The Best, High-Octane Action-Thriller Of All Time Is Waiting For You On Netflix

Tom Hardy became a superhero icon thanks to his role in the Venom trilogy that gave the MCU a run for its web-covered money. Before that, though, Hardy helped reignite Hollywood’s most legendary action franchise in a movie as relentless as it is unforgettable. That movie is Mad Max: Fury Road, and you can now stream this pedal-to-the-metal classic on Netflix.

Like other films in the Mad Max franchise, Fury Road takes place in a post-apocalyptic dystopia where every day is a brutal fight for survival. In this movie, the biggest threat is Immortan Joe, a powerful warlord who stockpiles water and fertile women, both of which are scarce resources in this barren wasteland. But when one of his trusted lieutenants decides to liberate these women with the help of a savvy road warrior, it leads to an epic car chase that may just determine the fate of this fallen world.

George Miller has directed all of the Mad Max movies, and Fury Road is his best work. The film builds on earlier franchise entries while adding its own fascinating lore, making this frenetic action movie a surprising masterclass in world-building. Immortan Joe, his loyal War Boys, and his strong right-hand Furiosa all inhabit one of the most bizarrely compelling (and compellingly bizarre) fictional universes ever put on the silver screen, and discovering its secrets is just as rewarding as watching this movie’s pulse-pounding scenes of car-based chaos.

Interestingly, the title character, Max (full name: Max Rockatansky), serves as our audience surrogate, meaning that we learn about this weird world and its demented denizens right alongside our hero. This creative choice pays off nicely: while Max still gets plenty of awesome moments of his own, the script leaves plenty of room for other characters to shine. That means we get to know Furiosa, the women she rescued, and the War Boy who might be their salvation or damnation.

A talented cast brings Miller’s kinetic vision to life, starting with Tom Hardy as Max. The veteran actor gives this iconic character depth and a kind of tarnished nobility, making it clear that Max never wanted to be a hero; he’d rather drive off into the wasteland and focus on his own problems. Once he gets entangled with Furiosa, though, he can no longer resist the call to adventure, proving that even a reluctant Everyman can make entire empires topple.

Charlize Theron is captivating as Furiosa, giving her character a powerful arc while also headlining some of the film’s most memorable moments. But nobody steals the show quite as much as Nicholas Hoult, a zealous War Boy who loses faith in his cult-like leader once he finds something better to believe in. Many audiences now appreciate Hoult’s immense acting ability thanks to his portrayal of Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman. Still, Mad Max: Fury Road proves that he has been delivering the same caliber of S-tier acting for a long time.

There’s almost too much cool stuff in Fury Road to mention, including a blind rocker whose guitar shoots fire and wickedly quotable dialogue, like the War Boys’ frequently-shouted “witness me!” Plus, the film mainly functions as one massive vehicle chase, a creative decision that ratchets the tension of every character interaction. Throw in some great actors doing what might be their career-best work (looking at you here, Charlize Theron), and you have a film that no real film buff can afford to miss.

Will watching Mad Max: Fury Road make you feel like you are reborn, shiny and chrome, or is this one action film you wouldn’t even use as a blood bag? You won’t know until you stream it on Netflix. Fair warning, though: after this film, you may discover that every other action epic pales in comparison.