AIP was in the final stages of a change of ownership after being bought by Filmways , Inc. a year earlier .
When Mad Max was released in 1980 in the United States , it did not receive a proper release from its distributor , American International Pictures .
American International Pictures was in the final stages of a change of ownership after being bought by Filmways , Inc. a year earlier .
When Mad Max was released in 1980 in the United States , it did not receive a proper release from its distributor , American International Pictures .