5 Years Later: The Impact of Mad Max: Fury Road

It has been over five years since George Miller’s action epic hit theaters and the film still feels as fresh and thrilling as it did on opening night. Nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, Fury Road has cemented itself as one of the best action films of all time and a remarkable display of practical effects and stuntwork.

I remember sitting in a theater on opening weekend, not knowing exactly what I would be in for. The trailers teased a wild, violent marathon of action. I expected to be wowed by incredible action and solid performances by Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. What I didn’t expect was the stunning grace of it all. This is a meticulously designed film with complete attention to detail. The action feels perfectly designed and the editing by Margaret Sixel, Miller’s wife, is effectively precise. Although the post-apocalyptic world of Fury Road is violent and dry, the cinematography is bright and vibrant. It’s a surprisingly colorful film that contrasts the sad state of the world.

The approach to world building in this film is very unique. Besides the opening narration and news audio, the story of the world and its characters is hinted at or just simply implied. No time is wasted on long exposition or flashbacks. Everything on screen is crucial to the action and George Miller does a good job of keeping the world mysterious and interesting. With just a few details given, the audience is able to feel the weight of the history of this new world.

It goes without saying that the action in Fury Road is some of the best ever seen on screen. The film is basically one long chase, loaded with intense, high-octane violence. The use of practical effects over CGI in most scenes adds to the intensity. Everything looks and sounds real, the car flips, explosions, stunt work, it is scary just how good it all looks. The score by Junkie XL also does a great job of pumping up the audience and making each action set piece feel epic. The action feels incredibly tangible and there is a sense of urgency that keeps the pacing fast and exciting.

Films like Fury Road and John Wick reminded audiences why practical effects and well-choreographed stunt work are key to shooting great action. Many filmmakers hide poor action with jarring cuts or headache-inducing shaky cam. Directors have learned to stand out among the action crowd by clearly showing fight scenes, car chases, hand-to-hand combat, etc. Films like The Raid and its sequel proved that action can be shot clearly and that audiences are hungry for quality action scenes.

Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the most rewatchable and impressive action films of all time. I’m certain its legacy will continue to grow more significant as time goes on. This is sure to be viewed as a masterpiece and true classic of the genre within the history of cinema.

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