Mad Max
Mad Max depicts a narrative of social breakdown, murder, and revenge set in futuristic yet brutally primitive Australia. The first dystopian thriller starring Mel Gibson was made on a tight budget of $300,000. Regardless, it managed to draw in millions of movie-goers over the course of its theatrical run.
The movie made $378.9 million globally, including $154.1 million in the United States alone. Mad Max was acclaimed as the Most Profitable Film in Guinness World Records for over two decades, and it opened the door for three sequels as a way of saying, “Good job. Now, make us more money!”