Fast & Furioushas been going strong for over 20 years, but two of its most iconic movies couldn’t be more different, showing how quickly the franchise changed. Over the years,Fast & Furiousfilms have fluctuated in quality, with some being crafty and exciting action flicks, while others have fallen a little flat in comparison. The more modern, blockbuster nature of the series is why the IP has become so successful, and whileVin Diesel teased street racing inFast & Furious 11, the franchise steered away from its more grounded approach, which happened pretty suddenly.
Although some ofFast & Furious' best car stuntshave happened in the later installments, the saga is much more about action and high-stakes sequences compared to the original films, which had a racing-orientated theme. The first few outings still featured crime elements, but as the years went on, cars became more of a fun prop to spice up the drama, rather than an actual focus of the story. Ironically, two of the bestFast & Furiousmovies show the strength of each premise, and despite being almost polar opposites, they were released less than five years apart.
Tokyo Drift & Fast Five Are Fast & Furious’ Best Movies For Different Reasons
Both Movies Have Completely Different Qualities That Set Them Apart
WhileFast Fiveis often considered the greatestFast & Furiousfilm,Tokyo Driftis a lot more divisive, but it is easily the franchise’s best pure racing film. It may not have the same lovable characters or charisma as the other entries, butTokyo Driftis a genuinely unique project that captures what the saga used to be beforeFast Fiveproved it was better off as a blockbuster series.Tokyo Driftfollows a car enthusiast who is sent to live with his father in Tokyo to avoid jail time and eventually competes in illegal racing through Han’s mentorship.
Despite its fairly disappointing reviews, the movie has a massive emphasis on cars and the lifestyle that comes with street racing. In addition, it maintains its dramatic elements by having big action scenes and even Yakuza connections, but it ultimately does a strong job of showcasing the franchise’s initial core elements. Unfortunately,Tokyo DriftbecameFast & Furious' lowest-grossing movie, proving a change was needed. EnterFast Five. The high-octane blockbuster was full of explosive moments, featuring hand-to-hand combat, guns, and a massive heist scene that confirmedFast & Furiouswas well and truly heading in a new direction.
Fast Fiveis easily the best project to come out of theFast & Furious universeand deserves praise for reviving the franchise after its issues, yet it couldn’t be any more different fromTokyo Drift.
Although 2009’sFast & Furiousinitially began changing the franchise afterTokyo Drift’s failure,Fast Five’s massive box office successwas what solidified the more modern version of the saga. Everything that has come afterward has mimicked the fifth film’s style and while none have been quite as good since, it became clear what the movie series' winning formula was.Fast Fiveis easily the best project to come out of theFast & Furious universeand deserves praise for reviving the franchise after its issues, yet it couldn’t be any more different fromTokyo Drift.
Tokyo Drift Was The Last Fast & Furious Film About Cars Before It All Changed
Fast & Furious Turned Into A More Traditional Blockbuster Franchise After Tokyo Drift
Alongside being a great display of racing-based action inFast & Furious,Tokyo Driftwas the last movie in the franchise that was actually about cars. Much of the conflict and resolution happened as part of a race or drifting contest, rather than through death-defying combat that just happens to involve vehicles.Parts ofTokyo Driftfocused on a rookie learning how to drift, and although the story also involved Han’s supposeddeath beforeFast & Furiousretconnedit in future installments, all the meaningful elements of the film happened while racing, which changed soon after.
The Fast and the Furious
$38 million
$207 million
$76 million
$236 million
The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift
$85 million
$159 million
$360 million
$125 million
$626 million
$160 million
$788 million
$190 million
$1.5 billion
$200 million
$760 million
$250 million
$1.2 billion
$726 million
$340 million
$714 million
GivenTokyo Drift’s box office difficulties, the franchise clearly had to freshen things up, hence whyFast & Furious (2009)flipped the narrative so drastically. The film focuses on Dom and Brian getting revenge on a heroin smuggler after he seemingly killed Letty, which is a far cry from what the story originally focused on. Even though the fourth installment lacked in quality, it doubledTokyo Drift’s box office and confirmedFast & Furious' switch from street racingto blockbuster action, meaning the franchise’s trip to Japan was the last real time it prioritized cars.
Fast Five Was Incredible, But Fast & Furious Could Have Used More “Tokyo Drifts”
The Franchise’s Best Movie Was Also The Point Of No Return
Very few fans would dispute thatFast Fiveis the best entry in the series, but as great as it is, it would be nice if the franchise had more films likeTokyo Drift. Every new movie has very much followed in the footsteps ofFast Five, as they continued to raise the stakes and introduce powerful enemies, with each one being seemingly more powerful than the last. The box office performance suggests audiences are more than happy with this formula but getting something more racing-themed would be a nice alternative that would help the saga feel fresher.
There’s A Scene Missing From Fast & Furious’ Best Movie, And It Perfectly Explains Why The Franchise Has Changed So Much
A missing street racing scene from Fast Five, one of the highest-rated movies in the series, showcases how the franchise has dramatically changed.
Even if it was in the form of a spinoff,Fast & Furiousreturning to its roots and providing some more car-based drama could help maintain the identity of the earlier installments. Unfortunately, the first and only spinoff so far isHobbs & Shaw, which was even more action-heavy than the main films.Fast & Furious 11being the final mainline movie does mean the franchise is likely to have more spinoffs in the future, and while there is no guarantee this will spark the return of street racing, it’s not too late for more projects likeToyko Drift.
Fast & Furious
The Fast & Furious franchise revs through the adrenaline-fueled lives of Dominic Toretto and his crew of street racers turned global heroes. From the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles to the bustling cities and remote outposts worldwide, they take on high-stakes heists, espionage, and the underground world of street racing. Bound by loyalty and driven by the need for speed, they confront mercenaries, corrupt officials, and personal vendettas all in the name of their found family.
