It has been over twenty years since The Fast and the Furious was first introduced to cinema screens. In that time we’ve seen it grow from a street racing homage to Point Break into a worldwide box office phenomenon, the Vin Diesel-fronted franchise earning over $6.3billion across eleven entries to date.
The global appeal of Fast and Furious is clear, its fandom less vocal but as ever-present as those who follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its every car-focused action spectacular being a guaranteed profit-maker for studio Universal, with its contents becoming ever more wacky and over-the-top with each instalment.
The Fast and Furious franchise is a go-to for avid movie watchers and casual cinema goers alike given its mix of simple but enthralling action and ever-building mythology. With its diverse cast now more stacked than ever, we at The Film Magazine are taking a deeper look at one of the world’s most successful ever movie series. That’s why, in this edition of Ranked, we’re ranking all every Fast and Furious movie from worst to best.
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11. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
It’s easy to forget how fragile and niche of a project Fast and Furious once was. Back in 2003, the Furious films were no more than relatively low budget car movies aimed at teen boys.
With Vin Diesel moved on to pastures new, Universal seemed to double down on this fact, hiring rappers turned franchise stalwarts Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris to fill Diesel’s gap with their own brand of early 2000s cool.
As is the case with many second movies, this Furious film tried to capture lightning in a bottle all over again, sending Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner on another path from do-good undercover cop to bad-boy street racer. The twist this time was that the gangsters and menial criminals he surrounded himself with were ultimately willing to help the “good guys”, twisting the narrative of Brian overlooking his duty to support Dom (the man he was investigating) in the first film.
2 Fast 2 Furious in many ways felt like the commodified version of The Fast and the Furious that Universal would have released if that film wasn’t made for so cheap and with such low expectation. It was more glamorous, with the colours, the cars and the cast being suped up just as you’d expect one of O’Conner’s Japanese street racing cars to be – it looked and felt well made, but that only seemed to distance it from its roots even further.
2 Fast 2 Furious was fun, sure, but overall it lacked the draw of Vin Diesel’s charisma and felt too disconnected from what had come before it, isolating it as the most disappointing and least rewatchable Fast and Furious movie to date.
10. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
Back in 2006, the Fast and Furious franchise was on its knees, so Universal sent it to Tokyo in an attempt to reach out in a different direction and hit new audiences. This meant that The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift would be the first film in the franchise without leading star Paul Walker, and as little of Vin Diesel as humanly possible, the result being something of a disconnect for core audiences and one of the franchise’s few outliers in terms of universe building.
The years have been kind to Tokyo Drift however, Fast Five working to establish its place in the universe as more than just a failed spin-off and the creative talents of director Justin Lin put to better work on four sequels. For audiences just catching up with the franchise, Tokyo Drift seems like the normal spin-off approach any of the big franchises have tried (Star Wars, Marvel and even Pirates of the Caribbean), which makes this film an easier pill to swallow than it seemed to be for 2006 audiences who saw it in fewer numbers than any of the franchise’s other films, Tokyo Drift pulling in a franchise low of $159million at the box office.
In looking back on Fast and Furious, there’s an odd sense of nostalgia towards Tokyo Drift as a movie set in a more sensible and less spectacular universe, and while that doesn’t make for one of the franchise’s better entries, it does earn it a space in the canon as a welcomed caveat to the main story.
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In conclusion, this film has captivated audiences with its mesmerizing storytelling, compelling performances, and stunning visuals. It has transported us to worlds both familiar and unknown, evoking a range of emotions that have left a lasting impact. The director’s artistic vision and the collaborative efforts of the cast and crew have brought this story to life in a truly extraordinary way. From the gripping plot twists to the heartfelt moments of connection, this film has reminded us of the power of cinema to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought.
Whether you’re a fan of the genre or simply a lover of great storytelling , this film is not to be missed. It’s a testament to the magic of filmmaking and serves as a reminder of the profound impact that movies can have on our lives. So grab your popcorn, sit back, and immerse yourself in this cinematic masterpiece.
