The Mad Max franchise has established a standard for the post-apocalyptic and dystopian genre, particularly the 2015 movie, Mad Max: Fury Road.
The action film franchise, a brainchild of George Miller and Byron Kennedy, began in 1979 with Mad Max. It was followed by four sequels: Mad Max 2 in 1981, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985, Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in 2024.
For the uninitiated, the story revolves around Max, who serves as a police officer in a dystopian Australia, grappling with the collapse of society caused by war, severe scarcity of resources and environmental devastation. Tragically, Max’s wife and child are brutally murdered by a ruthless biker gang, prompting him to seek revenge by eliminating the gang members.
From the dust storms to the engine roars, her quest for vengeance will scorch the screen 🔥#FURIOSA is now playing everywhere at #DolbyCinema. pic.twitter.com/uqIRljPFi4
— Dolby (@Dolby) May 24, 2024
If you have finished watching the post-apocalyptic sci-fi franchise and are yearning for similar content, here are the 15 best movies like Mad Max to consider adding to their binge-watching lineup.
15 movies you’ll definitely like if you enjoyed the ‘Mad Max’ franchise
1. Kill Bill
Release year: 2003
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino.
Cast: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%
While Kill Bill might sound more like a martial arts film, the storyline is set across an interesting setup where the protagonist wakes up from a traumatic coma and seeks revenge, much like the Mad Max films.
A former assassin, who is simply known as The Bride, comes out of a coma after a vicious murder attempt by her jealous ex-lover, Bill, on her wedding day. Driven by a rage for vengeance, she seeks retribution against all those responsible for the demise of her unborn child, her entire wedding entourage and the four years she lost. With a meticulously crafted list of targets, The Bride confronts unscrupulous adversaries throughout.
2. 12 Monkeys
Release year: 1995
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Bruce Willis,Madeleine Stowe,Brad Pitt
IMDb rating: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
In 12 Monkeys, cinephiles will get a similar taste of apocalyptic action and drama as Mad Max. The plot revolves around a prisoner and his attempts to travel back in time to prevent a man-made disaster that could wipe off humanity.
After being imprisoned in the 2030s, James Cole is enlisted for a crucial mission that involves sending him back to the 1990s with a motive to gather vital information about an impending deadly plague. However, his journey is far from smooth as he encounters numerous obstacles, including the eccentric Jeffrey, and faces resistance from individuals like Dr. Kathryn Railly, who holds the key to crucial medical knowledge.
3. Children of Men
Release year: 2006
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Cast: Julianne Moore, Clive Owen, Chiwetel Ejiofor
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Children of Men is a dystopian action thriller movie adapted from P. D. James’ 1992 novel.
The story takes place in 2027, portraying a world where infertility has pushed society to the edge of destruction. In this setting, asylum seekers look for safety in the United Kingdom, only to face detention and deportation by the authorities. Civil servant Theo Faron must succeed in his endeavour to assist refugee Kee to safety when she bears a child.
4. Baby Driver
Release year: 2017
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm
IMDb rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Baby has a deep love for music, and is also known as the exceptionally skilled getaway driver for the heist planner Doc. He meticulously selects the perfect soundtrack for each job, ensuring that Doc’s crew, consisting of Buddy, Bats and Darling, can execute their bank robberies swiftly and smoothly. Despite his talents, Baby is not looking to stay in the criminal world for long and wants to complete one final job before escaping with his love interest, Debora. However, achieving this goal proves to be more challenging than anticipated.
Filled with car chases and stunts, this cinematic marvel will surely remind you of signature Mad Max action.
5. The Road
Release year: 2009
Directed by: John Hillcoat
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron
IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, The Road tells the story of a father and his son traversing the barren landscape in search of hope for a restored civilisation. Their path leads them towards the ocean, where they must rely on scavenged resources to survive while evading brutal gangs of marauders who pose a threat of enslavement or worse.
Like the Mad Max franchise, the movie features characters manoeuvring through a brutal dystopian world.
6. Dredd
Release year: 2012
Directed by: Pete Travis
Cast: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey
IMDb rating: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%
Like the Mad Max movie franchise, Dredd has a dystopian background filled with action sequences throughout the film.
Mega City One is an expansive and turbulent urban centre dominated by criminals. Law enforcement is solely in the hands of the judges, who serve as the arbiters of justice and punishment. Among them, Dredd is renowned as one of the most formidable figures in the city. When Dredd is assigned to work alongside Cassandra, a rookie possessing extraordinary psychic powers, they are tasked with investigating a heinous crime in a territory under the control of Ma-Ma, a ruthless drug queenpin determined to safeguard her criminal empire.
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7. Escape from New York
Release year: 1981
Directed by: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine
IMDb rating:7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
Escape from New York is hailed as one of the oldest classics in the world of sci-fi action films, focusing on the futuristic angle concerning crimes in the USA.
Set in 1997, a significant conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union is on the verge of ending, transforming the whole of Manhattan Island into a massive maximum-security penitentiary. Following the hijacking and crash of Air Force One on the island, the president is captured by a band of prisoners. Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces operative-turned-criminal, is enlisted to rescue the president in return for his liberty.
8. The Northman
Release year: 2022
Directed by: Robert Eggers
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang
IMDb rating: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
The Northman is a historical action film, based on the legend ofAmleth and the storyline is influenced by Norse mythology.
Prince Amleth is approaching adulthood when his father is ruthlessly killed by his uncle, who also abducts his mother. After twenty years, Amleth has transformed into a Viking warrior who raids Slavic settlements. His path crosses with a prophetess who urges him to remember his promise: rescue his mother, kill his uncle and seek justice for his father.
9. The Book of Eli
Release year: 2010
Directed by: Albert and Allen Hughes
Cast: Denzel Washington,Gary Oldman,Mila Kunis
IMDb rating: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%
The Book of Eli combines thrilling action sequences with intriguing drama, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats, much like the Mad Max movies.
Three decades following the destructive war that transformed the world into a barren wasteland, Eli journeys across the ruined landscape, carrying the promise of redemption for humanity. Bill Carnegie, a warlord recognises the significance of Eli’s mission and is determined to claim it for himself. Despite Eli’s preference for peace, he is willing to risk his life to protect his precious cargo, as he is destined to play a crucial role in the restoration of mankind.
10. Hanna
Release year:2011
Directed by: Joe Wright
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana
IMDb rating: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
Hanna is an action film that blends suspenseand thriller to the Mad Max movie franchise.
Brought up in the Finnish wilderness by her father, Hanna has dedicated her entire life to becoming an impeccable assassin. Tasked with a mission, she navigates through Europe, evading the relentless pursuit of agents dispatched by Marissa, who had previously collaborated with Hanna’s father. As she approaches her objective, Hanna confronts unexpected truths about her existence, prompting her to contemplate her essence as a human being.
11. The Day After Tomorrow
Release year: 2004
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum
IMDb rating: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 45%
Based on the book The Coming Global SuperstormbyArt BellandWhitley Strieber, The Day After Tomorrow is a disaster film that showcases the climatic effects following the disruption of the North Atlantic Ocean circulation.
After presenting his environmental concerns to U.N. officials, climatologist Jack Hall is largely disregarded. However, his research is soon validated as a superstorm emerges, triggering devastating natural disasters worldwide. In a race against time, Jack and his team embark on a perilous journey from Philadelphia to New York, battling the harsh elements, to rescue his son Sam, trapped with his friend Laura and others. The urgency intensifies as they strive to reach Sam before it becomes too late.
12. The Rover
Release year: 2014
Directed by: David Michôd
Cast: Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy
IMDb rating: 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%
In the not-so-distant future, The Rover portrays insatiable greed and the reckless indulgence of humanity that have brought civilisation to the brink of collapse. The fabric of society is unravelling, and the principles of justice and order have crumbled away, much like the setting of Mad Max.
Eric, a weathered wanderer, roams through this desolated world. When a group of thieves pilfers Eric’s car, his sole remaining possession, they inadvertently leave behind Rey, a wounded companion. Determined to reclaim what holds utmost significance to him, Eric compels Rey to assist him in tracking down the gang responsible.
13. Waterworld
Release year: 1995
Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
Cast: Kevin Costner, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dennis Hopper
IMDb rating: 6.3.10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%
Waterworld is one of the closest films to the Mad Max movie franchise, in terms of the setting and the dystopian vibe.
The story starts with a significant portion of the Earth submerged underwater, following the melting of polar ice caps. A small number of humans have managed to survive this catastrophic event, and one of them is the Mariner. Remarkably, he has adapted to the oceanic environment by developing gills and ends up forming a bond with Helen and her young companion Enola. Together, they hatch a plan to escape a hostile man-made island.
However, their pursuit is soon complicated as the menacing Smokers chase them, driven by the belief that Enola possesses the key to discovering the fabled Dryland.
14. Doomsday
Release year: 2008
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Cast: Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Alexander Siddig
IMDb rating: 5.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%
Doomsday is a sci-fi action film set in Scotland in the future. The country has been placed under quarantine due to a deadly virus outbreak. In response to the virus spreading to London, political leaders sent a team led by Major Eden Sinclair to Scotland in search of a potential cure. During their mission, Sinclair’s team encounters two distinct groups of survivors: marauders and medieval knights.
15. Tank Girl
Release year: 1995
Directed by: Rachel Talalay
Cast: Lori Petty, Naomi Watts, Ice-T, Malcolm McDowell
IMDb rating: 5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes score: 45%
Tank Girl is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie based on the British comics of the same name created byJamie HewlettandAlan Martin.
Set in Australia, devastated by a severe drought years after a catastrophic impact, Tank Girl revolves around the unconventional titular protagonist. Alongside her ally, Jet Girl and a group of genetically enhanced supersoldiers known as the Rippers, wage a battle against Water & Power, a tyrannical corporation headed by Kesslee.
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(Hero and feature image credit: IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Which is the best movie like Mad Max?
Kill Bill, Waterworld, Children of Men, The Road and Dredd are some of the best movies like Mad Max.
– Which is the best movie like Mad Max: Fury Road to watch on Netflix?
Hanna is the best movie like Mad Max: Fury Road to watch on Netflix.
– Which is the best-rated movie similar to Mad Max according to IMDb?
Kill Bill and Children of Men are the highest-rated movies similar to the Mad Max franchise, according to IMDb, with over scores of 8.2 and 8, respectively.
