The Road Warrior (1981)

In the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline-rich community escape a horde of bandits.

Director:

George Miller

Writers:

Terry Hayes (screenplay by), George Miller (screenplay by)

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston

8 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Max
Bruce Spence	...	The Gyro Captain
Michael Preston	...	Pappagallo (as Mike Preston)
Max Phipps	...	The Toadie
Vernon Wells	...	Wez
Kjell Nilsson	...	The Humungus
Emil Minty	...	The Feral Kid
Virginia Hey	...	Warrior Woman
William Zappa	...	Zetta
Arkie Whiteley	...	The Captain's Girl
Steve J. Spears	...	Mechanic
Syd Heylen	...	Curmudgeon
Moira Claux	...	Big Rebecca
David Downer	...	Nathan
David Slingsby	...	Quiet Man

Storyline

Wandering the deserted highways of an energy-starved dystopian Australia after eradicating the Night Rider's followers in Mad Max (1979), the former patrolman, Max Rockatansky, finds himself roaming the endless wasteland scavenging for food and precious petrol. Suddenly, in the scorched wilderness, the hungry for fuel Max chances upon a small oil refinery; however, the place is under siege by Lord Humungus' barbarian horde of biker warlords, hell-bent on destruction and mayhem. Now, to get his hands on as much gas as he can carry, "Mad" Max will have to provide the defenceless community with a powerful truck to transport the gasoline to safety; nevertheless, this is easier said than done. Is Max, the battle-scarred Road Warrior, up to the task?

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Plot Keywords:

post apocalypse | gasoline | car truck chase | car chase | refinery | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two years later, Michael Preston went on to star as Jared-Syn, the title antagonist of Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983). The film's protagonist, Dogen the Space Ranger (Jeffrey Byron), resembled Max Rockatansky, and the film was described by a critic as Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) meets Mad Max (1979).

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Goofs

Max is carrying 4 fuel cans back to the big rig (4 cans @ 5 lbs per can empty = 20 lbs). He is using a metal bar to carry the cans (~10 lbs). He requested diesel fuel and high-octane gasoline. The cans look to be 5 gallon containers. Diesel fuel weighs 7 lbs per gallon (3 cans @ 35 lbs per = 105 lbs). Gasoline weighs 6 lbs per gallon (1 can @ 30 lbs). The load Max is trying to carry is around 160 lbs. It isn't realistic that Max would be able to left, carry or shift this load on his shoulder with the ease displayed in the film.

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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 ...

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Alternate Versions

In some versions (such as the initial VHS release in Australia and the UK) there is a slightly extended speech from Papagalo after Humongous' challenge.

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Connections

Referenced in Mad Max, univers brûlant (2016)

User Reviews

MAD MAX - back and better than ever

After the enormous success of "Mad Max" in 1979, it was predictable that a sequel would follow. In fact, two sequels followed, and the first of these is "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior".

Released in the U.S. simply as "The Road Warrior", "Mad Max 2" begins with a narration re-introducing us to wandering ex-cop Max (Gibson) ... and then we're off. In post-apocalyptic Australia, Max wanders the nuclear waste lands in search of Earth's most precious resource: gasoline. When he discovers a band of people guarding a large deposit of fuel, he lends his services as a driver to help them escape from a vicious group of bandits intent on taking the gas for themselves.

"Mad Max 2" is one of the best sequels ever. It's everything the original was and more. Mel Gibson is great, and the cast performs very well. Brian May's skills as a composer have improved, and he gives a very fast-paced score. George Miller's directing skills have also improved, and he deals us out some intense car sequences that have yet to be rivaled.

This film is special because, although it was very popular when released and is even more popular now, it is unique in that it is not afraid to be just that. If that confused you, let me put it this way: George Miller has created a film that, while trying to improve the flaws from past films, is not afraid to be original and un-Hollywood. And I must say, Mr. Miller pulls it off excellently.

I love "The Road Warrior" as well as the rest of the "Mad Max" series. I would say that "Mad Max 2" is quite possibly the greatest film to come out of Australia. It is one of Mel Gibson's best and one of the best sci-fi films ever. "Mad Max 2" is essential.

Details

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Filming Locations:

Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,527,864, 23 May 1982

Gross USA:

$23,667,907

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$23,667,907

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 87 min (heavily cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1