The film which brought stardom to Mel Gibson and established a new genre of high-impact, future-wasteland thrillers, MAD MAX is set in a barren expanse of Australia's Outback "a few years from now..."On a remote stretch of deserted highway, a band of violent bikers has taken over, attacking anyone unlucky enough to cross their savage path. Racing up and down the seemingly endless miles of asphalt, the crazed outlaws blaze through small towns, plowing into vehicles and pedestrians alike with reckless abandon. Bringing a sense of law to this lawlessness are the mobile police force led by Max (Gibson) and Goose (Steve Bisley), who are as fast and mean as their adversaries and are willing to do whatever it takes to cut the enemy down. This is one job, however, that you don't leave at the office. After the brutal killing of a fellow officer, Max tries to escape this barbaric existence with his wife (Joane Samuel) and their young son, not realizing that the vicious gang is only a heartbeat away. Led by the bloodthirsty Toecuter (Hugh Keays-Byrne), the evil horde follows Max and family to a remote country haven, where a chilling game of cat and mouse leads to a terrifying -- and ultimately crowd-pleasing -- final act.Directed by newcommer George Miller with music by Brian May, MAD MAX was an unexpected smash at the 1979 box office. Purchased from its Australian distributor by American International Pictures, the film proved to be such a sucess that a sequel, Mad Max 2 (1981), went before the cameras almost immediately. Released in America as The Road Warrior, this new adventure became an even bigger hit than its predecessor. When Max returned again in 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, audiences again showed up en masse, due in no small part to the series' reputation for incredible action and the enormous star appear of Mel Gibson, who has since gone to become a house-hold name and one of the most prolific actors working today.