Top 10 Best Post-Apocalyptic Exploitation Movies (Mad Max Clones)

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is the reason this genre exists. Mel Gibson's Max roams the wasteland and helps a small colony against a sadistic biker gang led by the masked Humungus. With epic car stunts, explosive chases and a nihilistic atmosphere, it's the blueprint for every Mad Max clone that followed.

A mix of The Warriors and Mad Max, this Italian rip-off follows a gang war in a post-apocalyptic Bronx. Full of leather outfits, brutal brawls and explosions, it has more style than many of its contemporaries. Plus: Fred Williamson as a gang leader!

This Italian Mad Max clone is one of the sleaziest, campiest post-apocalyptic films ever. A mysterious hero fights a fanatical cult in a wasteland full of exploding cars. Director Enzo G. Castellari went full throttle with cheap special effects, absurd outfits and crazy plot twists.

A group of warriors protects a settlement in a ruined future while biker gangs and fascist villains try to take over. With brutal fistfights, futuristic weapons and pure chaos, it's Italian exploitation at its best.

After the oil wars, anarchy reigns, and a sadistic warlord drives a gigantic armored truck through the wasteland to plunder villages. A lone hero fights back in this brutal New Zealand variation on Mad Max, full of epic vehicle action.

This ultra-low-budget clone follows rebels fighting over the last water supplies in a wasteland. With biker gangs, gory kills and explosive shootouts, it feels like the ultimate VHS trash film.

Well before Mad Max came this twisted sci-fi film, in which a young survivor communicates telepathically with his dog as they roam a devastated world. Combining black humor, dystopian horror and strange sexual politics, it's one of the most unique post-apocalyptic films ever.

Rowdy Roddy Piper (of They Live fame) plays one of the last fertile men on Earth, sent on a mission while fighting mutant frog people. With cheesy practical effects, crazy characters and pure grindhouse vibes, it's a cult favorite among VHS fans.

Patrick Swayze plays a silent warrior in an arid wasteland who battles a brutal gang over the last water source. Think Mad Max meets Shane, with a dash of Star Wars. Swayze with a sword in the post-apocalypse? Yes, please.

This campy sci-fi western follows a hero on a talking motorcycle who fights a totalitarian regime in a ruined future. With slow chases, cheesy lasers and exaggerated villains, it's a cult classic for lovers of pure VHS trash.