: The first half is classic Mad Max world-building. Max enters Bartertown , a relatively civilized trading post ruled by Aunty Entity (Tina Turner). This segment features the legendary Thunderdome —an arena for resolving conflicts with the rule "Two men enter, one man leaves".

: Widely considered the film's highlight, Turner's Aunty Entity is a charismatic, complex villain who rules through intelligence rather than just brute force.

Most critics and fans agree the film feels like two separate movies joined in the middle.