Action Movies Don't Get Better Than This

The action genre can have a reputation for being style over substance, as even the best-executed stunts and car chases cannot outshine a bad plot. When Mad Max: Fury Road premiered, it contained the best chase scenes in an action movie while bringing something completely different to the genre. This is an even more impressive feat considering the fact that it is a sequel.

Before Fury Road, the Mad Max movies had low budgets compared to most Hollywood blockbusters. Fury Road's budget was reportedly over $150 million, and it resurrected the Mad Max franchise but also became one of the greatest action movies of all time. That said, there is more to the movie than a high budget and standout stunt performances.

Mad Max: Fury Road Is A Perfect Action Movie

Many action movies make the mistake of treating their characters as virtually indestructible, which lowers the stakes during tense scenes. None of the characters in Fury Road felt safe, and the movie kept the blood and grit of a lower-budget production, while action and subtle gestures told the story. This led to some of the best scenes in the Mad Max franchise.

Most of Fury Road takes place during one long vehicle chase, but the fast pace is broken up just enough that we have time to breathe before the next stunt. George Miller took inspiration from circus performers and scramblers to create battles that felt fresh and interesting. The fact that around 90% of the effects were practical made the movie feel even more real.

Mad Max: Fury Road might have standout car chase scenes, but it also took risks rarely seen in other action movies. Pregnant women and elderly characters were shown in battle, without the expected plot armor. With well-written and three-dimensional characters like Furiosa embodying the spirit of "the road warrior," the fact that Max was not the central character barely mattered.

Why Mad Max 4 Took So Long To Get Made

George Miller took three decades to make Mad Max: Fury Road despite having plans for a fourth Mad Max movie since 1987. The production hit development hell and seemed plagued by issues. Officially, Mel Gibson had aged out of the role, but his disturbing remarks concerning the Jewish and LGBTQ+ community would have made his casting controversial at best, were he to play Max again.

The devastating events of 9/11 affected the world's economy and potential filming locations, and Miller eventually began pre-production in 2009. Still, the filming was affected by rain changing the desert scenery, difficulties casting Max, and even financial issues. But Fury Road's eventual success gained it a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, and it is often considered the best action movie of the 21st century.

Will There Be More Mad Max Movies?

Initially, there had been plans to continue the franchise with the next movie, titled Mad Max: The Wasteland. However, George Miller has been uncertain about the Mad Max sequel. While he has confirmed that he has a script for Mad Max: The Wasteland and ideas for expanding the world even further, there are no current plans for another Mad Max sequel.

A lot rode on the potential success of 2024's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the spin-off that told the story of the fan-favorite character. However, while most reviews for the movie were positive, Furiosa bombed at the box office, leaving the future of the franchise uncertain. That said, Miller told Vulture that another Mad Max movie could be made "if the planets align."

Source: Vulture