The Complete Mad Max Universe Watch Order Guide: Chronological Timeline and Release Order for Movies and Video Games

The Mad Max franchise has been captivating audiences since the first film's release in 1979. Over the years, the series has spawned several sequels and even a video game. But with so many entries, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you're looking to watch the series in chronological order, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll take a look at the correct order to watch the Mad Max franchise, so you can fully appreciate the post-apocalyptic world created by director George Miller.

Movies

The Mad Max franchise consists of four movies, each with their own unique title. The original movie from 1979 is simply titled "Mad Max." The sequel from 1981 is called "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior." The third installment from 1985 is titled "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome." Finally, the fourth and most recent film, released in 2015, is titled "Mad Max: Fury Road." The various title choices can be confusing for those new to the franchise, but despite the differing names, each movie is a continuation of the same story and features the same titular character, Max Rockatansky.

The original 1979 "Mad Max" film was released under different titles in different regions. In the United States, it was initially released as "Mad Max" and later re-released as "The Road Warrior" to capitalize on the popularity of its sequel. In other regions, it was released under the title "Interceptor" or "Mad Max: The Road Warrior". This can add to the confusion when trying to watch the movies in order.

Viewing Order

1. Mad Max (1979)

- The movie that started it all, follows the story of Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) as he patrols the highways of a dystopian Australia.

Mad Max Streaming on Amazon

2. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

- Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this film features Max who helps a community defend itself against a band of marauders.

Mad Max 2: Road Warrior Streaming on Amazon

3. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

- In this installment, Max stumbles upon a community of children and fights against the tyrannical leader of Bartertown.

Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome Streaming on Amazon

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

- Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, this film follows Max and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) as they team up to overthrow a tyrant and save a group of women being held captive.

Mad Max: Fury Road Streaming on Amazon

Video Games

There have been several video games based on the Mad Max franchise, with the first one, "Mad Max" released in 1990 for NES, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. However, the most popular video game adaptation of the franchise was released in 2015, simply titled "Mad Max," which was developed by Avalanche Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Set in a post-apocalyptic open-world, the game follows Max Rockatansky, voiced by Bren Foster, as he tries to survive in a desert wasteland ruled by ruthless warlords. Players control Max as he battles enemies in vehicular combat, takes on quests, and collects resources to upgrade his gear and vehicles.

The game received positive reviews for its graphics, open-world design, and vehicle combat, but was criticized for its repetitive missions and lack of story depth. Despite this, it was a commercial success and has since gained a cult following among Mad Max fans.

Here's a complete list of every Mad Max video game, along with a brief description of each:

1. The Road Warrior (1982) - This arcade game was released by Atari and is based on the events of the second Mad Max film, "The Road Warrior." Players control Max as he battles against a gang of marauders to protect a small oil refinery.

2. Mad Max (1990) - This NES game, developed by Mindscape Inc., is a side-scrolling action game that has players taking on the role of Max as he fights against gangs of raiders in the post-apocalyptic wasteland.

3. Mad Max (2015) - Developed by Avalanche Studios, this game is an open-world action-adventure game that takes place in the same universe as the Mad Max films. Players control Max as he battles against the Warlord Scrotus and his gang of raiders to reclaim his stolen car, the Interceptor.

4. Mad Max: Fury Road - The Video Game (2015) - This mobile game, developed by Savage Interactive, is based on the events of the 2015 film "Mad Max: Fury Road." Players control Max as he battles against Immortan Joe and his forces across the wasteland.

5. Mad Max: Savage Road (2018) - This mobile game, developed by Drakkar Dev, is an endless runner game that has players controlling Max as he races across the wasteland, dodging obstacles and taking down enemies.

6. Mad Max: Inside the Wasteland (2019) - This VR game, developed by Kaleidoscope VR, is a virtual reality experience that allows players to explore the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max and interact with various characters and locations from the films.

7. Mad Max: The Scavenger's Scrapyard (2020) - This mobile game, developed by Art of War, is a strategy game that has players building and managing their own scrapyard in the wasteland, while also battling against rival gangs and scavengers.

8. Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome Pinball (2020) - This pinball game, developed by Zen Studios, is based on the events of the third Mad Max film, "Beyond Thunderdome." Players control the ball as it travels through various themed areas and battles against the villainous Master Blaster.

Overall, the Mad Max video game franchise has had its ups and downs, with some games receiving critical acclaim while others were panned by critics. However, fans of the Mad Max universe can still find plenty of entertainment in these various games, each offering their own unique take on the post-apocalyptic wasteland.