Mel Gibson’s 81% Rotten Tomatoes Dystopian Thriller Lands a Free Streaming Home

Mel Gibson’s return as Max Rockatansky in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is now just a click away. The 1985 post-apocalyptic thriller, often considered the most ambitious and theatrical entry in the original trilogy, is now streaming free on Tubi starting August 1. Max Max Beyond Thuderdome holds a Certified Fresh 81% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, solidifying its legacy nearly four decades later. The film, however, has a 49% audience score, which is in major contrast with what the critics have to say about the film. While it’s stylistically different from the lean brutality of The Road Warrior, Thunderdome cemented Mel Gibson’s status as a global action star and expanded the franchise’s cultural footprint well beyond Australia.

Those familiar with the franchise from its 21st-century reboot can now enjoy how the same dystopia was brought to screens back then, and at no cost, because of Tubi’s ad-focused, subscription-free model. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome went on to rake in roughly $36 million at the box office, against a budget estimated at $10 million.

The First Film in the ‘Mad Max’ Franchise Was Released in 1979

George Miller’s Mad Max franchise began in 1979 with a low-budget Australian action film starring a then-unknown Mel Gibson. The original Mad Max was set in a lawless near-future, and introduced audiences to Max Rockatansky, a highway patrolman pushed to the edge by a collapsing society. The film became a cult hit and launched what would become one of the most influential dystopian sagas in cinema. In 1981, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior amped up the chaos with a more defined post-apocalyptic setting and large-scale vehicular mayhem. The film was praised for its stripped-down storytelling and visceral action. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome then followed in 1985, shifting gears with bigger sets, broader themes, and the iconic Thunderdome arena.

After a 30-year gap, Miller returned with 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, and cast Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as Furiosa. The film was a critical and box office triumph, and won six Academy Awards, and redefined modern action cinema. This was followed by a spin-off prequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which starred Anya Taylor-Joy in the titular role and was a prequel to Fury Road.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is available to stream on Tubi for free. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.