The post-apocalyptic sci-fi action movie series that is Mad Max may be niche, but it’s still left a massive impact on pop culture. Each film in the franchise is a lot of fun, but which ones offer up the most entertainment? Let’s see how they all stack up against each other.

5) Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

There are plenty of fun moments throughout the third film, Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome, but a lot of them aren’t the kind of fun the filmmakers were intending. For instance, the titular “Thunderdome” fight scene is extremely awkward and goofy, with the characters strapped to bungee cords for some reason. Actors return from the previous film, but play different characters despite not using makeup to change their appearance, leading to some confusion. With all that being said, Master Blaster is an interesting character, and watching Max kick butt is just as entertaining as ever. The car combat doesn’t stand out as much as the second movie, but it’s still pretty great.

4) Mad Max

The original movie that started it all still holds up today. It’s a bit of a slow burn, and it doesn’t quite contain all the elements that Mad Max fans have come to love and expect from the franchise, but it’s far from being a bad movie or a bad entry in the series. It’s a unique action flick for its time and even feels like a post-apocalyptic western, which is pretty neat. What it has to say about trying to hold on to humanity and the previous rules of society when everything goes south is interesting, and there are solid emotional beats. It’s also impressive what they were able to pull off with a small budget. It’s just clear when watching it that they hadn’t quite found their footing yet with what they wanted these movies to be.

3) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a direct prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, and it’s probably one of the greatest movie prequels out there. It’s action-packed, and it explores the character of Furiosa and the world of the wasteland much deeper than ever. It’s also incredibly heartfelt throughout. That being said, it does feel like more of an extension of Fury Road than its own story, and its use of CGI instead of the traditional effects the franchise is known and loved for is a bit of a departure from what fans might be looking for. It’s a terrific movie for long-time fans and newcomers, but it’s held back by a few shortcomings.

2) Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is not only where the “Mad Max aesthetic” really started to kick off, but it’s an especially great movie overall. It’s a film about protecting the little guy and gives us a glimpse into the harm that those in charge are doing to our world. It’s also an incredibly imaginative action flick for its time with some of the best vehicle-based battles seen on screen. A huge portion of the movie is given to an extremely riveting car chase-fight scene hybrid in which actual story is told through said action. This movie was an impressive feat, and was heavily considered the best of the original Mel Gibson trilogy.

1) Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road may have given the series the jumpstart it needed after being away for so long, but it’s a tremendous standalone story as well. It’s fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping while also proving to be thought-provoking and emotional. The worldbuilding is intriguing, and it touches on multiple important themes like capitalism and bodily autonomy. It took the action that was introduced in Road Warrior and turned it way up. With what was accomplished with the effects and vehicles, this is a true filmmaking feat. It’s also a gold standard for modern action blockbusters.

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