This iconic Australian post-apocalyptic action film series and media franchise was created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. It began in 1979 with the original Mad Max and was followed by two sequels: Mad Max 2 (1981, released in the United States as The Road Warrior), and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985). Miller directed or co-directed all three films with Mel Gibson portraying the titular character Max Rockatansky.