What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMad Max
George Miller · Film · 1979
If you loved Mad Max, start with Waterworld (Kevin Reynolds, 1995) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Mad Max across media.
What hooked you in Mad Max was the visceral experience of watching characters navigate a world defined by total societal collapse.
Start with the source
Inspired by
Waterworld
Kevin Reynolds · Film · 1995
Books on the same thread
The Road
Cormac McCarthy · Book · 2007
Explores: Parent-child bond, Moral ambiguity, Existential dread.
Like the desolate landscapes of Mad Max, this story strips away all civility to examine the brutal struggle for survival and the weight of protecting those you love.
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Book · 2009
Explores: Imagination, Anger Management, Adventure.
While Mad Max explores external societal decay, this book captures the raw, internal intensity of a child confronting his own tempestuous anger in a wild, untamed world.
The Stand
Stephen King · Book · 1980
Shares a thread with Mad Max: Survival.
If the lawlessness of Mad Max left you wanting more, this epic explores the same desperate fight for survival after a catastrophic event wipes out modern society.
Max
James Patterson · Book · 2009
Explores: found family, superhuman abilities, rogue experiments.
The high-stakes rescue missions and rogue elements found here mirror the relentless, action-driven momentum that made Mad Max a definitive experience in the post-apocalyptic genre.
Series on the same thread
The Walking Dead
Frank Darabont · Series · 2010
Shares 2 threads with Mad Max: Survival, Moral Decay.
This series captures the same moral decay and harrowing survivalist tension seen in Mad Max, forcing characters to confront their humanity in a world devoid of order.
Mad Men
Matthew Weiner · Series · 2007
Explores: Corporate Culture, Moral Ambiguity, Changing Social Norms.
Beyond the action of Mad Max, this drama explores the deep identity crises and moral ambiguity inherent in competitive, cutthroat environments where personal codes are constantly tested.
Batman: The Animated Series
Bruce Timm · Series · 1992
Explores: Vigilantism, Urban Decay, Moral Ambiguity.
The grim urban decay and vigilante justice that defined Mad Max are distilled into this noir-inspired portrayal of a man fighting to clean up a broken city.
Future Boy Conan
Series · 1978
Explores: Environmentalism, Loss of Innocence, Technological Dystopia.
This anime shares the post-apocalyptic setting of Mad Max, offering a unique perspective on how individuals maintain their innocence and hope amidst a technological and environmental collapse.
Podcasts on the same thread
Raiders Of The Lost Podcast
Podcast
Explores: film criticism, television criticism, blockbuster movies.
If you enjoyed dissecting the intense world-building of Mad Max, this podcast provides the critical analysis needed to understand the mechanics of classic and modern cinematic storytelling.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
The themes of civilizational collapse and the consequences of power found in Mad Max are explored here through a rigorous, historical lens that challenges your perspective on humanity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Mad Max set in the same universe as Waterworld?
No, Mad Max and Waterworld are separate films. Mad Max, released in 1979, depicts a ravaged near-future where motorcycle gangs terrorize civilians. Waterworld, released in 1995, is a distinct production that does not share the same narrative universe as the original Mad Max film.
Does the motorcycle gang from Mad Max appear in other movies?
The specific motorcycle gang terrorizing the streets in the 1979 film Mad Max does not appear in other movies. While other films like Waterworld explore similar themes of societal collapse and lawlessness, they do not feature the same antagonists or plot elements found in Mad Max.
What is the premise of the 1979 film Mad Max?
The 1979 film Mad Max is set in a ravaged near-future where a ruthless motorcycle gang rules the roads. The plot follows the gang as they terrorize innocent civilians while a police force attempts to stop their violent activities in the streets.
Should I watch Waterworld if I enjoyed the setting of Mad Max?
If you enjoyed the ravaged near-future setting of Mad Max, Waterworld is a relevant title to consider. Both films explore worlds defined by societal breakdown and lawless environments, though they remain separate productions with distinct stories rather than being part of the same cinematic series.