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IMDbPro

Mad Max

  • 19791979
  • RR
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
205K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
656
656
Mad Max (1979)
Accessible official trailer
Play trailer1:54
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Sci-Fi
In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
205K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
656
656
  • Director
    • George Miller
  • Writers
    • James McCausland(screenplay)
    • George Miller(screenplay)
    • Byron Kennedy(original story)
  • Stars
    • Mel Gibson
    • Joanne Samuel
    • Hugh Keays-Byrne
Top credits
  • Director
    • George Miller
  • Writers
    • James McCausland(screenplay)
    • George Miller(screenplay)
    • Byron Kennedy(original story)
  • Stars
    • Mel Gibson
    • Joanne Samuel
    • Hugh Keays-Byrne
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 421User reviews
    • 242Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:54
    Official Trailer

    Photos176

    Mel Gibson and Steve Bisley in Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson and Joanne Samuel in Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson in Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson in Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson in Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson in Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson and Joanne Samuel in Mad Max (1979)
    Hugh Keays-Byrne in Mad Max (1979)
    Joanne Samuel in Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson in Mad Max (1979)
    Mad Max (1979)
    Mel Gibson and Tim Burns in Mad Max (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mel Gibson
    Mel Gibson
    • Maxas Max
    Joanne Samuel
    Joanne Samuel
    • Jessieas Jessie
    Hugh Keays-Byrne
    Hugh Keays-Byrne
    • Toecutteras Toecutter
    Steve Bisley
    Steve Bisley
    • Jim Gooseas Jim Goose
    Tim Burns
    Tim Burns
    • Johnny the Boyas Johnny the Boy
    Roger Ward
    Roger Ward
    • Fifias Fifi
    Lisa Aldenhoven
    Lisa Aldenhoven
    • Nurseas Nurse
    David Bracks
    David Bracks
    • Mudgutsas Mudguts
    Bertrand Cadart
    Bertrand Cadart
    • Clunkas Clunk
    David Cameron
    David Cameron
    • Underground Mechanicas Underground Mechanic
    Robina Chaffey
    Robina Chaffey
    • Singeras Singer
    Stephen Clark
    • Sarseas Sarse
    Mathew Constantine
    • Toddleras Toddler
    Jerry Day
    Jerry Day
    • Ziggyas Ziggy
    Reg Evans
    Reg Evans
    • Station Masteras Station Master
    Howard Eynon
    • Diabandoas Diabando
    Max Fairchild
    Max Fairchild
    • Bennoas Benno
    John Farndale
    • Grinneras Grinner
    • Director
      • George Miller
    • Writers
      • James McCausland(screenplay)
      • George Miller(screenplay) (original story)
      • Byron Kennedy(original story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Most of the extras used in the film were paid in beer.
    • Goofs
      When Jessie walks to the car Max is repairing she is wearing sneakers. When she walks around to the passenger side of the car she has on boots with sheepskin trim. When she walks off to the beach she is wearing the deck shoes again.
    • Quotes

      [the Kid is handcuffed to a car that's about to explode]

      Max: The chain in those handcuffs is high-tensile steel. It'd take you ten minutes to hack through it with this. Now, if you're lucky, you could hack through your ankle in five minutes. Go.

      [the hacksaw is dropped next to The Kid, and Max limps off]

    • Alternate versions
      The original UK cinema and certified video releases (American dub) were cut by 48 seconds by the BBFC to keep an X (18) rating and to prevent the film from being banned, as X was the highest rating. They edited the scene where the bikers tear up the hot-rod with the terrified couple inside. Instead, the scene cut to black as the bikers smashed the first window and resumed on the bird hovering overhead. Though the original uncertified 1982 video release of the American dub from Warner Home Video was released uncut, the cut was re-instated on the 1986 18-rated VHS, but was restored in 1992 when the Australian dialogue version was finally released in the UK and to all later releases with the same rating (although Warner's budget labels SCREEN CLASSICS still put out the American dub with the cut scene well into the 90s). In April 2015, the film was passed with a 15 rating uncut, because of "(the scene's) implied nature and lack of visual detail of the acts themselves". The same reason was given for passing it at 18 uncut back in 1992.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Road Warrior (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Licorice Road
      (uncredited)

      Written and Produced by Nic Gazzana

      Performed by Robina Chaffey

      Sung by Creenagh St. Clair

    User reviews421

    Review
    Top review
    A quarter of a century on now (from the original filming) and still an icon of Aussie movie making!
    It was the very rawness and budgetary constraints of this little flick that made it what it was. A new kind of action hero in a new kind of world! Gibson's laughably underpaid (though unavoidably so) contribution cannot be underestimated. He imbued Max with more than the script actually merited. An attitude perhaps that struck a chord with many office-desk (wannabe) vigilantes. After all, Max takes control of his own life - is not cowed by authority. Max is everyman, the one inside us that few get the chance to let loose. He is part Jesus, part Che, part James Dean, all Australian yobbo! But this guy gets the job done - drop Max into Iraq next month and see how far Saddam Hussein gets trying to stock up on sarin!

    Raw energy is what MAD MAX was all about! Distilled, tempered and inflamed by the time THE ROAD WARRIOR came around but at this juncture. a man on a mission and with the best tricked-up car since....well, THE CAR ! For those of you incidentally, totally mortified that his glorious black-hearted Interceptor was rendered dead-meat in MAD MAX 2, be comforted by the fact that it DOES in fact reside still in a museum in London (Why there and not Sydney I know not...perhaps for the same reason Australia still is not host to the cricket-ashes urn!) What chance of either's return when Greece can't even get the Elgin Marbles back?

    Much has been made (and remembered) of the high-power car chases in this film, held by many in absolute reverence. In fact after the main cops vs The Nightrider work-out in the first few minutes of the flick, its pretty much all downhill in the action stakes - nothing subsequently in MAD MAX (1) comes near this brief sequence. This situation (with a way bigger budget) was inarguably reversed by the time THE ROAD WARRIOR came along. The stunts in THAT film have never been surpassed and remember this was without CGI fx.

    MAD MAX has that indefinable 'something" the sequels didn't...perhaps just a raw innovation couldn't be duplicated - rather like ur first kiss. It might not have been the best, but it sure IS fondly remembered.
    helpful•78
    48
    • uds3
    • Jan 10, 2003

    FAQ9

    • What is Mad Max about?
    • I heard the negatives of this film were lost. What is the story?
    • Are there two versions of the same film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 21, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Pobješnjeli Max
    • Filming locations
      • Seaford Beach, Seaford, Victoria, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Kennedy Miller Productions
      • Mad Max Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,750,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,773,197
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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