Cirrus@Austlit

'In a hit-driven commercial climate, creating film franchises makes economic sense. Consumers who enjoyed the first The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel are likely to purchase a ticket to the sequel. Those who have committed more than eleven hours’ viewing to the first six films in The Fast and the Furious series will probably invest in the seventh. Film series encourage a devoted audience. With their extended film-worlds, continuing narratives, and attendant mythologies, film franchises generate enthusiastic followings. Australian director George Miller created Mad Max in 1979. After a three-decade hiatus, the excitement surrounding the latest chapter, Fury Road is palpable.' (Introduction)