1979, 93 minutes
Directed by George Miller
Original Australian Cut
In a near dystopian future with oil shortages and a destroyed environment, overachiving highway patrolman Max (Mel Gibson) is cleaning up criminals on desolate roads in Australia. He'd like to retire but a random confrontation with an outlaw on the run turns a vicious biker gang on him and his family for revenge. But the gang will learn what real vengence is.
The film that started the Mad Max craze established doctor-turned-filmmaker George Miller as a leading writer and director in the Australian New Wave. The resulting franchise set a high bar for incredible car chases, violent action and some of the most inventive bad guys in movie history. Here its the Toecutter (Hugh Keays-Byrne) as the foe, a sadistic leader of the bikers, yet so brooding and philosophical it's like he just quit singing for a goth band. Keays-Byrne and Gibson, in the role that introduced him to the world, raise what started as yet another future-scare film into a unique cult classic. Not to mention the supporting acting from the supercharged 1973 Ford XB Falcon GT351.