When in 2001 the first of the films in the saga came to theaters Fast & Furious (Fast and Furious in Spain) no one imagined that two decades later we would still be talking about it in the terms in which we are doing it, as one of the most successful sagas in the history of cinema which will have a tenth installment in the year 2023.
One of the highest grossing in history
And, indeed, the reason that has kept this saga in theaters for so many years is not to be found in an epic universe in which it takes place, or that its heroes are adaptations of a legendary comic, but rather simply in the collection figures, which for whatever reason (the cars, the girls, the guys and the chases) has managed to connect with the general public. That is, with millions and millions of viewers from all over the planet. It must be borne in mind that the collection figures were relatively modest at the beginning, with amounts that experienced a clear turning point when one of its protagonists died in a traffic accident in California.
Paul Walker died in November 2013, in the middle of filming Fast & Furious 7, which forced a break to decide how the saga was going to continue. The actor played Brian O'Conner for the last time thanks to the plans he was able to record, concluding the rest of the shots thanks to the participation of his brother Cody and the use of computer graphics. The result was that that film reached ninth place on the list of the highest grossing films of all time, with a gross of more than 1.500 million dollars worldwide.
Now, as the success was consolidating, new plots came to the franchise and from the first deals and clandestine races between gangs of the first installments, we move on to real global threats where Dom Toretto's cars (and what are not cars) dominated the screens around the world starring in chases and action sequences that were more impossible.
In total, the franchise has managed to raise among its nine (canonical) films, the spinoff and the rerun of the first one years later, a total of more than 6.100 million dollars where its seventh installment stands out especially, which was the one that completely changed the dynamics of the series, as we mentioned before.
Fast & Furious 8However, reached 1.236 million dollars and the ninth reduced its income to 726. Remember that the first three productions (all throttle, all throttle 2 y Full throttle: Tokyo race) remained at 207, 236 and 158 million, respectively.
First trilogy and reboot
First of all you have to remember that the saga Fast & Furious does not tell the same story from the first to the ninth installment (or tenth, which is on the way), but had a bit of an unexpected start. Originally the saga was conceived as a trilogy that would exclusively tell us the story of characters immersed in the world of illegal racing and, proof of this, is the third, which takes us to Japan (Tokyo more specifically) where the protagonists change... except for a cameo by Dom Toretto.
Universal decided in 2009 to turn around and return to the characters of the first and second films, Dom Toretto and Brian O'Conner, who will already participate together in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh installments. Vin Diesel will continue after the death of Paul Walker but it is at that moment that the franchise that we know today is already consolidated and that it is on its way to completing its decalogy in 2023.
A complete transmedia success
The success of the franchise Fast & Furious It's not just limited to movies. Other media have seen all kinds of content and products derived from those blockbusters experienced from the seventh installment and that have transformed Dom Toretto into a personality. Proof of it is the release of video games based on the saga, or spinoff and even animated series and attractions in theme parks.
Within those spinoffs we have Fast & Furious Hobbs & Shaws, which has its importance within the story and that it was released in 2019 with Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham as the main protagonists.
There is also an animated series released on Netflix, Fast & Furious Spies at full throttle, which right now has a first season that we cannot say that it does not help instruct the new generations in this film franchise.
The saga has also served to feed universal theme park, like the one in Orlando, which has immersive attractions inspired by the universe of the movies. And the truth is that they do not look bad.
franchise protagonists
Although some faces have come and gone through the movies on more than one occasion, disappearing from the map. We bring you those who we can consider as the main protagonistyes These are:
Dominic "Dom" Toretto (Vin Diesel)
The protagonist of the franchise and leader of our band. The main characteristic of him within the saga is his special appreciation for the family, putting him ahead of all things. Although he starts out as a mere street thief, he eventually ends up becoming some kind of planetary vigilante.
Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker)
One of the fundamental pillars of the franchise. At first he was a police officer from the city of Los Angeles who infiltrates Dom's gang with the aim of imprisoning him, but eventually grows fond of him and ends up abandoning his post to save him.
Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson)
Continuing with what was mentioned above, within the film of Fast 5, his first appearance, plays a government agent tasked with hunting down Dom and Brian, who are now among the most wanted criminals in the world. Although, oh surprise!, he will decide to join this band of drivers.
Deckard ShawJason Statham
The main antagonist of the seventh installment of the saga. His quest begins when our protagonists murder their brother in the sixth movie. This is why he decides to assassinate Han in Tokyo, which causes him to collide with Dom and his gang.
Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez)
Dominic Toretto's girlfriend, as well as one of the central pillars of the band of street drivers. Although she is presumed dead for several tapes, she eventually turns out that she was kidnapped and once she gets free of her, she returns to the protagonists.
Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster)
Dominic Toretto's sister who, although initially unwilling to meddle in her brother's criminal affairs, is forced to intervene on occasion to save it. Furthermore, she will end up becoming the wife of Brian O'Conner, with whom she even ends up having children.
Roman "Rome" (Pearce Tyrese Gibson)
Appears for the first time in Full throttle 2 as a petty criminal who helps Brian, but ends up being part of the gang once they need help to take down the Shaw brothers.
Tej Parker (Ludacris)
Very similar to the case of Roman, Tej appears in the second film as a simple host street racing but ends up joining the main gang during the events of the sixth film in the franchise.
Gisele Yashar (Gal Gadot)
This impressive hostess was part of Dominic Toretto's band for a few movies while had a romantic relationship with Han's character…until his tragic death in Fast & Furious 6.
Megan Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel)
Megan is a hacker extraordinaire introduced in Fast & Furious 7 as the creator of the "Eye of God", a powerful device capable of hacking any technology and send the information collected in record time. He would end up joining Toretto's gang at the end of that same movie.
Jakob Toretto (John Cena)
It is about the lost brother of Mia and Dominic Toretto. Jakob plays the role of the main antagonist in the ninth installment. This character was once an agent of Cipher, the main villain of the eighth installment.
Sean Boswell (Lucas Black)
Protagonist of Full throttle Tokyo race, this young man is sent to Japan with the aim of putting him on the path. Instead of becoming an upright citizen, he is sent to Japan with the aim of putting him in trouble. Instead of becoming a good citizen, this young man decides to get into the world of street racing. As a mentor she will have the character of Han.
All Fast & Furious movies
Then we leave you a short description of each of the films, including the spinoff released in 2019 that tells us the story of Hobbs and Shaw. These are:
Full Throttle (2001)
In this film he introduces us to Brian, a young Los Angeles police officer who must infiltrate Dominic Toretto's gang, a street racing driver who is suspected of committing a series of robberies.
Full Throttle 2 (2003)
After the end of the first film, Brian is given the task of arresting a dangerous drug dealer, again infiltrating his gang of drivers. on this occasion He will be accompanied by Roman, an old ally.
Full Throttle: Tokyo Race (2006)
In this film we meet Sean, a young man who, after messing up in the United States, is sent to Japan with the aim of becoming a good person. It is there where Discover the world of illegal racing.
Fast & Furious Even Faster (2009)
Back with the original protagonists, Dom and Brian must join forces to defeat a powerful common enemy. However, in the end poor Toretto will find his bones in jail, detained.
Fast 5 (2011)
After rescuing Dom from the police, our protagonists arrive in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, where they will plan to carry out a big coup while being persecuted by Luke Hobbs, a relentless agent of the Government.
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
After carrying out the coup in the fifth installment, our protagonists are intercepted again by Luke Hobbs, who asks for their help to stop Owen Shaw, the leader of a fearsome gang of mercenary drivers.
Furious 7 (2015)
After the death of Owen Shaw, his brother Deckard seeks revenge, so he ends up killing Han in Japan... and leaving Hobbs seriously injured, which will cause our main gang to seek revenge for his friend.
Fast & Furious 8 (2017)
In this film, an old enemy of Toretto's, Cipher, blackmails him and forces him to betray his friends and steal the "Eye of God", thus causing the gang to disintegrate.
Fast & Furious Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Spinoff of the main franchise where we have a good guy (Dwayne Johnson) and a bad guy (Jason Statham) collaboratingor to eliminate a threat that is embodied, neither more nor less, than by Idris Elba (Brixton Lore). The move went well for Universal because they managed to raise just over 760 million dollars.
F9 (2021)
In this ninth installment, the band of protagonists he must face his lost brother Jakob, one of the most skilled and dangerous assassins in the world.
In what order to watch the movies?
Like any good franchise, there comes a time when things are starting to get complicated, mixing events that come and go in time. If you have them all at hand (in Prime Video and Movistar+ you have them all except the short films, in italics), don't miss the opportunity to see them as the story flows... chronologically speaking. That way you will understand everything better.
This is the chronological order to enjoy the Fats & Furious franchise:
- Full Throttle (2001)
- The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
- Full Throttle 2 (2003)
- The Bandits (2009)
- Fast & Furious: Even Faster (2009)
- Fast & Furious 5 (2011)
- Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
- Full Throttle: Tokyo Race (2006)
- Fast & Furious 7 (2015)
- Fast & Furious 8 (2017)
- Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
- Fast & Furious 9 (2021)
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