Summary
The latest entry in George Miller’s series about an apocalyptic dystopian wasteland is now available to stream, and hopefullyFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagacan get more recognition after the disappointing box office. The first Mad Max movie was released in 1979, and the film starred Mel Gibson in the titular role. Since then, the wild diesel-fuelled future that sees humanity devolve into metal heads has garnered a great deal of praise, and several sequels.
However, not every movie in the franchise was received so well upon release. Despite continuing to get rave reviews, and expanding the world imagined by Miller,Furiosawas a pretty significant box office flop. With a 90% critics score, and 89% audience score onRotten Tomatoes,Furiosawas certainly a movie worthy of praise. Regardless, the movie only pulled in $172 million at the box office (viaBox Office Mojo), which doesn’t bode well for the future of the franchise unless the film manages to bring in spectacular numbers of streaming.
Why Furiosa’s CGI Looks More Fake Than Mad Max Fury Road
While Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga carries on the spirit of Mad Max: Fury Road, there’s no denying that the prequel’s CGI looks much more fake throughout.
The Dystopian Wasteland Is Finally Streaming Now
WhileFuriosa’stheatrical performance may have been lacking, that is not the only factor to determine the success of a film in the modern era. Now, withstreaming platforms that cut deals to feature the latest and greatest movieson their platforms, movies can get a second life beyond the cinema. ForFuriosa, this could be a make-or-break moment for the movie and the franchise as a whole, and fortunately, the movie has now arrived to stream on Max.
Despite Rave Reviews, Furiosa Was A Major Box Office Flop
However, the issues with the box office do go beyond COVID anxieties. Several movies released after COVID have managed to secure over a billion dollars at the box office, and this comes down to several factors. Advertising, whether a film is part of a franchise, how effective the trailers were in building excitement and engagement, etc.Furiosadid not get off to a great start in theaters, considering the low earnings which left the film struggling to meet its own budget figures at the box office.
Whether the fault behind the movie’s lower earnings is due to a lack of marketing, or a general frustration with audiences who hoped for anotherMad Maxentry instead, is unclear. The reality is thatspin-offs are hit or miss, and in the case of exploring Furiosa’s character, even with the incredible Anya Taylor-Joy leading in the film. There was no guarantee the movie was going to play well, especially considering the fact that none of the movies were all that great earners at the box office (viaThe Numbers).
What should the next Mad Max movie be about?
After nearly a decade, the Mad Max franchise finally returned withFuriosa, a spinoff prequel exploring the origin story of Charlize Theron’s titular character, played by Anya Taylor-Joy. Though a critical success, the movie underperformed at the box office, leaving it unclear if the franchise will continue beyond Furiosa. Writer/director George Miller has previously teased ideas for a few different movies, including one entitledThe Wasteland,and that’s the one I hope for the most, as I’d really like to see Tom Hardy return to the role.
Furiosa Has A Real Chance To Shine On Max
The truth is that none of theMad Maxmovies really shone as much as they did in the months and years after release. Due to the nature of the films, and thepopularity of dystopian concepts in modern storytelling,Mad Maxwas always sure to get a positive response from the crowd. In addition,Furiosa’sVOD sales were strong, which is another big push for executives about what to do with the future of the series.
WhileFuriosa’stheatrical performance may have been lacking, that is not the only factor to determine the success of a film in the modern era.
As a result, it is highly probable thatFuriosawill have some kind of surge on streaming, as a major blockbuster movie that is attached to a larger franchise with a long-standing audience. While people may not have been willing to pay for an outing to see the spin-off focused on a side character in the wastelands, the accessibility and ease of streaming make things simpler. Anyone with even a peripheral interest can click on, and considering how engaging and visually stimulating the movie is, it’s unlikely they will click away. So, hopefully,Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagawill see success on Max.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Cast
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
