Mad Max 2 (1981)
Kernel Score: 84% · 4,089 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Adventure, Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Released: 1981-12-24
Runtime: 96 minutes
Is Mad Max 2 worth watching?
Must-watch. A drifter helps a besieged fuel camp fend off a raiding gang in the wasteland. It's lean, loud and brilliantly staged, and the car chase finale is still copied today.
Watch it if you
- love practical stunts and car chases
- want a stripped-down action hero
- like post-apocalyptic worlds with real grit
Skip it if you
- dislike violence
- want much plot or dialogue
Best for: Action night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Mad Max 2
- Free with ads: YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Max Rockatansky returns as the heroic loner who drives the dusty roads of a postapocalyptic Australian Outback in an unending search for gasoline. Arrayed against him and the other scraggly defendants of a fuel-depot encampment are the bizarre warriors commanded by the charismatic Lord Humungus, a violent leader whose scruples are as barren as the surrounding landscape.
Mad Max 2 parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Mad Max 2 is an R-rated post-apocalyptic action film with intense violence and a bleak wasteland setting.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — The film is filled with brutal vehicular chases, fights, and deaths among warring survivors in a lawless wasteland, per its R rating.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: A little — Some depiction of exploitation and outlaw biker gang culture implies rough substance-adjacent behavior.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Mad Max 2
If you liked Mad Max 2, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) — 87%: Miller's later chase epic in the same wasteland
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) — 82%: A different story set in the same world
- The Terminator (1984) — 90%: Lean, low-budget sci-fi action classic
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) — 95%: Bigger, smarter sequel that raises the stakes
- Predator (1987) — 85%: Tough, simple action with a relentless hunter
Director
Cast
- Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky
- Bruce Spence as The Gyro Captain
- Michael Preston as Pappagallo
- Max Phipps as The Toadie
- Vernon Wells as Wez
- Kjell Nilsson as The Humungus
- Emil Minty as The Feral Kid
- Virginia Hey as Warrior Woman
- William Zappa as Zetta
- Arkie Whiteley as The Captain's Girl
Mad Max 2 FAQ
Is Mad Max 2 worth watching?
Must-watch. A drifter helps a besieged fuel camp fend off a raiding gang in the wasteland. It's lean, loud and brilliantly staged, and the car chase finale is still copied today.
Where can I watch Mad Max 2?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Mad Max 2 OK for kids?
Mad Max 2 is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Mad Max 2 is an R-rated post-apocalyptic action film with intense violence and a bleak wasteland setting.
What movies are like Mad Max 2?
If you liked Mad Max 2, try Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.