Cannes 2024: Chris Hemsworth, Anya Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa Receives 8-Minute Long Standing Ovation

The 2024 Cannes Film Festival saw a cinematic spectacle as George Miller’s eagerly anticipated prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), named Furiosa, opened to tremendous plaudits. The movie, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy in the title role and Chris Hemsworth, received a nearly 8-minute standing ovation, indicating how well it was received by the audience. The plot centres on a young Furiosa’s capture by the Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth).

The screening was held at the famed Grand Lumiere Theatre, and the atmosphere was electric with enthusiasm. As the titles rolled, the audience exploded in standing ovations and applause. Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor Joy could be seen beaming with excitement and appreciating the passionate response from the audience. The former reportedly teared up upon seeing the reaction. A video of the reception was shared by Deadline.

Furiosa, directed by George Miller, is the fifth film in the renowned Mad Max series. With a $168 million budget, this prequel goes into the origins of Furiosa, a character who captivated viewers in Mad Max: Fury Road. The director co-wrote the script with Brendan McCarthy and Nick Lathouris and the team reportedly spent decades building this story, eager to delve into Furiosa’s roots. Before the screening, George Miller stated, “We worked very hard on this film, and it’ll be very interesting to see what you make of it. Thank you for having us,” as quoted by Hans India.

The plot synopsis mentions, “As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by the Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.” The film aims to showcase Furiosa’s resilience in life as she faces adversity. The warm reception at Cannes sets a favourable tone for Furiosa’s worldwide release next week. Its predecessor, Fury Road was shot on a $350 million budget and went on to become the most lucrative picture of all time, generating more than $380 million worldwide.