The latest addition to the Fast & Furious franchise, “Fast X,” hit theaters with high expectations, but left many fans of the early films feeling underwhelmed. Despite grossing $554 million worldwide and being the fifth highest-grossing film of 2023, the film received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom praised Jason Momoa’s performance but criticized the writing1.
The first Fast & Furious movie, released in 2001, introduced us to Brian O’Conner, an LAPD officer, who goes undercover in the world of street racing to investigate a group of truck hijackers, led by Dominic Toretto. The film was lauded for its focus on street racing culture and the intricate relationships between characters2.
The second installment, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” saw Brian O’Conner and Roman Pearce team up to go undercover for the U.S. Customs Service to bring down drug lord Carter Verone, providing a thrilling plot without straying too far from its street racing roots2.
However, the pinnacle of the series, for many fans, was the third film, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.” The movie took a fresh approach by introducing high school car enthusiast Sean Boswell, who finds solace in Tokyo’s drifting community. It provided a deep dive into a unique aspect of car culture while retaining the series’ focus on characters and relationships2.
Following “Tokyo Drift,” the series began to depart from its origins. From “Fast & Furious” (2009) to “Fast X” (2023), the franchise moved away from focusing on street racing and cars and instead introduced a flurry of implausible stunts, international espionage, and superhuman feats2.
In “Fast X,” for example, Dominic Toretto and his crew are requested by the Agency to steal a computer chip during its transit in Rome, Italy. The plot takes several twists, involving kidnappings, drone-operated semi-trailers, and even a rescue from an emerged submarine in Antarctica1.
While these grandiose action sequences may entertain some, it’s clear that the franchise has strayed far from its original purpose. The first three movies were about cars, races, and the characters who lived in that world. They were grounded in reality, even while they pushed the boundaries of what was plausible. Now, the Fast & Furious series feels more akin to a superhero movie, featuring stunts and plots that are far removed from reality.
One might argue that the series should have ended with “Tokyo Drift.” That film captured the essence of what the series was about: a love for cars, the thrill of the race, and the bonds formed in that community. It was the last time the franchise felt grounded, the last time it felt real.
While it’s unlikely that the franchise will return to its roots given its current trajectory, fans of the early films can always revisit the first three movies for the thrill of street racing and a dose of nostalgia. The later films, while financially successful, have lost the original purpose of the series, transforming it into a spectacle that is ultimately out of touch with the reality of the world it once sought to depict.
