The Mad Max saga has 5 released films, 9 hrs 18 in total, spread from 1979 to 2024. One more film is announced and is not counted here: a total has to be reachable.
That comes to 5 evenings of two hours — the median film runs 107 minutes, so an evening swallows one, rarely two.
In release order
- 1979 — Mad Max — 1 hr 25
- 1981 — Mad Max 2 — 1 hr 37
- 1985 — Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome — 1 hr 47
- 2015 — Mad Max: Fury Road — 2 hrs
- 2024 — Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga — 2 hrs 29
In chronological order
- 1979 — Mad Max — 1 hr 25
- 1981 — Mad Max 2 — 1 hr 37
- 1985 — Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome — 1 hr 47
- 2024 — Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga — 2 hrs 29
- 2015 — Mad Max: Fury Road — 2 hrs
Which order should you pick?
Chronological, and it costs almost nothing. 'Furiosa' came out in 2024 but is set before 'Fury Road': watching it first gives the 2015 heroine a past you did not have. The reverse works too — it is an honest prequel that does not depend on going first. The real reason to pick chronology here is simpler: it avoids ending the saga on a film weaker than the one before it.
Is Mad Max worth the marathon?
Nine and a quarter hours for five films, five evenings: one of the smallest commitments in this selection, for forty-five years of production. The saga is notable for having no strict continuity — the lead changes actor, the world changes rules, and nothing forces you to connect the films. Each stands alone, which makes it an ideal way in for anyone who dislikes committing.
Who it is for
If you want five evenings and two films that became staging references. For anyone who prefers a saga without binding continuity. If you want a story that progresses, there is none here: these are five films in one world, not five chapters of one story.
FAQ
What order should I watch Mad Max in? Chronological works well: 'Furiosa' precedes 'Fury Road'.
How many hours altogether? 9 hrs 18 for five films, five evenings of two hours.
Do I need the earlier films to follow Fury Road? No: it stands entirely on its own.
Last updated: September 25, 2026 — TMDB data verified.