Fast and Furious Reviews: Our Verdict on Every Film
Fast and Furious reviews on Cinvibe name Fast Five (2011), directed by Justin Lin, as the best film in the series, with Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) the funniest and 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) the weakest. Each of the 10 main films and the spin-off gets a one-line opinion, and full reviews are planned for each.
Key Takeaways
- Fast Five (2011) is my pick for the best film in the series, because it turns a heist into the franchise's most complete set piece.
- Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) is the funniest film in the saga, built around two leads who cannot stand each other.
- Every one of the 11 films grossed more worldwide than its production budget, so the series is a commercial hit even where I think a film is weak.
- 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) is my weakest entry, mainly because its story is the smallest in scale, and a newcomer can skip it without losing the thread.
- If you are new to the series, start with The Fast and the Furious (2001) and then use the watch order guide rather than jumping in at the loudest film.
Hot Takes
- Fast Five is better than Furious 7, and I will say it again: the earlier film has a cleaner plan, and the plan is what makes a heist film work. Marcus Reyes, opinion.
- Hobbs & Shaw is the funniest Fast & Furious film, and it earns that spot because the jokes come from the two leads being forced together, not from random one liners. Marcus Reyes, opinion.
- Tokyo Drift gets treated as the odd one out, yet I think it is the most focused of the early films, with one clear scene to build toward. Marcus Reyes, opinion.
Opinion, by Marcus Reyes.
Fast and Furious Reviews: Which Film Is Worth Your Time?
Fast Five (2011) is the Fast & Furious film I would hand to anyone asking which is best, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) is the one for anyone who wants to laugh. These are my opinions, written for Cinvibe, based on the films themselves and their reported budgets and grosses.
Was Fast and Furious Good, or Is It Hit or Flop?
The Fast & Furious series is a commercial hit and, in my opinion, good in peaks, because each of the 11 films earned more worldwide than its production budget. Furious 7 (2015), directed by James Wan, is the top earner at $1.515 billion worldwide, and Fast X (2023), directed by Louis Leterrier, carried the biggest budget at $340 million and still grossed $705 million. Budgets do not include marketing, so a gross above the budget is not the same as profit.
Which Fast & Furious Is the Best?
Fast Five (2011), directed by Justin Lin, is the best Fast & Furious film because its heist plan gives every set piece a job. The film sets up a crew, a target and a plan, and then lets the set pieces follow from that plan, which is how a good mechanic builds an engine: every part has a job. Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Furious 7 (2015) take the same idea bigger, but they lean harder on spectacle than on the plan. If you only watch one film from the saga, make it Fast Five.
Which Fast and Furious Was Rated the Worst?
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), directed by John Singleton, is the Fast & Furious film I rank lowest. It is a fair, watchable film. Its story is the smallest in scale of the main saga, though it introduces Roman Pearce and Tej Parker, so it matters more to the saga than to my ranking. For the full order, see Fast and Furious movies ranked.
What Is the Funniest Fast and Furious Movie?
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), directed by David Leitch, is the funniest, because its premise is two agents who dislike each other and are pushed into working together. The comedy comes from that pairing, and the action is built to keep them in each other's way. If you want a lighter entry that does not demand the full saga first, this is the one to start with, and there is more on Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
Our Fast and Furious Movie Verdicts at a Glance
Fast Five (2011) ranks highest and 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) lowest of the 11 films, and the short verdicts run in release order with director and year.
| Film | Year | Director | My verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fast and the Furious | 2001 | Rob Cohen | The simple, grounded starting point, and still the right place to begin. |
| 2 Fast 2 Furious | 2003 | John Singleton | My weakest entry, with the smallest story, but it brings in Roman and Tej. |
| The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift | 2006 | Justin Lin | A focused film with one clear target, and better than its reputation. |
| Fast & Furious | 2009 | Justin Lin | A reunion film that does its job without reaching for much more. |
| Fast Five | 2011 | Justin Lin | The best of the series, with a heist plan the set pieces actually follow. |
| Fast & Furious 6 | 2013 | Justin Lin | A confident follow up that goes bigger and keeps the ensemble working. |
| Furious 7 | 2015 | James Wan | The biggest earner, and strong on scale and emotion. |
| The Fate of the Furious | 2017 | F. Gary Gray | Big and loud, with a premise that asks a lot of the audience. |
| Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw | 2019 | David Leitch | The funniest film, and an easy spin-off to enjoy on its own. |
| F9 | 2021 | Justin Lin | Heavy on family history, and best for viewers who know the saga. |
| Fast X | 2023 | Louis Leterrier | The most expensive film, with lively moments and a story left open. |
What About Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and the Cast?
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker star as Dominic Toretto and Brian O'Conner in The Fast and the Furious (2001), and the later films add a wider ensemble. Their pairing is the reason I would still send a newcomer to The Fast and the Furious first. For who plays whom, see the Fast and Furious cast.
Where Do You Go Next?
Fast Forever, the next Fast & Furious film, is dated for March 17, 2028, so there is no review yet. For the right viewing sequence, use the Fast and Furious movies in order guide, or return to the Fast and Furious movies hub for every film in one place.
FAQs
Was Fast and Furious good?
In my opinion, yes, in peaks. Fast Five (2011) is the best of the 10 main films, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) is the funniest. The first film is a solid starting point, the Justin Lin run in the middle is the strongest stretch, and later entries trade focus for scale.
Which Fast & Furious is the best?
Fast Five (2011), directed by Justin Lin, is the best Fast & Furious film; its heist plan gives each set piece a clear job.
Which Fast and Furious was rated the worst?
In my opinion, 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), directed by John Singleton, is the film I rank lowest, mainly because its story is the smallest in scale of the main saga.
What is the funniest Fast and Furious movie?
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), directed by David Leitch. Its humor comes from two agents who dislike each other being forced to work together.
Is Fast and Furious hit or flop?
Yes, the Fast & Furious series is a hit: all 11 films grossed more worldwide than their production budgets, and Furious 7 (2015) is the top earner at $1.515 billion.
Which Fast and Furious should I watch first?
Start with The Fast and the Furious (2001), then follow the watch order guide.