Figuring out when Furiosa takes place on the Mad Max timeline is a bit confusing. Obviously, it’s set before Fury Road, but figuring out how it relates to the other entries in the series isn’t straightforward. Fortunately, we were able to piece together a rough chronology of events, which you can see below.
How many years before Fury Road is Furiosa on the Mad Max timeline?
Furiosa begins 15 years before Mad Max: Fury Road and ends the day before that movie starts. Unlike Fury Road, which takes place over three days, Furiosa is composed of three acts that span 15 years.
The first part of Furiosa details her kidnapping from the Green Place of Many Mothers. Time then advances to when Furiosa becomes Immortan Joe’s Imperator. Finally, the movie wraps up years after that when Furiosa stows Joe’s wives away on her War Rig.
What’s confusing about Furiosa’s place on the Mad Max timeline is that Fury Road sort of rebooted things. In the new continuity, instead of occurring in the 1970s, the original Mad Max took place in the late 2010s or 2020s.
We can assume that Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior still takes place three years after Mad Max and that Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome is set fifteen years after that.
At some point after Beyond Thunderdome, Max is captured by Immortan Joe and the events of Fury Road take place.
Reboot Mad Max Timeline
Taking into account the above, we can come up with the following rough timeline for the Mad Max franchise:
- Sometime between 2015-2030: Oil and water become scarce. Oil Wars and Water Wars occur. Australian citizens protest their government. Government cracks down on protestors and is overthrown. Anarchy reigns. Colonel Joe Moore forms his gang.
- 2020s-2030s: The remaining Australian government members formed the Main Force Patrol in an attempt to fight the gangs that had formed in the outback.
- 2020s-2030s: Events of Mad Max take place. MFP officer Max Rockatansky goes rogue and kills Toecutter’s gang before heading into the wasteland.
- 2020s-2030s: The events of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior take place.
- 2040s-2050s: The events of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome take place.
- Sometime later (15 years before Fury Road): Act One of Furiosa takes place. Furiosa is kidnapped by Immortan Joe’s gang.
- Sometime later (around 7 years before Fury Road): Act Two of Furiosa takes place. Furiosa defeats Dementus and becomes Immortan Joe’s Imperator.
- 2060s-2070s: Mad Max: Fury Road takes place.
Is Mad Max Really in his 50s or 60s in Fury Road?
Of course, what’s confusing about this timeline is that Max would have to be in his 50s or 60s when Fury Road takes place. Well, that’s because when the movie was initially conceptualized in the late 1990s, George Miller envisioned Mel Gibson reprising the role of Max Rockatansky. Miller isn’t especially concerned with when everything takes place, so the original trilogy was only lightly retconned, so things make sense. We’ll have to accept that despite his hard life, the radiation and deprivation somehow made Max age at a slower rate.
Ultimately, the timeline for Mad Max is flexible, reflecting George Miller’s emphasis on thematic continuity over strict chronological accuracy. This allows for creative freedom while maintaining the series’ core essence. Furiosa’s story enriches the lore by showcasing her transformation and the brutal world she navigates, providing deeper context to Fury Road.
While the exact dates and ages may be ambiguous, the narrative threads connect the characters and events meaningfully. Fans can enjoy piecing together the timeline, understanding that the Mad Max universe thrives on its mythic and chaotic nature. This approach keeps the franchise fresh and engaging, ensuring that each installment offers new insights and adventures, even as the timeline remains fluid and open to interpretation.
