Mel Gibson recently revealed whichMad Maxfilm is his favorite from the original trilogy. The actorstarred as the hardened antihero Max Rockatanskyin the first threeMad Maxmoviesfrom 1979 to 1985, and helped shape the action franchise into a high-octane, post-apocalyptic classic. Known for its revolutionary practical stunts, high-speed chases, and punk costume design, director George Miller’s brutal wasteland of chaos, fuel, and greed continued successfully into a new era with Tom Hardy inMad Max: Fury Road(2015) and Anya Taylor-Joy inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga(2024).
WithScreenRantin attendance at MegaCon Orlando,Gibson revealed during a panel that his favoriteMad Maxfilm wasThe Road Warrior, the second installment in the franchise. The 1981 film, also known asMad Max 2, featured Gibson’s Max helping a small community defend its fuel supply against marauding warlords. Miller’s dystopian sequel was a box office success, and won numerous accolades, including Best International Film at the 10th Saturn Awards. Check out Gibson’s comments below:
I think the second installment was the best.It was just pure.It was just a chase.
From an audience point of view, I thoughtit was the cleanest.It had some excellent thrills.No special effects, they were just throwing stuff out of a truck.
Gibson’s praise forThe Road Warriorhighlights why the post-apocalyptic series has endured as a classic. The sequel refined the formula of the originalMad Max, stripping it down to pure vehicular mayhem and survivalist storytelling. Its emphasis on practical stunts and minimal special effectsinspired a new standard for action films, influencing everything from Bong Joon-ho’sSnowpiercerto the video gameFallout. By calling it “the cleanest”of the series,Gibson underscores how Miller’s use of practical stunt work and lack of CGI gave the film a raw authenticity that still resonates today.
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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
The actor’s comments also reflect a broader trend in Hollywood,where practical effects are experiencing a resurgence—as seen with the enormously impressive sets of Jon M. Chu’sWicked,Alien: Romulus' iconic chestbursting scene, andThe Substance’s use of full-body prosthetics for the mutated body of Monstro Elisasue. Modern filmmakers, includingMad Maxcreator George Miller, have also leaned back into physical stunts, as seen inthe six-time award-winningFury Roadand its prequelFuriosa,as well as Tom Cruise’s underwater sequence in the upcomingMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning.
A Well-Earned Title For The Action-Packed Sequel
George Miller took everything that worked inMad Maxand amplified it, crafting an exhilarating onscreen action spectacle. Its influence is still visible across action cinema, proving that practical stunt work and a small budget ($4.5 million) can leave a lasting mark without the need for comprehensive digital effects. WhileFury Roadhas redefined the franchise for a new generation (and is my favoriteMad Maxfilm), the 1981 film still stands tall as a masterclass in lean, relentless filmmaking. It’s easy to see why Gibson holdsThe Road Warriorin such high regard, even decades later.
