Legacy and influence of Mad Max in popular culture

The Mad Max series of films, which debuted in 1979, has had a significant impact on modern popular culture. Mad Max references are deeply embedded in popular culture; references to its dystopian, apocalyptic, and post-apocalyptic themes and bizarre landscape and desolate wasteland imagery have inspired some artists to emulate the look and feel of some aspect of the series in their work.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Mad Max[edit]

• Manga author Buronson stated the setting of his manga and anime series Fist of the North Star was "heavily influenced by the film Mad Max."^[7]
• James Wan and Leigh Whannell credit the film's final scene, in which Max handcuffs Johnny's ankle to an overturned car and gives him a hacksaw to cut off either the handcuffs or his own foot to escape imminent death, for inspiring the entire Saw series.^[8]
• The music video for the 2001 single "Addicted to Bass" by Puretone was heavily inspired by the opening chase sequence in Mad Max featuring a Pursuit Special. Two Falcon XB coupes were used in the video - one painted in the livery of the MFP vehicles seen in the film.^[9]
• Pop singer Kesha noted that the vibe of her Get $leazy Tour (2011) was "very heavily influenced" by the Mad Max series. Several of the costumes she and her friends wear throughout the show are very reminiscent of characters throughout the Mad Max franchise.^[10]
• James Cameron also credits the series, along with Star Wars, for having a major influence on him. After Max is shot in the leg he limps severely. There is a low shot from behind of him dragging his leg to get back to his car in the 1979 film. Cameron used the same low shot from behind when the Terminator is struck by a semi-truck (similar to Toecutter's death) and walks from the back of the truck toward the cabin dragging his leg in the same manner as Max.
• The Fallout series of video games, which has a post-apocalyptic world as their setting, lists Mad Max as one of its influences.^[11]

Mad Max 2[edit]

• Filmmakers Guillermo del Toro,^[12] David Fincher,^[13] Robert Rodriguez^[14] and Zack Snyder,^[15] and video game director Hideo Kojima have cited Mad Max 2 as one of their favorite movies.
• Akira Toriyama's 1982 manga Mad Matic was inspired by Mad Max 2.^[16]
• Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin, creators of the comic heroine Tank Girl, describe her as "Mad Max designed by Vivienne Westwood".^[17]
• Waterworld co-writer David Twohy cited Mad Max 2 as a major influence on the film. Both films share the same cinematographer, Dean Semler.^[18]
• The music video for Phil Collins' "Don't Lose My Number" features a sequence inspired by Mad Max 2.^[1][19]
• The music video for Duran Duran's The Wild Boys took design influences from Mad Max 2.
• Other videogames inspired by Mad Max or its sequels include Max Payne, Twisted Metal, Carmageddon, Borderlands, Rage and Fuel.^[20]
• The animated series ReBoot features an episode titled "Bad Bob", which is heavily influenced by this film. One of the artists who worked on the episode was Brendan McCarthy, who would later go on to serve as co-writer and concept artist on Mad Max: Fury Road.^[21][22]
• Nikki Sixx cited the Mad Max films and Escape From New York as a major inspiration for the early stage shows and costume designs of Mötley Crüe in the band's tell-all book, The Dirt. Blackie Lawless from W.A.S.P. cited the film as having a huge effect on the visual theme they were to employ in their 1980s stage shows.^[23]
• Mortal Engines author Philip Reeve stated that the film was an influence on the creation of his particular post-apocalyptic universe.^[24]
• The Road Warriors, a professional wrestling tag team, were inspired by the film's villains; their name is taken from the film's subtitle.
• Episode 8 ("Mad Tony: The Food Warrior") of season 2 of Anthony Bourdain's television series A Cook's Tour is set in Australia and features a Road Warrior theme. The final shot mimics the departing scene from the movie, with Bourdain standing in for Gibson.
• The music video for "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)" by My Chemical Romance is heavily inspired by Mad Max.^[25]
• Mad Max 2's plot point of a hero driving a big rig for an enclave of post-apocalyptic survivors was an obviously strong influence on the Fighting Fantasy game book Freeway Fighter.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome[edit]

• The term "Thunderdome" was adapted by popular culture and appears in various contexts with a meaning similar to that used in the film.
• A 2015 television advertisement for NBC's The Voice parodied the "Thunderdome" concept.^[26]
• The 1996 music video for 2Pac's "California Love" includes elements inspired by the Mad Max film, such as car chases in the desert and the Thunderdome itself, according to director Hype Williams.^[27]
• World Championship Wrestling held a "Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal" match at their Halloween Havoc 1992 pay-per-view event between Sting and Jake "The Snake" Roberts that was based on the film. The match was promoted with a segment where Sting and Roberts met in a tavern full of tough customers that resembled Bartertown. The stipulation of their match would be determined by spinning a wheel, similar to the scene in which Max's punishment is determined by a wheel. The bar patrons repeatedly chant "Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal" like in the film.^[28]
• The film is parodied in the Rick and Morty episode "Rickmancing the Stone" alongside Mad Max: Fury Road.^[29]
• In the tenth installment of the Mortal Kombat franchise, Mortal Kombat X, a character was introduced named Ferra/Thorr. These are two characters in one, Ferra being a small child who hangs on Thorr's back. This is a reference to Master Blaster from Beyond ThunderDome. If the players pit Johnny Cage against them in a fight, he will say 'Master Blaster' in the introduction, which confirms it being a direct reference.
• In episode 2 of the first season of Eastbound and Down, Danny McBride's character Kenny Powers uses a gym class to re-enact the Thunderdome sequence, with pupils wearing protective gear.

Mad Max: Fury Road[edit]

• "Road Rage", a 2015 song by Irish indie musician Miracle of Sound, was inspired by Mad Max: Fury Road.
• The film is parodied in the Rick and Morty episode "Rickmancing the Stone", alongside Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.^[29]
• A Unikitty! episode, "Rainbow Race", pays homage to Mad Max: Fury Road.
• A storyline of The Unbelievable, Unfortunately Mostly Unreadable, and Nearly Unpublishable Untold Tales of I Hate Fairyland, titled "Fairy Road", pays homage to Mad Max: Fury Road.
• In Space Jam: A New Legacy, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner get trapped in the Mad Max universe after being led there by A.l G Rhythm.
• Director Christopher Nolan acknowledged the influence of Mad Max: Fury Road on his 2017 war film Dunkirk.^[30]

References[edit]