12 Interesting Facts About The Fast & Furious

The Fast & Furious franchise is owned by Universal Pictures, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

As a critical franchise for Universal, it has grown from its initial street-racing concept to include global heists, espionage, and extreme stunts, significantly increasing its reach and audience appeal worldwide.

Revenue

Since its debut in 2001, the Fast & Furious franchise has become one of the highest-grossing film series of all time. With an estimated $7 billion in global box office earnings as of 2023, it stands as one of Universal Pictures’ most profitable franchises. Some individual film highlights include:

1. The Fast and the Furious (2001) – $207 million globally. Budget: $38 million
2. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) – $236 million worldwide. Budget: $76 million
3. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) – $158 million globally. Budget: $85 million
4. Fast & Furious (2009) – $363 million worldwide. Budget: $85 million
5. Fast Five (2011) – $626 million globally, marking the franchise’s shift to global action and heist themes. Budget: $125 million
6. Fast & Furious 6 (2013) – $789 million worldwide. Budget: $160 million
7. Furious 7 (2015) – The highest-grossing entry with $1.51 billion worldwide, notably boosted by Paul Walker’s passing. Budget: $190 million
8. The Fate of the Furious (2017) – $1.23 billion globally, the second to cross a billion. Budget: $250 million
9. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) – $761 million globally. Budget: $200 million
10. F9 (2021) – $726 million worldwide, reflecting the franchise’s continued global popularity despite pandemic challenges. Budget: $200 million.

The Fast & Furious franchise is set to expand with at least two more upcoming installments. Fast X Part 2 has been officially confirmed and is slated for release on April 4, 2025. This film will continue the cliffhanger ending of Fast X, following the high-stakes conflicts and intense plot threads introduced in the previous movie, including the return of major characters like Luke Hobbs, played by Dwayne Johnson.

Interesting Facts About The Fast & Furious:

1. Record-Breaking Success: With over $7 billion in global box office earnings, the Fast & Furious franchise is the seventh highest-grossing film series of all time. Notably, Furious 7 is the most successful, grossing $1.51 billion worldwide.
2. Tribute to Paul Walker: Following the tragic death of Paul Walker during the filming of Furious 7, his brothers Cody and Caleb Walker acted as body doubles to complete his scenes. The emotional farewell to Walker’s character, Brian O’Conner, was one of the series’ most iconic moments.
3. Most Expensive Stunt in Cinema: Fast & Furious 6 featured a jaw-dropping stunt where a tank crashes through vehicles on a highway. This high-octane stunt cost over $1 million to shoot, making it one of the most expensive stunts in film history.
4. From Racing to Heists: The franchise initially focused on street racing but shifted towards international heists and spy-level action, giving each movie a fresh and ever-expanding plot and audience appeal.
5. Highest Number of Cars Destroyed: Fast & Furious is known for its vehicular carnage. Across the franchise, more than 1,500 cars have been destroyed, with Furious 7 alone accounting for over 230 vehicles.
6. Unique Casting Dynamics: Dwayne Johnson joined in Fast Five and became an instant fan favorite, but a reported feud with Vin Diesel led to the two actors filming some scenes separately in later movies.
7. Fast Cars for Fast Friends: Many of the cast members developed real-life friendships. Vin Diesel even became the godfather of Paul Walker’s daughter, Meadow, highlighting the bond shared among the core cast.
8. Diverse Film Locations: The franchise has been filmed in over 20 countries and counting, including exotic locations like Abu Dhabi, Cuba, and Brazil, adding global flair to each installment.
9. Massive Budgets: The franchise’s budgets have increased significantly, with Fast X reportedly having the largest budget at over $340 million. This spending supports elaborate stunts, exotic locations, and A-list casts.
10. Innovative Marketing: Universal Pictures marketed the films to gearheads, action-lovers, and a multicultural audience. This universal appeal has helped the franchise maintain relevance for over 20 years.
11. Family Theme: Vin Diesel’s character, Dom Toretto, often emphasizes the importance of “family,” a theme that has resonated strongly with fans and become the franchise’s unofficial motto.
12. Spin-Off Success: Hobbs & Shaw, the first Fast & Furious spin-off, was a major success, grossing over $750 million worldwide and paving the way for potential additional spin-offs focused on fan-favorite characters.