Mad Max is probably probably the most imitated collection in cinema historical past, however just a few post-apocalyptic copycats are literally value watching. Starting with George Miller’s 1979 low-budget gem, the collection would not actually hit its stride till the discharge of The Highway Warrior just a few years later in 1981. Introducing viewers to a world ravaged by a nuclear struggle, the Mad Max franchise ostensibly wrote the e book about what the post-apocalypse would appear to be. Australia’s outback turned the blueprint for the style, and Miller’s strategy to vehicular motion continues to be the spotlight of low-budget cinema to this present day.
Naturally, the success of Mad Max and its sequels spawned a legion of rip-offs, and the post-apocalyptic style is especially fertile floor for copycats. As a result of the world of Mad Max is seemingly so easy, it turned simple for different filmmakers to repeat Miller’s aesthetic, although none might ever rival his distinctive imaginative and prescient and biting wit. Nevertheless, quite a lot of Mad Max copycats managed to be entertaining motion pictures, particularly once they constructed upon the concepts of the traditional franchise with their very own intelligent additions. Mad Max knock-offs aren’t the height of cinema, however some are enjoyable to look at.
10
Equalizer 2000 (1987)
Roger Corman’s Mad Max Rip-Off
- Launch Date
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Might 19, 1987
- Runtime
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85 minutes
- Director
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Cirio H. Santiago
- Writers
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Frederick Bailey
Low-budget grasp Roger Corman was one among many producers trying to money in on the success of Mad Max within the ’80s, and Equalizer 2000 is his finest effort. Loosely linked to a different Mad Max-style film, Wheels of Hearth, Equalizer 2000 delivers the acquainted desert terrain and loads of over-the-top motion sequences.
The rip-off succeeds as a result of it is aware of precisely what to steal from Mad Max, although it does not attempt notably laborious to introduce many new ideas. The essential plot regarding the titular superweapon is a pleasant addition although, and provides the story motivation, which is not one thing all the time present in low-budget ripoffs. Apparently, the film additionally encompasses a younger Robert Patrick earlier than his breakout position in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
9
2019, After The Fall Of New York (1983)
An Italian Rip-Off That Additionally Copies Escape From New York
Mad Max rip-offs had been so well-liked within the ’80s that there have been really sub-genres, and the Italian movie market was notably considering city post-apocalypse tales. 2019, After the Fall of New York is one such instance, and it pulls in ideas from different well-liked motion pictures like Escape From New York. Nevertheless, it additionally includes extra science fiction concepts, which add a singular aptitude.
although the world-building is fairly primary, it seems like a fleshed-out concept
The essential plot of the film includes saving the final fertile girl, and although the world-building is fairly primary, it seems like a fleshed-out concept. The on-location scenes have an appropriately post-apocalyptic really feel, and the miniature work of the destroyed New York Metropolis is spectacular contemplating its low finances.
8
2020 Texas Gladiators (1983)
Buying and selling In The Australian Outback For The Texas Desert
The perfect Mad Max knock-offs attempt to do one thing totally different in addition to copying the unique movies beat for beat, and 2020 Texas Gladiators scores factors for making an attempt. The Italian movie is clearly impressed by George Miller’s creation, and Escape From New York to a lesser extent, however it additionally pulls from the spaghetti Western genre as effectively.
All of the hallmarks are there, with warring factions and a fascist regime aiming to regulate the final remaining people, however it additionally nicks concepts from the Western playbook. This provides some intrigue to the story because the heroes tackle the villains in an try to tame the wasteland. This emphasis on regulation and order is wholly distinctive within the Mad Max rip-off style, and truly hearkens again to the unique movie that began all of it.
7
Hell Comes To Frogtown (1988)
Wrestling Celebrity Roddy Piper Leads The Unusual Rip-Off
- Launch Date
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January 29, 1988
- Runtime
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88 Minutes
- Director
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Donald G. Jackson, R.J. Kizer
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William Smith
Captain Devlin
Hell Involves Frogtown is such a wierd and distinctive addition to the pantheon of Mad Max rip-offs that it nearly does not qualify. Tapping wrestling legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper to star, the movie borrows many concepts from Mad Max whereas concurrently introducing components which are so odd it borders on comedy.
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Piper’s musclebound hero is a uncommon male who continues to be fertile, and that makes him a scorching commodity. In the meantime, he travels to the titular metropolis as a way to rescue ladies who’ve been taken hostage. Although that feels like a dozen different Mad Max-inspired motion pictures, the inclusion of literal frog folks makes the film stand by itself. Hell Involves Frogtown may not be an ideal film, however it definitely is unique.
6
Warriors Of The Wasteland (1983)
The Italian Rip-Off Is Additionally Known as The New Barbarians
It is unattainable to overstate the affect that The Highway Warrior had on low-budget cinema all through the ’80s, and 1983’s Warriors of the Wasteland (a.ok.a. The New Barbarians) is among the most obtrusive examples. Whereas others borrowed some components from Mad Max, Warriors of the Wasteland is a carbon copy of The Highway Warrior.
Regardless of being one of many extra egregious rip-offs, the movie is however a enjoyable motion epic with unique manufacturing design. Mad Max‘s aesthetic has a DIY really feel, as if the survivors have pieced all the things collectively, however Warriors of the Wasteland opted for a extra futuristic strategy to its design. Add on prime of that, a robust efficiency from Blaxploitation legend Fred Williamson, and the rip-off stands by itself.
5
The Blood Of Heroes (1989)
One Of The Final Mad Max Copycats
it is clear that the film was marketed as a Mad Max rip-off whereas really being one thing else
The Blood of Heroes was launched as The Salute of the Jugger outdoors the US, and it is clear that the film was marketed as a Mad Max rip-off whereas really being one thing else. Although it is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the movie is definitely a sci-fi sports activities drama a few staff of athletes who journey from place to position and make their dwelling competing in opposition to native groups.
Such a singular premise is anchored by sturdy world-building and an excellent stronger efficiency from B-movie legend Rutger Hauer. The pieced-together manufacturing design is ripped straight from Mad Max, however the film’s commentary about class is one thing not present in George Miller’s epic.
4
Battletruck (1982)
A Film As Straight-Ahead As Its Title
Produced in close by New Zealand, Battletruck is a textbook instance of a straight-forward copycat of Australia’s Mad Max motion pictures. The post-apocalyptic motion movie facilities on a world during which oil and gasoline are probably the most valuable commodities on the planet, and factions are prepared to go to struggle over them at a second’s discover.
Battletruck does not do a lot to differentiate itself from The Highway Warrior and even particularly chronicles a band of heroes preventing in opposition to an evil warlord. Regardless of a scarcity of originality, the titular automobile is a superb piece of on-screen automobile design, and the motion scenes are fairly sturdy.
3
1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982)
A Rip-Off Of The Warriors With A Mad Max Flare
The 1982 Italian movie 1990: The Bronx Warriors helped to spur the burgeoning Mad Max rip-off pattern, and it modified issues by shifting its setting to an city surroundings. This helped make it extra of a melding of Mad Max and The Warriors, as a result of it additionally encompasses a honest quantity of post-apocalyptic gang warfare as effectively.
1990: The Bronx Warriors was featured on an episode of Thriller Science Theater 3000 beneath the title Escape 2000.
1990: The Bronx Warriors was shot across the similar time as its eventual sequel, Escape from the Bronx, and is loosely linked to The New Barbarians, which was shot on the similar time. The combination of inspirations makes for an attention-grabbing viewing expertise, and 1990: The Bronx Warriors clearly did one thing proper when it impressed its personal line of rip-offs.
2
Exterminators Of The Yr 3000 (1983)
The Final Highway Warrior Clone
Italy produced greater than its fair proportion of Mad Max copies within the Eighties, and Exterminators of the Yr 3000 is probably the obvious instance. Taking quite a lot of pages from the playbook of The Highway Warrior, the tacky Italian knock-off hits almost each beat that almost all of its fellow knock-offs hit as effectively. Nevertheless, it is within the execution that issues shine.
When wanting previous the horrible dubbing, unhealthy script, and clearly stolen story concepts, the movie’s stunts greater than make up for its shortcomings. Recognizing a part of what made the Mad Max motion pictures so interesting, Exterminators of the Yr 3000 put all of its emphasis on its vehicular motion, and that alone is definitely worth the watch.
1
Metal Daybreak (1987)
Patrick Swayze Stars In This Forgotten Gem
When it comes to scale, 1987’s Metal Daybreak is perhaps the largest Mad Max rip-off to come back out of the ’80s. Starring Patrick Swayze on the peak of his stardom, the film takes the fundamental premise of a post-apocalyptic wasteland however provides some swordplay components for added intrigue. Apart from the fantasy components, Metal Daybreak is as a lot a Mad Max copy as it’s a sword and sandals epic.
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The stunt work is powerful, and the supporting solid consists of B-movie notables like Brion James and Anthony Zerbe. Metal Daybreak is usually in comparison with the Mad Max franchise, however it is among the few rip-offs to really go far sufficient in establishing its personal tone, themes, and total visible model.
- Solid
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Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward, Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Zoë Kravitz, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne
- Video Sport(s)
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Mad Max (1990), Mad Max (2015)
