Mad Max: An overview of the order of the films including Furiosa

The order of the Mad Max films can be a little confusing. The entire series is primarily divided into just two parts

Mad Max: Order of the classics

The Mad Max series was created by Australian director George Miller. It is about the former policeman Max Rockatansky, who has to survive in a dystopian version of Australia.

• The action-packed film series starts in 1984 or 1985 with the first Mad Max (1979). The eponymous protagonist, played by Mel Gibson, wants to take revenge on a dangerous biker gang that has his son on its conscience.

• To do this, he pursues the hell jockeys through Australia in his modified Ford Falcon XB. And he doesn’t shy away from violence

• With Mad Max II – The Executioner (1981), the story of Max continued, this time at the end of the 1980s. In this one, Max is in search of fuel, the most important resource in post-apocalyptic Australia.

• In the process, he becomes aware of a refinery that is under siege by marauders. He helps the inhabitants against the gangs, but is left behind alone in the end. This film clearly shows the collapse of society and the lack of resources, recognizable by the perpetual desert

• Mad Max – Beyond the Thunderdome (1985) makes a major leap in time and transports Max to the beginning of the 21st century. The part takes place around 15 years later and shows new orders and power relations that are essential in the later trilogy.

• Max takes on Aunty Entity and her gang together with a gang of children. This gives Max legendary status.

Mad Max: Chronological order of the new films

2015 continued with the next Mad Max saga, this time with Tom Hardy in the titular role. This part of the film series takes place several decades after the original trilogy with a much older Max.

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) shows the beginnings of Empress Furiosa Jabassa (Anya Taylor-Joy) and is set 20 years before Fury Road, probably around the year 2030. Furiosa is kidnapped as a child from the Green Country by the gang of biker Dementus (Chris Hemsworth).

• She grows up over the course of the movie and escapes from Dementus’ grasp. To do so, she joins Immortan Joe, the antagonist of Fury Road. At the end, the movie picks up directly where Fury Road began

• The film Mad Max: The Wasteland, which has so far only been mentioned by George Miller, will probably be another prequel to Fury Road. It will be set about a year earlier and show Max’s journey up to his capture by Immortan Joe’s minions

• An announcement about the film has not yet been made (as of June 2024). In an interview with Josh Horowitz, he is “waiting to see how Furiosa is received” before planning The Wasteland further

• Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) is set around the year 2050 and features Max as an involuntary blood donor after his capture by Immortan Joe and his Warboys. He manages to join Furiosa during her escape attempt.

• Max and Furiosa now try to transport the five women from Immortan Joe to the Green Land in their War Rig. But Joe is hot on their heels