Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Mad Max: The Road Warrior 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

A humungus improvement.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 17, 2022

Arguably the best film in the Mad Max franchise (or at least among the original three films), George Miller's The Road Warrior AKA Mad Max 2 makes its long-awaited 4K debut in two different flavors: this stand-alone combo pack or as part of the 4K-only Mad Max Anthology. Both were originally released in November 2021 but immediately recalled due to several incorrect sound mixes, including the "theatrical audio" of this film; those issues have thankfully been fixed on both releases as of this writing. (Beyond Thunderdome, on the other hand, can still only be purchased separately with incorrect lossy audio tracks presented in 5.1 and 2.0.) While the Anthology set lacks most of the legacy bonus features from three out of the four films, The Road Warrior was mostly exempt from this problem so, if purchased separately, it makes for a very well-rounded release that, pound for pound, is the strongest one in the collection.

For a synopsis of The Road Warrior, please see Michael Reuben's review of the 2013 Blu-ray. I am in total agreement here: this is one of the most original and influential action films of the 1980s and even stands up well enough on its own two feet. It's also the most accessible entry point for newcomers, even more so than the original.

Mad Max: The Road Warrior 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Please note that these screenshots were captured from the 4K disc and downsampled to 1920x1080 SDR; therefore, they don't accurately convey what you'll see on a 4K display with HDR enhancement.

Although the previous Blu-ray offered a respectably good 1080p transfer for its time, Warner Bros.' new 4K treatment of The Road Warrior is a much more immediately impressive, stable, and carefully-treated presentation that likely will not be beaten on home video anytime soon. For starters, it's no longer boxed in on all four sides by a thin black border (presumably to compensate for overscan, which was still an issue on some displays when its master was created) or slightly vertically stretched, but the more obvious improvements are obviously inside the frame. The Road Warrior is absolutely dominated by pale blue skies and warm desert hues, both of which are finely saturated but not boosted to artificial levels; only occasional highlights -- such as bursts of flame, explosions, and certain costume and background elements -- cut through the mostly earth-toned palette. It's not a vivid film by design (which applies to all films in this franchise, save for the hyper- saturated Fury Road) and certainly not pretty, but the production design's appropriately lived-in appearance can now be appreciated in better detail, thanks to increased depth and clarity that extends all the way into backgrounds full of twisted metal, gnarled vehicle husks, and rocky terrain. Close-ups and wide shots are almost staggering in their overall level of clarity, while those stray bursts of color and much deeper shadow gradients are given new life by the tasteful use of HDR enhancement. Dim interiors and scenes shot at night obviously don't look as impressive, yet the 4K's better-resolved contrast yields smoother results and what was once chunky video noise now more closely resembles fine grain. Bottom line: if you haven't seen The Road Warrior in a decade or more, you'll be very surprised with how clean (relatively speaking), crisp, and pleasing it now looks in 4K.

As expected, the included Blu-ray copy (which is not part of the Anthology set) is just a recycled disc from Warner Bros.' 2013 release. For comments about its 1080p transfer, please refer to Michael Reuben's review.

Mad Max: The Road Warrior 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Road Warrior features a new Dolby Atmos remix, a DTS-HD 2.0 track -- AKA the original theatrical stereo mix -- and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix based on the theatrical audio. (This was also why the original 4K release was recalled back in November: The Road Warrior's DTS-HD options on that 4K disc were incorrectly downmixed from the Atmos track.) Luckily everything is fine now, and a studio not normally known for preserving original audio has actually stepped up to create the best of both worlds for die-hard fans. Hey, gotta give credit where credit's due.

From that perspective, any complaints about the new Atmos mix are pointless. Don't like the new audio? Go back to the older tracks. Luckily, I enjoyed the Atmos track for its pure visceral intensity: this full-bodied track seems to mirror the film's combination of a desolate atmosphere and gonzo action scenes, going all-in with a full presence and discrete channel effects... some of which appear to be newly added, for better or for worse. These newly-added -- or at least heavily boosted -- effects often arrive in the form of wind that intensifies the harsh desert landscapes but can slightly overpower other elements, such as Max's discovery of the settlement where vehicles and voices can be heard far in the distance. (This was one of the easiest ways to tell that the recalled set's "theatrical audio" was wrong.) But in other areas, it more carefully intensifies action and atmosphere without compromising the original sound design, especially during the chaotic final chase scene. All told, it's a spectacular track worth listening to at least once.

For purists, the corrected DTS-HD 2.0 theatrical mix will be the go-to option, and it seems to be the genuine article. This track features strong channel separation, dialogue that's well-balanced with background effects and music cues, and a gimmick-free atmosphere that gets the job done and nothing more. Somewhere between these two extremes is the DTS-HD 5.1 remix; it provides a comfortable middle ground for those more tied to "the original experience" but who want a bit of added weight. Either way, the available of all three options is very much appreciated, and for once a Warner Bros. catalog release has apparently gotten the audio 100% right... even if it took a few extra months.

Mad Max: The Road Warrior 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a hinged keepcase with handsome cover artwork, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption code. Several legacy bonus features are duplicated on both discs with a few slight differences.

THE 4K DISC

• Road War: The Making of "The Road Warrior" (48:53) - This 2016 featurette includes a great amount of vintage photos, candid set footage, and several first-hand participants that eagerly talk about their contributions to the film. Comparing and contrasting it to the low-budget original, director George Miller speaks frankly about the many production difficulties he encountered on Mad Max... which extended into post-production when he ran out of money and, along with late producer Byron Kennedy, resorting to editing and other tasks in his free time at home. The tale of Mad Max's international success segues nicely into bigger and better things with The Road Warrior, from its initial development (and a story ripped from the headlines) to its reception and legacy... along with everything he and his team learned along the way. Additional participants (some who appear via archival interviews) include star Mel Gibson, screenwriter Terry Hayes, director of photography Dean Semler, location manager Steve Knapman, art director Grace Walker, stuntman Guy Norris, and several others.

• Introduction by Leonard Maltin (3:37)

• Audio Commentary with director George Miller and cinematographer Dean Semler

THE BLU-RAY DISC

The included Blu-ray disc is identical to Warner Bros.' 2013 release and features a few of the same bonus features, trading off the excellent retrospective featurette (which technically didn't exist yet) for the American theatrical trailer, which for whatever reason wasn't included on the 4K disc.

• Introduction by Leonard Maltin (3:37)

• Audio Commentary with director George Miller and cinematographer Dean Semler

• Theatrical Trailer (2:28) - A worn but well-done promotional piece that can also be seen here.

Mad Max: The Road Warrior 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Road Warrior is a landmark action film from the early 1980s; a true original, and probably the best pound-for-pound entry in the Mad Max franchise. Warner Bros.' new 4K presentation pretty much has it all: a very solid 2160p transfer, three separate audio tracks (including the lossless original 2.0 theatrical mix), and even a handful of enjoyable legacy bonus features. Add in handsome packaging and you've got a very fine stand-alone release... but if you don't care about Blu-rays or bonus features, the Mad Max Anthology might be a better (but much more expensive) bet.