Mad Max

The fictional hero Mad Max first appeared in the low-budget 1979 movie Mad Max, directed by George Miller and starring Mel Gibson as Max. Max's milieu is a barren Australia of the near future, dominated by violent marauders; Max is a former cop who turns vigilante after a biker gang kills his wife and child. The grimy futurism and colorful carnage of Mad Max made it a cult hit, which led to Max's return in two sequels: The Road Warrior (1981) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985). By the third film Max had become less vigilante and more benevolent lone wolf in the grand tradition of Philip Marlowe or Bruce Lee. A fourth film in the series, Fury Road, has been discussed but has yet to be released.

Extra credit: Max's full name is Max Rockatansky... Max's car was nicknamed The Interceptor.