When it comes to post-apocalyptic movies, there isn’t a franchise that is more iconic than theMad Maxseries.George Miller’s 1979 film chronicled the origins of a cataclysmic event that turned the world into a truly “mad” place where the remnants of humanity became locked in a war over water, oil, and other resources. Although there was a three-decade gap after the release ofMad Max Beyond Thunderdomein 1985, theMad Maxfranchise is now more popular than ever before after2015’sMad Max: Fury Roadwas instantly hailed asone of the greatest action movies ever made.
Mel GibsonandTom Hardyplayed Max Rockatansky, the protagonist of the series, with eachfilm within theMad Maxfranchiseintroducing new heroes and villains. Impressively, the series has always pushed the story forward without ever feeling derivative, largely thanks to the memorable and striking figures it introduces.These are the best characters in theMad Maxmovies, fascinating and engaging individuals who enrich Miller’s dry and violent world.
10Toecutter (Hugh Keays-Byrne)
First Appearance: ‘Max Max’ (1979)
Before playing the antagonistImmortan Joe inMad Max: Fury Road,Hugh Keays-Byrnemade his debut as the ruthless motorcycle gang leader known as “Toecutter” in the originalMad Max. Toecutter is a terrifying villain who witnesses the origin of the apocalyptic eventin theMad Maxfranchise. Toecutter’s cruelty inspires Max to take up his mission of vengeance and become a lonesome drifter.
Comparisons are often made between theMad Maxfilm and the Western genre, as Miller incorporates elements of gunslinger films into each installment.Toecutter feels like a villain from a classic Western, using his power of intimidation to thwart the law and ensure himself a strong following of loyal goons. Toecutter may often rely on his minions to do his dirty work, but he certainly proves how dangerous he is during his brutal final battle with Max.
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9Aunty Entity (Tina Turner)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdomeis one of themost underrated science fiction sequelsever and finally turned Max into a more heroic figure as he worked to save children from captivity. While some hardcoreMad Maxfans may have been put off by the more lighthearted tone,Mad Max Beyond Thunderdomeleans into the absurdity withTina Turner’s performance as the malevolent warlord Aunty Entity.She is the ringleader of the dangerous “Thunderdome,” where various warriors fight to the death in a cage.
Aunty Entity is an effective character because of how different she is from Max. He is very soft-spoken and only has a few lines in each film; comparatively, Aunty Entity is energetic as she attempts to get the crowds engaged in the cage battles. Turner may have been best known for her music, but her performance inMad Max Beyond Thunderdomeensured that she left a strong legacy in cinema as well.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
8Jessie Rockatansky (Joanne Samuel)
Later installments in theMad Maxfranchise became known for their car chase sequences, but it’s easy to forget that the original 1979 film wasa low-budget revenge thriller. The death ofJoanne Samuel’s Jessie Rockatansky is what kicks off Max’s descent into “madness.”Max and Jessie are depicted as a loving couple, which makes the brutal attack by Toecutter and his minions even more heartbreaking.
Although she only appears in the first film, Jessie’s importance is solidified by the later installments in theMad Maxseries.She is perhaps the only character in the franchise who is genuinely compassionate and tender-hearted; while Max can’t save her, he does try to honor her memory by helping innocent people throughout his adventures in the wasteland. The connection Max shares with his dearly departed wife makes him a vulnerable and relatable character.
7Rictus Erectus (Nathan Jones)
First introduced inthe highly successfulMad Max: Fury Road,Nathan Jones’ Rictus Erectus is the son of Immortan Joeand one of his most fearsome warriors. While the War Boys are little more than mindless soldiers willing to sacrifice themselves for their leader, Rictus Erectus is an intelligent villain who helps his father develop a plan to track down Max and Furiosa once they escape the Citadel with his wives.
Physically imposing and absolutely relentless,Rictus Erectus is one of the scariest characters in the series. Although he’s met with a brutal fate inMad Max: Fury Road,Rictus Erectus has an expanded role inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga. The prequel film shows how Rictus Erectus helps his father engage in war against the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) when they battle for control of the resources in Gastown and Bullet Town.
Mad Max: Fury Road
6Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke)
While theMad Maxseries is praised for its action,Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagaactually develops a romantic storyline that makes it more emotional. Best known for his star-making performance asAthos in BBC’sThe Musketeers,Tom Burkeappeared as the military leader Praetorian Jack, who falls in love with Furiosa after discovering her identity. Praetorian Jack is a brave hero who gives Furiosa a reason to cling to hope; it is out of loyalty to him that Furiosa continues her search for the Green Place.
Despite his romanticism,Praetorian Jack is an intelligent military leader and an instrumental role in the battle against Dementus.It’s Praetorian Jack’s leadership of a war rig convoy that allows Immortan Joe’s forces to strike a critical blow against their enemies. Jack certainly shows more strategic capabilities than the war boys, who are simply following their superior’s orders.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
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5Nux (Nicholas Hoult)
Nicholas Hoult’s Nux is one of the most tragic characters in theMad Maxfranchise.While he is raised to be unflinchingly loyal to Immortan Joe, Nux begins to question his leader when he is left for dead and captured by Furiosa. Despite his aptitude for violence, Nux becomes more docile when he falls in love with Capable (Riley Keough), one of Joe’s wives, and decides to help the heroes. His sacrifice proves instrumental in helping bring Immortan Joe’s reign of terror to an end.
The ever-reliable Nicholas Houltis always a welcome presence, and his performance makesMad Max: Fury Roadan even stronger film, as Nux becomes a character that the audience learns to invest in. Hoult shows how Nux grew up without any guidance and does not know how to interact with other people normally. Despite possessing the emotional maturity of a child, Nux becomes more self-aware and begins a path of redemption.
4Lord Humungus (Kjell Nilsson)
A dangerous warlord who leads a vicious group of marauders, Lord Humungus is the main antagonist ofMad Max 2: The Road Warrior.Humungus inspires his followers to unleash their violent tendencies and prey upon the weak, allowing him to become dominant within the post-apocalyptic wasteland. AlthoughtheMad Maxfranchise has been parodied many times, it doesn’t take away from how terrifyingKjell Nilsson’s performance is.
Humungus is an effective villain because he draws out Max’s inner sense of heroism. Initially content to simply survive on his own without anyone else, Max ultimately chooses to help innocent people after seeing the cruel techniques that Humungus uses to threaten the villagers. TheMad Maxfranchise is renowned for its gleeful eccentricity, andHumungus is the type of over-the-top villain who embodies what the series does best.
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
3Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne and Lachy Hulme)
Perhaps the most powerful character in the entireMad Maxuniverse, Immortan Joe is a ruthless dictator who epitomizes toxic masculinity.In addition to controlling the Wasteland’s water supply through the Citadel, Immortan Joe enslaves the women as his wives and has complete control of the bloodlines. The War Boys raised under his command learn to treat him as a god-like being; only Furiosa is brave enough to stand up to him.
While he’s finally defeated during the action-packed climax inMad Max: Fury Road,Immortan Joe’s backstory is expanded uponinFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga. Keays-Byrne sadly passed away before filming began, soLachy Hulmeappears as a younger version of the character who steals Furiosa away from Dementus. A hulking force of nature,Immortan Joe is an intelligent villain whose knowledge of wartime strategy makes him even more ruthless.
2Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron and Anya Taylor-Joy)
After her debut inMad Max: Fury Road,Furiosa instantly became known as one of thegreatest female action heroes of all time.Furiosa is an inspiring leader who fights for the innocent women imprisoned by Immortan Joe to have a better future in The Green Place, but she also shows empathy for both Max and Nux. Furiosa is more than capable as a warrior, as she displays swift leadership skills when leading the War Rig in its escape from the Citadel.
Theron embodied the incentivized rage that made Furiosa a great character. For her part, Anya Taylor-Joy showed a more vulnerable side inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga. She is ultimately a lonely child whose family was stolen away from her. Furiosa’s story is ultimately tragic, as she is fighting for a future that she may never get to enjoy. However, her fierce determination and furious faith make her inspiring and complex. Furiosa is a remarkable character brought to life by two amazing actresses, cementing her legacy as a modern cinematic icon.
1Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson and Tom Hardy)
Max is the character that ties theMad Maxfranchise together.He’s one of thegreatest movie heroes of all timebecause of his reluctance; Max doesn’t want to get involved in any larger conflicts but is ultimately forced to when he intervenes on behalf of less fortunate people. Like many classic gunslingers in Western films, Max is often silent, and his lack of dialogue only makes him a more enigmatic character.
The role of Max was instrumental in both Gibson’s and Hardy’s careers.It was after his debut in theMad Maxtrilogy that Gibson became an action star and subsequently starred in theLethal Weaponbuddy cop series. Meanwhile, Hardy had already proven himself as an actor through his work withChristopher Nolan, but his performance inMad Max: Fury Roadindicated that he could lead a franchise of his own. Max Rockatansy is one of cinema’s most unlikely yet intriguing heroes, an elusive but engaging avenger who keeps getting better with age.
