Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Post-apocalyptic action is excellent but extremely violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mad Max: Fury Road
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 46 parent reviews
Parents say the film is an action-packed spectacle that, while featuring violence, is not as graphic or unsuitable for teens as some may assume; many reviewers feel the content is manageable for mature younger audiences, with little blood and no significant sexual content. The strong themes of empowerment and liberation, alongside masterful visuals and high-energy action, resonate well with viewers, although some critiques point to the film's portrayal of violence as excessive and question its narrative depth.
- suitable for teens
- strong visuals
- strong female characters
- themes of liberation
- action-packed spectacle
- minor blood and gore
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 118 kid reviews
Kids say this action-packed movie is a thrilling ride with incredible visuals and intense car chases, often highlighting vivid and brutal violence. While many appreciate the empowering female leads and engaging story, the film is filled with mature themes and graphic scenes, making it more suitable for older teens and adults due to its violent and disturbing content.
- intense action
- graphic violence
- strong female leads
- mature themes
- visual masterpiece
- unsuitable for kids
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, the evil Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) rules a post-apocalyptic future by controlling water and gasoline. His trusted soldier, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), heads out for a routine supply run and then suddenly goes east; it turns out she has betrayed him by rescuing several of Joe's wives, whom he keeps for breeding purposes. Meanwhile, Max (Tom Hardy), who has been taken prisoner, escapes and finds that Furiosa's battle-ready truck is his only means of escape. He soon joins her cause, and another of Joe's men, the disillusioned Nux (Nicholas Hoult), also helps. Reaching Furiosa's homeland reveals that the chase still isn't over; the band of heroes must go straight back into the lion's den.
Is It Any Good?
The sheer, limitless invention behind this movie's exhilarating, preposterous chase scenes highlights action filmmaking at its finest. Amid the roar of the speeding machines in Mad Max: Fury Road, director George Miller also plays with subtler themes. As in his 1987 comedy The Witches of Eastwick, Miller seems interested in women and motherhood, but in an unusual way (as in the scene in which Max uses mother's milk to wash blood from his face).
Perhaps the movie's key theme stems from the way that Max seems even madder this time around, hearing victims' voices in his head. Violence is ultimately linked to madness. It's amazing that Miller has been in charge of the Mad Max series for so many decades, but it's telling that he's also behind the Babe and Happy Feet movies. As the maker of such open-hearted family movies, he seems to possess a much larger, more empathetic worldview than most other filmmakers doling out action for action's sake.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Mad Max: Fury Road's violence. With so much destruction, what does the movie seem to say about violence in general? Is it thrilling, or is some of it shocking and unpleasant? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How are women treated in the movie? Are the young women portrayed as sex objects, or do they become interesting characters? What role does Furiosa play? How does her character compare to other female action heroes you've seen?
What's the appeal of the Mad Max character? What do we know about him? Can we place ourselves in his shoes? Is he a role model? A mystery?
Why do you think the movie chose to include characters with disabilities? Where did you see people with disabilities in the movie, and what roles did they play in their society?
What's the appeal of the post-apocalyptic genre? What do these movies try to teach us about the way we live today?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 15, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : September 1, 2015
- Cast : Charlize Theron , Tom Hardy , Nicholas Hoult
- Director : George Miller
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 120 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images
- Award : Academy Award
- Last updated : February 15, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate