In a dystopian future where society is crumbling and lawlessness is rife, the highways have become battlegrounds for roving gangs. Max Rockatansky, part of the Main Force Patrol (MFP), stands as one of the few remaining policemen, attempting to maintain order amidst the chaos. The gang members, led by the sadistic Toecutter, live for high-speed chases and revel in the violence they perpetrate on the roads. Encounters between MFP and the gangs are brutal, with personal vendettas escalating the conflict far beyond mere law enforcement. As the society's thin veneer of order continues to disintegrate, these highway skirmishes become increasingly savage and personal, preying upon the innocent and pushing the lawmen to their limits.

Max, an expert driver with a strong sense of justice, finds his world torn apart by the continual violence and loses faith in the ability of the force to effectively counter the gangs' reign of terror. Despite his superior driving abilities and his commitment to his job, the strain of his moral dilemma and the brutality he witnesses begin to weigh heavily on him. Faced with a profound decision, Max contemplates leaving the force for the sake of his family, seeking a quieter and more peaceful existence away from the chaos that has come to define his life on the road. However, his hopes for a normal life are overshadowed by the ever-present threat that the lawless gangs pose, drawing him inexorably back towards the turmoil that he so desperately wants to escape.