--- title: "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 12 reviews: 8 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics come down in favour, though few without a caveat. The praise gathers in the same places every time: the ruined city of Bartertown, which nearly every review treats as the film’s best idea; the Thunderdome fight, singled out as inventive and original; and Tina Turner as Aunty, who draws more comment than Gibson. The production design and practical stunts are admired throughout, and The AV Club makes a case for the film’s odd, evolving dialogue as its most memorable element. The reservations cluster on the second half, when Max falls in with the lost children and, for several critics, the story loses momentum. Others object to the softer tone and reduced violence. The spread is wide: Roger Ebert and the Los Angeles Times rank it with the best of 1985, while Slant Magazine and Den of Geek place it at the bottom of the series. Contemporary reviews are the warmest and later retrospectives cooler, though Film Stories argues time has been kind to it. ## Los Angeles Times — Michael Wilmington Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 1985. Praises it as a great action movie fueled by character and a personal world, every bit as strong as its predecessors. Singles out the outrageous entertainment value, vivid acting (especially Tina Turner), and symphony of wild action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-10-ca-7815-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 1985. Calls it not only the best of the three Mad Max movies but one of the best films of 1985. Singles out the fully imagined post-apocalyptic world of Bartertown and the original, inventive Thunderdome fight sequence for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome-1985) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2014. The critic highlights the film's strangely memorable dialogue as its strongest element in reflecting the post-apocalyptic world, noting how catchphrases and evolving language among characters create distinct societies and suggest hope for the future. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/who-run-bartertown-1798269433) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds the film offers cracking stunts and a more human side to Max but notes it is disjointed compared to predecessors; praises the elaborate ruined world and mythic quality. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Richard Newby Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2024. The critic finds the film charming and imaginative despite ranking it last in the franchise, praising its world-building especially Bartertown, focus on myths and legends, and Tina Turner's song while noting its more kid-friendly tone and Gibson's softened Max. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/mad-max-movies-ranked/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 1985. Finds it the most visually spectacular installment yet, with showier stunts, added humor, and a striking Tina Turner performance. Notes that it loses momentum in the later sections with the children and oral history elements. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/10/movies/film-gibson-in-a-mad-max-sequel.html) ## Variety Rating **. 31 December 1984. Notes it opens strong with inventive elements and praises Gibson's fleshing out of Max, Tina Turner's striking performance as Aunty, and the good work from the young cast. Highlights the Thunderdome confrontation and Bartertown setting. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1984/film/reviews/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome-1200426532/) ## Slant Magazine — Robert C. Cumbow Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 2010. The critic views the film as the least substantial entry, criticizing its pastiche elements, heavy borrowing, and lack of depth compared to predecessors, but praises its enthralling look and feel along with a great spirit of adventure and strong songs by Tina Turner. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-85-we-dont-need-another-hero-mad-max-beyond-thunderdome/) ## Film Stories — Ryan Lambie Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2025. The critic argues that time has been kind to the film, which was favourably received on release but later seen as too soft and muddled; it now emerges as smarter and more subversive than its reputation suggests, thanks to Tina Turner's legendary performance and the film's strong production design and practical stunts. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome-at-40-a-sequel-ripe-for-reassessment/) ## Collider — Dave Trumbore Rating C+. 12 May 2015. The critic views the film as a cautionary tale about watering down the franchise for broader appeal, criticizing its PG-13 rating, reduced violence, and focus on lost children. They single out the Thunderdome sequence and Tina Turner's performance as highlights before the story derails. [Read the review](https://collider.com/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2015. The critic views the film as a tonal shift toward mass appeal that largely fails to retain the anarchic energy of predecessors, with an uninvolving plot and inconsistent direction. It praises the visual splendour of the Thunderdome set piece, desert landscapes, and the poignant, uplifting self-sacrifice in the ending that reconnects Max with his humanity. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/re-viewed/a651393/re-viewed-mad-max-beyond-thunderdome-did-we-need-another-hero/) ## Den of Geek — Joe George Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 20 August 2024. The critic ranks the film lowest in the series, citing a divided tone from co-direction amid the director's grief and Hollywood trappings that make it feel watered down. It still acknowledges the enduring aesthetic, action sequences, Bartertown setting, and characters like Master Blaster as making it a worthy entry despite not matching the others. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-mad-max-and-furiosa-movies-ranked/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/mad-max-beyond-thunderdome.md