Mad Max 2 (released as The Road Warrior in the United States) is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic dystopian action film directed by George Miller, who co-wrote it with Terry Hayes and Brian Hannant. It is the second installment in the Mad Max franchise. The film stars Mel Gibson reprising his role as “Mad Max” Rockatansky and follows a hardened man who helps a community of settlers to defend themselves against a roving band of marauders.[4] Filming took place in locations around Broken Hill, in the Outback of New South Wales

Mad Max 2 was released in Australia on 24 December 1981 to widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise given to Gibson’s performance, the musical score, cinematography, action sequences, costume design and sparing use of dialogue. It was also a box office success, and the film’s post-apocalyptic and punk aesthetics helped popularise the genre in film and fiction writing. At the 10th Saturn Awards, the film won Best International Film and was nominated for five more awards: Best Director, Best Actor for Gibson, Best Supporting Actor for Bruce Spence, Best Writing, and Best Costumes for Norma Moriceau. Mad Max 2 is widely hailed as both one of the greatest action movies of all time and one of the greatest sequels ever made,[6] and fan clubs for the film and “road warrior”-themed activities continue into the 21st century.

Preceded by Mad Max in 1979, the film was followed by Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985, Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015 and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in 2024.