Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome: 1985’s Misadventure Explained

Last of the Action Heroes Podcast Network

Welcome back to Hugging the Cactus: A Mel Gibson Podcast! In this episode, host Sicco dives into the wild world of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, the 1985 sequel that left fans scratching their heads. With a $12 million budget and a disappointing $36 million domestic box office, Sicco explores why this post-apocalyptic action flick didn’t live up to The Road Warrior. From the tragic death of co-creator Byron Kennedy in a helicopter crash to Warner Brothers’ Americanized, PG-friendly overhaul, he unpacks the shift from brutal car chases to slapstick train escapes and a kid-filled storyline. Mel Gibson’s Max Rockatansky teams up with Tina Turner’s unforgettable Auntie Entity, backed by a killer soundtrack featuring "We Don’t Need Another Hero." Sicco also covers George Miller’s direction, the Thunderdome arena, deleted scenes, and missed toy marketing opportunities. Join him for 1980s movie nostalgia, behind-the-scenes trivia, and a look at what could’ve bee