Netflix’s 6-Hour Post-Apocalyptic Action Series Brings Mad Max To Television

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Many science fiction films have drawn inspiration from the Mad Max series, but one often-overlooked Netflix show was among the first to adapt its style for television. The original Mad Max film debuted in 1979, and the franchise continues to be successful, with the recent Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga receiving excellent reviews even though it didn’t perform well at the box office.

While the Mad Max films haven’t had a huge impact on TV, with shows like Prime Video’s Fallout only showing a slight influence, most post-apocalyptic series – from The Walking Dead to HBO’s The Last of Us – draw inspiration from different sources. This is what makes Netflix’s Black Knight stand out.

Netflix’s Black Knight Feels Like A Small-Screen Version of Mad Max

The sci-fi series Black Knight is based on the webtoon of the same name by Lee Yun-kyun. It tells the story of a delivery driver working in a polluted, post-apocalyptic future. After a comet strikes Earth, clean air is scarce, and people rely on oxygen tank deliveries to survive, making the driver’s job vital.

The six-episode series Black Knight features Kim Woo-bin as a delivery driver, known as 5-8, who clashes with Song Seung-heon’s character, Ryu Seok – a wealthy and powerful man who controls the supply of oxygen in a ruined world. The story shares similarities with the Mad Max films.

The original Mad Max sequel, The Road Warrior (1981), centered on the villain Lord Humungus trying to control the gasoline supply in his territory. The 2015 reboot, Fury Road, featured Immortan Joe seizing control of the water supply at the Citadel. Both villains, like Ryu Seok from Black Knight, operated by controlling vital resources.

Mad Max Is One of Few Sci-fi Franchises With No TV Spinoffs (Yet)

Okay, so we might not get a season two of Black Knight, but its success on Netflix really proves something: Mad Max deserves its own TV series. Seriously, with so many Star Wars shows out there, and even things like Westworld and Blade Runner getting the small-screen treatment, it just makes sense for Mad Max to join the club. It’s a world ripe for expansion, and I’d definitely watch it!

Unfortunately, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga didn’t do well in theaters, so a Mad Max TV series isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. Despite having popular actors like Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, the film’s box office results suggest producers won’t risk investing in a TV adaptation. For now, Netflix’s Black Knight remains the closest fans will get to a Mad Max show.

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2026-04-15 00:38