The Fast and Furious franchise is one of the most well-known and successful film series of all time. The ten films, plus one spin-off, are known for their high-octane action sequences, fast cars, and beautiful women.
But which is the best Fast and Furious movie?
In this post, we will rank all of the Fast and Furious movies, considering various factors such as action, story, characters, and overall entertainment value. Let's get started!
Every Fast & the Furious Movie Ranked
1. Fast Five (2011)
Synopsis: In order to secure their freedom while evading a ruthless Brazilian drug lord and a determined federal agent, Dominic Toretto and his elite team of street racers devise an audacious heist that push their limits and test their loyalty.
Starring: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, and Dwayne Johnson
Director: Justin Lin
Iconic Lines: "You know, I think I make a better special agent than you ever did." "I guess that depends on how you define "special." - Roman and Brian
Fast Five is a great action movie featuring Dom's signature car hood lecture to Hobbs, a thrilling fight between The Rock and Vin Diesel, and a pair of Dodge Chargers steeled from a moving train.
Here's a miniature of the Fast & Furious Dom's Matte Black 1970 Dodge Charger R/T.
It boosted the franchise by shifting from car races to elaborate heists, becoming the first installment in the series to earn over $200 million at the domestic box office and receiving the best reviews up to that point.
2. Furious 7 (2015)
Synopsis: Driven by vengeance, Deckard Shaw targets Dominic Toretto and his family after his brother's incapacitation.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Kurt Russell, Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Statham
Director: James Wan
Iconic Lines: "No matter where you are, whether it's a quarter mile away or half way across the world, you'll always be with me. And you'll always be my brother." - Dom Toretto to Brian
Vin Diesel, The Rock, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Ronda Rousey, and the whole principal Fast cast all in one movie?
Furious 7 sets the high bar, leaving no fantasy unfulfilled, including Dom and Brian propelling a car through the air from one skyscraper to another.
However, this movie is iconic since it's the time of Paul Walker's sudden farewell. You surely misses Brian driving the Fast & Furious Nissan Skyline GT-R.
3. Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Synopsis: Hobbs enlists Dominic and Brian to rally their team against a mercenary threat, but Dominic's reunion with his believed-to-be-deceased girlfriend, Letty, complicates their mission.
Starring: Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, and Vin Diesel
Director: Justin Lin
Iconic Lines: "You've got the best crew in the world standing right in front of you, give them a reason to stay." "It don't matter whether you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning." - Dom Toretto
This installment takes the action to new heights with tanks, with Vin Diesel flying through the air using the Fast & Furious '69 Dodge Charger Daytona and a plane-centric finale on the world's longest runway, with Fast & Furious Brian's Blue Ford Escort RS2000 MK1.
This franchise is where love blossoms between Sung Kang (Han) and Gal Gadot's Gisele. Also, Letty survived a fiery car crash and was shot by a drug lord's minion, but she lost her memory and temporarily joined the dark side until reuniting with Dom.
Check out our favorite Fast & Furious quotes here.
4. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Synopsis: Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance to combat a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatening humanity's future.
Starring: Idris Elba, Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Statham
Director: David Leitch
Iconic Lines: "I am trying to save the world, which, for the record, will be my fourth time. Because I am really good at it." - Luke Hobbs
What comes between family? Contract disputes! After Fast 8 and the 'Candyass' saga, The Rock and Statham spun off into their own adventure—a buddy movie like Tango & Cash that pairs the American tank with the British mini-tank.
The Rock and Statham deliver a great movie. This is the first film of the franchise without Vin Diesel.
The real highlight of Hobbs and Shaw is the humorous and intense showdowns between the two leads, the iconic Fast and the Furious Hobb's & Shaw's Custom Peterbilt Truck, and the Idris Elba as "Black Superman."
5. The Fate of the Furious (2017)
Synopsis: When a mysterious woman lures Toretto into the world of terrorism, betraying the closest to him, the characters faces trials that will test them like never before.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, The Rock
Director: F. Gary Gray
Iconic Lines: "Let me tell you something. Me and you. One on one. No one else around. I'll beat your ass like a Cherokee drum." - Hobbs
The Fate of the Furious is so well-established. Dom, Letty, and the rest of the family becoming an Impossible Mission Force overseen by Russell's Mr. Nobody is a Furious future worth exploring. You've probably noticed the Fast & Furious: Letty Ortiz's Chevy Corvette, Red!
As predicted, Dom turns against his family--but for a greater cause. Deckard Shaw seems to redeem himself, but it's disappointing that he and Hobbs don't follow through on their threats. It's also surprising how quickly Dom forgives what Shaw did to Han. Or maybe he already knows the truth?!
6. F9 The Fast Saga (2021)
Synopsis: Dom and the crew must confront an international terrorist who turns out to be Mia and Dom's estranged brother.
Starring: Jordana Brewster, Vin Diesel, and John Cena
Director: Justin Lin
Iconic Lines: "Be precise in life. It makes all the difference." - Dominic T.
Unlike the previous films, F9 knows no bounds as they conquer outer space. Tej and Roman's space adventure isn't even the most absurd part.
Helen Mirren returns as Magdalene Shaw, Dom's manipulative and witty ally. She steals the spotlight as she takes Dom on a thrilling ride through London in a stolen car, skillfully evading the police.
John Cena also arrives as Jakob, Dom's long-lost brother who was never mentioned before. Also, we saw how cool Sung Kang's Han Fast and the Furious 9 2020 Toyota Supra is!
7. The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Synopsis: Los Angeles police officer Brian O'Conner must choose where his loyalty lies when he becomes enamored with the street racing world he's been sent undercover to dismantle.
Starring: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez
Director: Rob Cohen
Iconic Lines: "I live my life a quarter mile at a time. Nothing else matters not the mortgage, not the store, not my team, and all their bullshit. For those ten seconds or less, I am free." - Dom
The first entry of the franchise, the original of all fast movies. We've probably watched it on DVD players before! It's essentially a redo of Point Break, swapping surfing for street racing [1].
No matter how big it gets, Fast Furious is about protecting your chosen family and sticking together. The racing scenes still hold up, with fast cars like the Fast & Furious Brian's Mitsubishi Eclipse, flashy shots, machismo, and plenty of Corona bottles.
8. Fast X (2023)
Synopsis: The vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes targets Dom and his family.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Momoa
Director: Louis Leterrier
Iconic Lines: "That's the problem with having a big family. You can't save them all." - Dante
While F9 and The Fate Of The Furious' messy style continues into the first part of the finale, there's much to enjoy, especially Jason Momoa's standout performance as the swaggering villain Dante [2].
The frantic pursuit of a huge neutron bomb in the streets of Rome drags on, a common trait in recent "F&F" movies. Of course, Dom used his Fast & Furious Plymouth GTX, Black!
However, you're glued to the screen as Dom and his crew wreak spectacular collateral damage. Their pursuit is occasionally hindered by communication failures. Just as The Rock and Statham elevated the saga in 5 and 7, Momoa takes center stage and dominates the entire movie.
9. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
Synopsis: A teenager immerses himself in the world of drift racing after relocating to Tokyo to live with his father and avoid a jail sentence in America.
Starring: Lucas Black, Zachery Ty Bryan, Shad Moss, Sung Kang
Director: Justin Lin
Iconic Lines: "Fifty percent of something is better than a hundred percent of nothing." - Han
Among other Furious movies, the focus of Tokyo Drift shifts to Lucas Black's Sean Boswell, an inexperienced American teenager struggling in the Tokyo drift-racing scene. But Sung Kang's character, Han, steals the spotlight with his presence.
The film is best known for its thrilling Tokyo drifting sequences against the vibrant backdrop of the Japanese capital. The first appearance of Dom in this movie with his Fast & Furious '70 Plymouth Road Runner is memorable!
10. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Synopsis: After letting Dom escape, Brian leaves the LAPD and pursues a career in street racing. He's offered a chance at redemption and gets help from Tyrese Gibson as Roman Pearce, a childhood friend and ex-con, and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Tej Parker [3], a street race organizer.
Starring: Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Cole Hauser
Director: John Singleton
Iconic Lines: "Enjoyin' the ride? Man, it's a fast car, huh? Man, it's a classic. Old school. American muscle. Man, this car can do all kinda things, man. Wanna see?" - Roman to Roberto
This franchise was where Tyrese and Ludacris joined. They make the movie feel more like a side story than a continuation.
2 Fast serves as the story for the additional two characters from the mean streets of LA, but the setting and the pseudo-love story seem like filler until the main storyline resumes.
The best part about 2 Fast is that it encouraged Vin Diesel to return to the franchise and the showcase of Fast & Furious Orange Toyota Supra!
11. Fast & Furious (2009)
Synopsis: Brian O'Conner, once again working for the FBI in Los Angeles, partners with Dom to take down a heroin importer by infiltrating his operation.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Paul Walker
Director: Justin Lin
Iconic Lines: "This is where my jurisdiction ends." "And this is where mine begins." - Brian and Dom
The opening sequence, with Dom, Letty, and their crew attempting to hijack fuel from moving tankers, reminded us of the risky heists in the earlier "Fast and Furious" movies.
Fast & Furious introduces Gal Gadot, which is great, but otherwise, it's just a setup for what follows. At least Mia finally gets to be a getaway driver.
We also enjoyed high-speed chases through dark underground tunnels beneath the US-Mexican border, using The Fast and the Furious Brian's Subaru Impreza. We're thrilled more than half-hour watching this film!
FAQs
Which Fast and the Furious should I watch first?
Watch "The Fast and the Furious" (2001) first, which is the first movie release of the Fast Saga. It's the original among the F&F movies. This is the best start to familiarize yourself with the original cast of the iconic street racing crew.
Which Fast and the Furious made the least money?
The Fast & Furious movie that made the least money is "Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift" (2006), which made $62 million domestically and $158 million overall on an $85 million budget. This isn't the worst movie, but maybe it's slightly less popular compared to the later films and spin-off movies.
Which Fast and the Furious movie made the most money?
The Fast movie that made the most money is "Furious 7" (2015), earning around $1.5 billion globally, with $353 million from the United States and Canada. According to Statista, it was followed by the 2017 Fate of the Furious ($1.2 billion), 2013 Fast and Furious 6 ($789 million), 2019 Hobbs and Shaw ($760 million,) and 2021 F9 ($719 million) [4].
Final Thoughts
The Fast & Furious franchise has captured our hearts with its jaw-dropping action, practical stunt work, heartwarming friendship, and unforgettable characters (from good to bad guys). While opinions on the best movie may vary, one thing remains clear - the series has solidified its place in cinematic history as a beloved modern classic.
If you're a die-hard fan looking to bring a piece of the Fast Furious universe into your own life, be sure to check out Toynk's extensive Fast and Furious merch collection. From Funko Pops to iconic car miniatures from the Fast Furious series, there's something for every fan to enjoy and show off their love for the franchise!
References:
- https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/08/whoa-point-break-fast-and-the-furious-are-basically-the-same-movie
- https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fast-x-director-teases-evolution-of-villain-dante-reyes
- https://fastandfurious.fandom.com/wiki/Tej_Parker
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/608148/box-office-revenue-fast-and-furious/
