Goofs

When Papagallo is shot in the leg by Humungus' goons, the arrow used to shoot is bright red but when it hits his leg it's white and yellow. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: My life fades. The vision dims. All that remains are memories. I remember a time of chaos... ruined dreams... this wasted land. But most of all, I remember The Road Warrior. The man we called "Max." To understand who he was, you have to go back to another time... when the world was powered by the black fuel... and the desert sprouted great cities of pipe and steel. Gone now... swept away. For reasons long forgotten, two mighty warrior tribes went to war, and touched off a blaze ...
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Special Collector's Edition: The Ring (2011) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Concentrated testosterone, and fun
2 May 2003 | by (KCMO) – See all my reviews

I think this may be the greatest 'car movie' ever made. The chase scenes are gritty and thrilling, and quite realistic. None of that 'car falls over cliff and blows up' crap.

In the fighting/war scenes, it plays a perfect balance between hidden action and open action, never overselling the gore nor underselling the violence.

The plot is an excuse to have a long highway battle, but I'm not complaining. It's vaguely feasible enough that you don't worry much about it, just accept it as a needed background to hang the fun stuff on. Oh, to be a stunt driver in this movie! Or even to be a mechanic! That would be a story to tell your children.

This is every driving fantasy I've ever had, and played perfectly. I know that certainly flavors my review, but tell me that movies which are cathartic for you haven't affected YOU that way?

Bottom line: thin plot, heavy action, decent characterization. Symbolism absent, directness the rule of the day. Jump on this bandwagon and ram something. Fun all the way.


42 of 54 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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War montage at the beginning of the movie. Sjaaksnaak
Doesn't look like the same world with original anymore kevinchengxin
Sequels far superior to the original johnlukeconcannon
The Cinematography Ufomammutter
Time since government collapsed Brenapp
16 lines of dialog? mmerri
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