The Fast & Furious film franchise is one of the most consistently popular cinematic movements in modern history. Whatever its many faults, these movies have something that keeps crowds rolling in, but which of the nine films in the main franchise stands out above the rest?
The first Fast and the Furious film came to theaters twenty years ago, met with mixed reviews and absolutely staggering box office success. When a studio gets a film that makes its budget back on opening weekend, the smart bet is that sequels are on the way. Since then, eight more films have been released, with a spin-off in 2019's Hobbs & Shaw, and the franchise has evolved to a height that would have been unthinkable two decades back.
In a way, the films can be divided into two distinct periods; before and after Fast Five. 2011's Fast Five was when the artifice fell from the franchise and the filmmakers finally began to embrace the ridiculous beauty that the unbridled vehicular chaos could embody. Five of the nine films have been directed by Justin Lin, who, in many ways, is the primary artistic voice behind the franchise. However, he is also responsible for both Tokyo Drift and the fourth film, the twin disasters which embody the franchise's worst impulses. So the high point of the franchise will undoubtedly fall post its massive improvement in Fast Five and won't necessarily be directed by series mainstay Justin Lin. That's why the apex of the series is 2015's Furious 7.
Furious 7 was directed by James Wan, the incredibly prolific director behind Saw, Conjuring, Insidious and Malignant. Though his primary output is horror films, he also directed the DCEU hit Aquaman. Wan was selected among a pool of prestigious directors after Lin announced his stepping down from the franchise after four straight films. Wan is an excellent visual director, who brought a distinct and powerful stylistic flair to action scenes. The film was written by Chris Morgan, who also wrote each of the screenplays from the third film to the eighth. With Wan at the helm, Furious 7 went on to be the biggest box office earner in the history of the franchise, as well as the best-reviewed to this day.
Furious 7 sees Dominic Toretto and his family, back in the US after securing amnesty for their many crimes over the previous movies. A new foe emerges, a violent avenger, out to make Dom and his crew pay for killing his sibling one movie earlier. This emergent threat appears suddenly and makes his presence known by killing Han and bombing the Toretto household, putting the crew on the defensive and eager to fight back. In desperation, the crew turns to a mysterious benefactor known only as Mr. Nobody, who offers his aid for a price. Dom and company are entreated to acquire a computer program called God's Eye, capable of finding any person through an intricate spying network. So the heroes of the tale must simultaneously defeat their new nemesis while seeking out God's Eye. Car chases, fistfights, shootouts, and much more ensue as the series lives up to its action-packed expectations.
New characters pop up in the Fast franchise with frightening regularity, many of them dying off just as quickly. Series mainstay Deckard Shaw, portrayed by Jason Statham, makes his grand debut in this film. Shaw makes a huge impression as an amoral hitman seeking vengeance against the family for killing his brother, probably the best villain the series has seen. The film's other villain, Jakande, is also fun. Portrayed by Djimon Hounsou, Jakande is intimidating and powerful by performance alone. The casting overall is stellar; this film is the Hollywood debut of legendary martial arts film star Tony Jaa, and though his scenes wouldn't make his all-time highlight real, he's a massive boon to the film. Kurt Russell joins the franchise in this entry as Mr. Nobody, bringing all the charm and charisma the longtime movie star is known for to this mysterious role.
Fast & Furious may not be a franchise with a brain, but it is one with a heart, and this entry especially embodies this concept. Furious 7 is marked by the fact that it was franchise mainstay Paul Walker's final role before his untimely death in 2013. Waker's character Brian was the central hero of the franchise along with Vin Diesel's Dom and his loss is felt in the series today. Paul Walker's sendoff in this film is perhaps the most effective emotional moment in the franchise to date. This unfortunate occurrence and the crew's touching response elevate Furious 7 from goofy action blockbuster to loving monument to an actor's legacy, cementing the film's importance far beyond its own reach.
Furious 7 is the best movie in the prolific franchise for its direction, casting, action, and larger meaning. Perhaps the tenth entry in the series will overtake the seventh when it hits theaters in April 2023.