What's your ranking of the Mad Max movies?

It's pretty telling that both Road Warrior and Thunderdome are framed as someone else telling a story about Max. I've always maintained that each film is a specific generation using Max as the hero of a story. Mad Max is the generation closest to the fall, when survival is paramount, and so we get a ruthless story about getting them before they get you. Road Warrior comes a generation later, when "every man for himself" doesn't work anymore and people realize they need to start banding together to survive. Thunderdome comes as society is starting to rise from the ruins and is a cautionary tale about not repeating the mistakes of the past. And by the time we get to Fury Road, Max is a full on folk hero version of himself, so large a figure that he bleeds into other people's stories, like Hercules showing up in The Iliad.

I like Thunderdome. It's a different take on the formula. More fanciful and theatrical with circus-y and rock opera flavors. All very 80's and beautifully shot too. Great cast... I've got no problem with it!

This was my first Mad Max and it really started the fun for me. It was a great entry point as a kid for the time.

I remember watching this for the first time and being convinced I watched two separate movies. It has some fun moments but I don’t think I ever rewatched it.

Oh boy. I think this one is the quotable and memorable of the Mad Max series because of how insane it can get at times, but still, it is an odd one in the development of the franchise. Still My mom loves this movie, and when she's enjoys something, I'm happy for her.

Thunderdome’s reputation amongst Max fans - something akin Crystal Skull’s reputation amongst Indians Jones fans - is undeserved and unjust. It has some of the most inventive world-building in it, and some truly beautiful screenwriting. That whole sequence from the kids doing “the tell” to Max turning his back on them at the plane is amazing. And little moments like the discovery of what the “sonic” really is, ending with the line “I’m going home”. It’s action sequences might not rise to the level of adrenaline-soaked kineticism of MMII, but it includes some of the most genuinely moving cinema in the entire franchise, something that only Fury Road rivals. The problem, I think, is that Mad Max had become so intrinsically tied, in the minds of viewers, to the idea of cars and roads (especially in the US, where Mad Max II was even called “The Road Warrior”), that a movie that doesn’t have a single road in it, and in which Max never even gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle until the last five minutes of the movie, and in which his two feet are his main means of locomotion, seemed like a disappointment to people expecting lots of high-octane driving sequences. It’s a different beast, that needs to be appreciated in its own terms, not based on what it isn’t. The idea people have that the second act is the “problem” is just bizarre to me. It’s easily the best and most memorable part of the film, IMO. And I’ve NEVER felt it as any kind of lag in the pacing. It becomes more meditative and intellectual at that point, sure. But I simply don’t understand how that’s a bad thing.

I just revisited it and Thunderdome isn't quite as bad as people make it out to be. The ending is actually quite emotional. But it's clear the movie's trying to blend two different storylines together and, once we get to the plane crash Lost Boys, it never reaches the Bartertown/Thunderdome highs again.

"Also, John Landis, straight to jail" no matter what else you say in this video I won't unlike it for saying this in the opening.

Lawrence of Arabia being a major influence on this film (and by extension even Fury Road) makes so much sense. George Miller truly channels his inner David Lean with the Mad Max films. Also, agree on Miller's segment on the Twilight Zone movie. His and Joe Dante's segments are the best parts. Very excited for Furiosa.

What's sad is those kids left a paradise setting for basically Escape From New York.

Another great video Matt! I LOVE THUNDERDOME. It's a beautifully shot, beautifully designed adventure that is classic 80s action cinema. "We Don't Need Another Hero" - PERFECTION. (*Mr. Draper... will you ever get round to doing a video on THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY?)

Nothing beats the ending form the second one. That still gives me chills.

I remember my father taking us out to the theaters to see this. While watching this my dad was like, "Where are the cars??"

When you said you thought Beyond Thunderdome was a sequel of Thunderdome, it brought me back to my childhood when I thought Revenge of the Nerds had to be a sequel to a previous Nerds movie.

When I first saw it in the mid eighties. It was like if Disney had made a Mad Max movie. But over the years Ive come to appreciate it. It was ambitious for its time and you can see the David Lean influence as the Cinematography is breathtaking.

TNT had this movie on ALL THE TIME in the late 90's/early 00's and I remember spending a winter night watching this with my dad. It was a fun watch but boy did we groan any time we were flipping through the channels and saw it playing AGAIN.

I LOVE every film in the MM saga, absolutely including Thunderdome. In fact, I watch BT every year or two. It's so different, so unique, and so influential.

I've always loved Thunderdome, it's my favorite of the original trilogy. It's really where the worldbuilding came into its own, more fully elaborating things only hinted at in Road Warrior. I love the intricacy and detail of the world-building: little touches like the way the kids refer to the apocalypse as the pox eclipse and have built this religion around discarded images and technology from a world that no longer exists. Same with the whole TV game-show setup of the Thunderdome itself. For all its famous over-the-topness, there has always been something very plausible and believable about it to me. I don't know that Thunder Road would've been made without the sheer ambition and scale first undertaken by Miller and crew with Thunderdome.

I was always under the belief that the kids were based on Peter Pan's Lost Boys.

I loved how the Tupac song California love was all Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome themed even though the movie was ten years old in 95.

Good video, Matt! Controversial Opinion Time: I'd say Beyond Thunderdome is my third favorite of the Max Max series and I'd rank it higher than the Road Warrior. I didn't grow up with any of these films other than the first one (which I saw thinking it was the Road Warrior and is my favorite of the series because of its more relatable version of Max and the not quite, but almost apocalyptic world) and I've never really glommed onto the series, even after finally staying up late a couple of years ago watching each film one by one. I think it's because so many people have ripped off that post-apocalyptic aesthetic of insane evil people fighting over resources while wearing leather/dominatrix outfits and riding around in over-the-top vehicles, that I'm just sick of it and, generally, if I want to watch a story about a badass mysterious anti-hero, I'd rather watch any of the Dollar's films by Sergio Leone with Clint Eastwood. Plus, even though he was big in the 90s/early 2000s, I've never really warmed to Mel Gibson as an actor and never bought him as this silent Eastwood type loner. I prefer and liked Max as just this regular guy with a family who lost everything and spiraled out of control, not this mystic character who just stumbles into becoming a hero to people in need. So, I guess I didn't mind the lighter fairy tale-ish touch in Beyond Thunderdome. At least, it's a different tone than I'm what I'm used to.

I think the humanity part that you mention is what got Gibson to jump onboard. If you look at the movies he did after Mad Max 2 (Mrs Soffel, The River etc.) he was really trying to broaden what he did as an actor.

I been thinking about getting into the Mad Max series now. Thanks Matt for giving me your perspective on this series. You are awesome.

I loved this movie! I watched what civilization might break down to and what happened when groups are isolated, then cross paths with others. Outstanding.

I haven't watched this one since 96. Thank you for reminding me of its existence

I was an 80s kid and this movie landed at the right time for me. I’ll always love it.

Thanks for the amazing video Matt. Big mad max fan ❤

Incredible!!! I loved your vid dude good job.

New day, a new matt draper video, covering mad max no less. Love it.

I remember I loved watching the Thunderdome scene on my VHS copy in the early 90's on school holidays. 'Two men enter, One man leave!'. Definitely the highlight of the film, but overall it's under rated. It's more commercial than the first two and less violent, but it's still original and crazy.

Interesting observations you have presented here, Matt. I'm going to down load this and archive for future references. Thank you.

I really liked Beyond Thunderdome. I found it stuck a great balance between action, humor, drama and, had some genuinely touching moments as well. Unlike a lot of 'modern' films, most of which are straight up stupid, annoying, preachy or all the above, MM BT is film I can watch over and over and not feel like my intelligence has been repeatedly insulted, or my time wasted. Same with Mad Max 1 and 2 as well. Of the 3, I like BT most because of its intelligence, humor and heart.

Replaying the mad max game, 3rd time I’ve played it just because I love the world so much. Same as each of the movies, can’t get enough of all of them.

this is like when rock bands take themselves too seriously, and change their sound and identity

There was a Mad Max video game? I used to own a Parker Brothers board game that felt inspired by the Mad Max franchise. It had the coolest miniatures for it of all the board games I owned in the '80s.

Maurice Jarre's complete score is available on a 2CD set from the Tadlow soundtrack label.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is my second favourite Mad Max movie after the Road Warrior. It expands on the post apocalyptic world of the Road Warrior. It is highly influential, if you have ever played Fallout 3, the first town you come across looks suspiciously like Bartertown.

A very fair and interesting review. 👍

It was a little disappointing, I expected Road Warrior again which is selfish, but also appropriate for the time. When a long time passes between sequels, like Mad Max and The Road Warrior, drastic change is just gonna happen. I feel in love with Tina Turner, one of the most Epic character looks ever.

Spot on review!

Tbh beyond thunderdome is still the most quotable movie for me, my parents and I still quote the master blaster duo every chance we get

Woah, we are really going BEYOND THUNDERDOME!

Love this film - the ending always gets me . Just beautiful.❤

Love your work and this franchise! As of late I haven't seen Beyond Thunderdome in its entirety but its definitely on my immediate watchlist, along with Fury Road. I have seen the first and second films, and the Road Warrior one of my favorite films of all time. Could it be possible that you'll do a video on the Hitcher in the future? I've never been into slashers that much myself, but after seeing this film and your other analyses of the genre, it seems like a great fit. It very much seems to reinvent the genre it comes from, and it seems like a great allegory for an abusive parent. It feels like if the problematic parents in something like the Breakfast Club were materialized into a singular, terrifying psychopath. Long-winded, but just my general thoughts. Either which way, keep up the good work!

I watched this movie again and its still entertaining to this day.

It’s kind of like the same thing that happened to Army of Darkness, except I *really* like that film.

My favourite of the original 3 movies by far, and I would say probably one of the most influential stylistically of any post apocalyptic movie. It's costume and set design was emulated for decades afterwards by Mad Max Wannabees but never matched until Fury Road.

Neber understood the hate for this movie. I loved it.

The movie is epic, the arrival to Bartertown, aunty entity, master blaster, the kids 😊

Love this movie. I know there's no chronology, but I see it as the last movie. 1) max is feral in RW and FR. It's a mid years max. 2) FR has the great desert. Is this the Pacific? 3) Entity is American. Did she grow up in the US. Did she cross that great desert? 4) what trials did Entity go through? Heck. I want to see an Entity movie.

I love this movie. It was iconic in my teen years

"He was almost one of the last people you would expect to die in a helicopter accident." Is there a list ranking these people somewhere?

Thunderdome was WONDERFUL film, & many 80s movies fans & Max fans LOVE it, myself among them. Fans of Mad Max who were mainly there for the grit and gore felt it was too soft, but it was a different tone, and as classic, in it's own way, as the ones before it. The current 2 Mad Max saga movies from the 20teenss & 2020s owe WAY more in their sweeping look, brighter & more intense colour, sweeping scale and sweeping scores to Thunderdome than they do to Mad Max one and Road Warrior. THunderdome gave a mythology, and a look into how a mythology is built, it had an EPIC score, and of course an EPIC anti-hero/villain in Tina Turner, set opposite Max, with of course an epic song. The ending of THunderdome was actually very moving. The whole movie is, IF you don't come to it looking for a grindhouse and gore show.

Tina Turner and Master Blaster made this movie my favorite in the series 👏😎🎉

This actually was my favorite one

Well said my friend well said.

Awesome video, gotta love mad max! Would love to see you cover return of the living dead 🙏

Miller should bring Mel to one final moment man, one more film and Im cool with it They did it with Harrison Ford, Jeff Bridges, Ghostbusters guys and others...

Still one of my favorite Mad Max movies along with Road Warrior.

Fury Road is the biggest, most action-packed, and cinematically accomplished film of the series, but it suffers greatly (in my worthless opinion) from the absence of Mel Gibson. Hardy did a good job, but Charlize easily stole the show, and for long-time Max fans like me, Hardy (while good) just didn't have Mel's likeability. For those who's first Max film was Fury Road however, I get why Hardy may be the more popular. But for that main reason, I'd have to rank my favorites as: The Road Warrior Fury Road Beyond Thunderdome Mad Max Having said that, the series works best when watched in order, with the understanding that each film is its own unique animal, similar to the idea Tom Cruise had for the Mission: Impossible series. Originally, Cruise wanted each new Mission to have its own, unique, visual style, and he held true to that ambition for the first four M:I films. But when Ghost Protocol went through the roof, the next few films basically continued that same general aesthetic, because frankly Ghost Protocol nailed it. Miller's Max saga has varied the look and feel of each subsequent film while retaining his signature (Kurosawa-inspired) action style, but Max 2: The Road Warrior, and Beyond Thunderdome largely kept the same general aesthetic, the same way Furiosa looks like it'll retain the general look of Fury Road. My hope is that they can get Charlize back for a final Max adventure, as I heard that Miller originally intended Fury Road for Gibson, who would end up romantically involved with Furiosa, bringing both of their characters full circle. Great break down and analysis though - thanks for all the hard work!!!

Sorry,...but I loved every second of it back then and these days as well!!!!!! ...and the iconic music and part of Tina as an actress in it was a extra curiosity making this movie so legendary 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A movie with an adult feral kid or should I say feral adult as his co-star would have been dope.

Mad Max was filmed in 1977 in Melbourne and released in 1979 in Australia, Britain, Ireland and Japan.

WAOS, just when i'm re-watching the trilogy this video cames out great timing

I remember thinking this was like an extended or directors cut of "Mad Max Thunderdome" well into adolescence.

If this movie gave us anything, it gave us a cool idea of how Max would fight in a general sense. Possibly a moveset for a game of sorts.

Thunderdome is my favorite.

Hated it as a kid (loved Road Warrior), Thunderdome is in many ways the most complex and best of the series. Leaves the simple brutality for a less clear situation. Auntie starts off less selfish and MORE of a hero than the reluctant loner Max. The end where she loses but instantly readjusts to the bigger situation, acknowledging Max will have value in it, is more badass than any vengeance scene (no time for selfish revenge as she's already thinking way ahead to rebuilding Bartertown). Also love that Max isn't tied to the Interceptor and can be just fine without it.

That Tina Turner song is pure power ballad banger gold and Wasteland worthy.

So as I sees it the storyline arc goes.. "Mad Max", " Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior", "Hope and Glory", "Fury Road", "Beyond Thunderdome" and I say Beyond Thunderdome because Guzzulene is virtually extinct by then...Looking at the vehicles in...and well it speaks for it self. Here's to more Movies, Fan made or not helping to fill in the gaps. Defiantly more centered on Max mind you. Cheers.

So are you in the camp that feels Fury Road is a soft-reboot of the Mad Max series?

I'm a huge fan of Beyond Thunderdome. I subscribe to the 'legend' theory of Max. Since the timeline is foggy and they recast some characters (Max and, with the new movie coming out, Furiosa) and the recasting of some actors in new roles (Bruce Spence and Hugh Keas-Byrne) it almost feels like we're being told tales around a post-apocalyptic fire about mythical adventures and heroes with convoluted and contradicting elements. How old is Max? How does he always have the Interceptor even though it's destroyed in nearly every movie? Why does it seem like Max is forever the catalyst lone wanderer in these stories and not the main narrative thrust? If you get a chance play the 2015 Mad Max video game. Not only is it a lot of fun and adheres to the aesthetic of the films very well but you get even more lore about Max and his world...and of course they destroy the Intercepter right off the bat.

I highly recommend playing mad max on the PS4 if you even kinda like this world,it was underrated when it came out but people are now giving it its props just like days gone,the first hour or so is slow in both but it gets really great after that.

I always saw this one as "a day in the life of Max". Not everything in life is an epic moment.

The mad Max game on PlayStation 4 overall was a great time! The first time that I heard “we don’t need another hero“ was the very first time I ever donated blood roughly 15 years ago. I believe that’s the only time I’ve ever heard it on the radio.

Fury Road is my favorite movie of all time, it took Jurassic Park off its throne and did it in such a glorious fashion. I have watched it in theaters twice, I watch it at least once a month, I have listened to it with no video, watched it with no audio, black and white, and just clips for clips sake. I love this movie so much it is just such a perfect get in enjoy a movie and get out that I would be hard pressed to see it dethroned at this point. Also the Mad Max game is phenomenal play it with surround sound feel the rumble of the engine and then go full volume when you get the coveted 8"

Two Man Enter. One Man Leaves.

Instead of having to save one brat like the previous film, Max has to save a tribe of brats.

Thunderdome is cult classic. We used words still this day." 2 men enter 1 man leaves""we named a maximum security jail tank we named "thunderdome" " bust the deal, face the wheel" awsome!1

Remember, this came out mid-80 when action films had side-kicks and were campy. It is good film for the time

And im old enough now that I can say that I’ve seen all 4 in the theater; but I still look younger than Max in Beyond Thunderchicken.

This is my favorite one besides Fury Road

I like that max has ups and downs. The series wouldnt have very much suspense if he was untouchable. Which none of us are. And for thunder dome although max has been done dirty and lost it all, time and time again, he still has heart. And characteristics in the wasteland are probably hard to come by. Good on ya mate

This one was a tough watch to get through. Not only was it not MM as we knew it but it was bad/boring cinema in general.

i recall gibson saying he was drunk throughout the filming of this. and even worse while doing the press tour for it.

I have all the Mad Max movies on DVD.

I think this film resonates differently if you saw it as a kid when it came out at the theater. Being a PG-13 film I was able to see this when I was about seven! This was a film about Hope in a post-apocalyptic world. Even the antagonists on the whole were more civilized in this film!! Everyone is down with rebuilding or having a future! One of the few films of its kind that offers hope to all parties. The ending felt poignant to me and still does. Even the song lended gravitas to this movie. It's definitely one of the movies that piqued my interest in film in general. This is definitely not the end of this series but the conclusion!!! The same with Return of The Jedi, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

thank you for hilighting the geiger counter/ water selling scene. along with the children telling their story featuring mushroom cloud cave paintings. can we agree mad max 2 on is post nuclear war? it annoys me no end hearing otherwise. from the creator no less. anyway, thanks for a great video.

I'm Surprise when most Say this is the Worst of the Bunch and then i heard it was the Favorite of the Nostalgic Critic himself.

It's not without merit - Barter Town is great, and Tina Turner is very good in it I believe - but it just kinda falls on its face when the kids show up. But worth revisiting every now and then I reckon

It “nearly ended” because Miller thought he had said everything that needed to be said for that world until the 2000s. Also BT is a dang good movie. It’s no Road Warrior but what is?

Im not going to say this is better than RW but its my most watch of all the films including Fury Road. The world of Max is more explored with better ideas and i rank up.the final chase with the train with all the franchise chases. Even more than RW, id say Thunderdome is more influential to other properties and copy cats from the change to gas wars to nuclear. I mean, Fallout is evidence of it. And, it has Tina Turner which cements this entry as important in the entire franchise A theory of mine from this and RW is that Fury Road, Tom Hardys Max is either the feral kid cosplaying as Max OR one of these kids who left, found a new tribe and took the mantle of Max

Is it a coincidence that that one kid in the Lord of the Flies cargo cult, has his face painted just like a WarBoy?

I enjoy Beyond Thunderdome.

I always wanted a one more mad max 4 with mel Gibson

Can't we just get beyond thunderdome?

I thought We Don’t need another hero by Tina Turner and her performance in the movie are both positives ?I Like how Auntie respects Max and let’s him live

Member dis. River of light. Member dis Captain walker Member dis. Mrs walker 😂😂😂😂😂

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