The Big Picture

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 9 - 'Mad Max: Fury Road’

October 14, 2025

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  • 'Mad Max: Fury Road' is hailed as the action achievement of the century so far, praised for its unprecedented practical filmmaking and editing achievements, even referencing a Steven Soderbergh quote about its difficulty. 
  • The film possesses a 'silent film quality' despite its loud sound design, relying heavily on visual storytelling, expressionistic faces, and minimal dialogue to convey its themes and character dynamics. 
  • Charlize Theron's performance as Imperator Furiosa is considered her signature role, establishing her as a leading action heroine, while Tom Hardy's Max recedes to emphasize Furiosa's central role in the narrative. 

Segments

Introduction and Ranking
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(00:00:10)
  • Key Takeaway: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is ranked as number nine in The Big Picture’s 25 Best Movies of the Century list.
  • Summary: Sean Fennessy and Amanda Dobbins introduce their discussion on ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ as part of their ‘25 for 25’ special. The film is identified as the 2015 action epic written and directed by George Miller. The hosts immediately frame it as the action achievement of the century so far.
Unprecedented Filmmaking Achievement
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(00:00:58)
  • Key Takeaway: The film’s practical execution and editing are considered unprecedented, prompting awe from peers like Steven Soderbergh.
  • Summary: The movie’s accomplishment in filming and editing on-screen action is deemed unprecedented. The production was notoriously difficult, as detailed in Kyle Buchanan’s book ‘Blood, Sweat, and Chrome.’ The visceral, in-your-face experience felt like a new form of cinema to the hosts.
George Miller’s Legacy and Return
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(00:02:11)
  • Key Takeaway: George Miller returned to the Mad Max franchise after a 28-year hiatus following ‘Beyond Thunderdome’ (1987).
  • Summary: This film is the fourth in the Mad Max series, conceived 35 years before production began. Miller, a former medical doctor, has an extraordinary career rooted in the Mad Max franchise. The 28-year gap between ‘Beyond Thunderdome’ and ‘Fury Road’ highlights the long gestation period for this installment.
Visual Artistry and Silent Film Quality
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(00:06:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite being loud, the film operates like fine art or silent cinema, where visual information supersedes dialogue.
  • Summary: The movie is described as having an almost silent film quality, relying on visual language akin to early cinematic masters like Eisenstein and Murnau. Dialogue is sparse, with characters like Furiosa and Max communicating primarily through looks, making it a ‘movie of faces.’ The production design and heightened colors communicate themes like ecological crisis visually.
CGI, Practical Effects, and Color Palette
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(00:08:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The film masterfully fuses practical effects with high-level CGI artistry, utilizing a specific orange/brown/yellow palette to make other colors pop.
  • Summary: The Black and Chrome edition highlights the film’s amazing post-production work, which includes significant CGI alongside practical stunts. The visual artistry is praised, contrasting with the common dismissal of CGI as a ‘purple schmear.’ The desert color palette allows other elements in the film to stand out discreetly.
Charlize Theron’s Signature Performance
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(00:22:37)
  • Key Takeaway: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ represents Charlize Theron’s signature performance, cementing her status as a powerful action heroine.
  • Summary: Theron’s character is used like a ’living painting’ due to her striking physique and minimal dialogue. Following her Oscar win for ‘Monster,’ this film solidified her trajectory as a true action star, leading to roles like Atomic Blonde and Cypher in the Fast and Furious franchise. Her work here is considered far and away her most iconic characterization.
Tom Hardy’s Subdued Max Role
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(00:27:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Tom Hardy’s Max is intentionally subdued, allowing the film to function as a story centered on Furiosa and female power.
  • Summary: Hardy’s Max is noted as being different from Mel Gibson’s, with a quieter aspect that may stem from production clashes or Miller’s intent. Max’s receding presence ensures the narrative imbalance favors Furiosa, reinforcing the film’s focus on female agency. Hardy’s voice is noted as being distractingly dubbed in the film.
2015 Oscar Context and Film Reception
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(00:31:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite winning six technical Oscars, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ lost Best Picture to ‘Spotlight’ in a year dominated by actor-voted showcases like ‘The Revenant.’
  • Summary: The film received 10 Oscar nominations but no above-the-line wins, which is attributed to the actors’ block favoring performances in ‘Spotlight’ and ‘The Revenant.’ The film, alongside ‘The Martian,’ was a crowd-pleasing adventure that often struggles to win top Academy honors. Its laser focus on action made it potentially off-putting to voters seeking deeper human connection narratives.
Comparison to John Wick and Miller’s Style
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(00:37:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The kineticism and commitment to physical action in ‘Fury Road’ share a spirit with the ‘John Wick’ franchise, though Miller’s film adds a mythic, poetic layer.
  • Summary: The spirit of stuntmen turning themselves over to the vision, seen in the John Wick filmmakers, exists in Miller’s production. Unlike the Mission Impossible movies, ‘Fury Road’ possesses a mythic, poetic storytelling aspect. Miller’s career is unique, making him a one-of-one artiste outside traditional Hollywood systems, evidenced by his subsequent mythological films like ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing.’
Sound Design’s Critical Impact
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(00:44:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Sound design was the single variable that transformed the film’s initial poor test screening score (40s/50s) to a 90 CinemaScore after being overhauled.
  • Summary: Sound editor Mark Mangini shared that after the film initially bombed in testing, he was allowed to scrap and redesign the sound effects while all other elements were locked. This single change resulted in a massive jump in audience reception for the second round of screenings. The sound design, including the infamous electric guitar, is crucial to making the world feel lived-in.