We’ve come a long way, folks. What began as a street racing crime drama set in the neighborhoods of Los Angeles has grown into one of the most successful and most spectacular action franchises in history. Along the way, the family of good-hearted criminals transformed from electronics-thieving kings of their local racing circuit to international mercenaries tasked with tracking down terrorists, and the franchise’s signature action scenes have become more extravagant and extreme every step of the way.
Whatever the tone or scope of the film at hand,Fast and Furioushas always delivered the kind of highlight chase scenes and vehicular heists that have demanded theatrical viewing and made the franchise one of the highest-grossing on the planet. WithFate of the Furiousarriving in theaters this week, we’re looking back at the most insane set-pieces spawned by the franchise, from the comparatively humbler days ofRob Cohen’sThe Fast and The FuriousandJohn Singleton’s2 Fast 2 Furiousto the outright madness ofJames Wan’s Furious 7, and the entire spectrum ofJustin Lin’s dominion in between. Check out the full list below.
12. ‘Fast & Furious’: Gas Tanker Heist
After2 Fast 2 FuriousandTokyo Drift,Fast and Furiouswas both a return to form and a pivotal step toward the set-piece centric family fest we’ve come to love. Accordingly, the opening set piece from the fourth film borrows heavily from the opening of the first, finding Dom Toretto in the midst of their signature roadside heist, but amps up the stakes by trading the 18-wheelers for a gas tanker that could blow at any moment.
11. ‘Tokyo Drift’: Bringing Down the House
Tokyo Drifthas an unfair reputation as an inferior entry in theFast & Furioussaga, largely born out of the resistence folks initially felt when the film swapped the signature family unit for a new set of characters and transplanted the action over seas. It’s definitely the closest thingFast & Furioushas to a standalone film, but all the trademarks ofJustin Lin’s filmmaking that made him the definitive director of the franchise are in full swing and retrospect does the film a lot of favors, especially considering Han became such a beloved character that the series timeline was convoluted to make him a member of the family. But the opening race has no Han, and it’s an utterly ridiculous romp as Lucas Black’s goofy country boy squares off against the rich sports car-driving quarter back in what Dom would call old-fashioned American muscle for the rights to his girlfriend (yuck). In the process, they tear through a home development contract to absurd, amusing effect.
10. ‘2 Fast 2 Furious’: Highway Race
As the weakest film in the franchise to date,2 Fast 2 Furiousis somewhat lacking in the goods, be it witty banter or high stakes heists. However,2 Fast 2 Furioushelped pave the way forFast & Furious' reputation as the go-to for wild spectacle and the highway race is a film highlight with the dude-bro rivalry between Brian and Roman, some first-rate vehicular destruction courtesy of an 18-wheeler duo, and backward precision driving in the midst of a crowded interstate.
9. ‘The Fast and The Furious’: Final Truck Heist
The set-piece that started it all and laid the blueprint for the ever-escalating heist sequences that would follow, the final truck robbery inThe Fast and The Furiousseems tame by comparison but holds up surprisingly well as a tense piece of action filmmaking. Long before our heroes became all but invulnerable, the truck heist creates a real sense of danger and immediacy that’s only heightened by the relatable and identifiable measure of the stakes. When wire cuts into Vincent’s arm, it’s a cringeworthy predicament that makes you grip your own fist in sympathy. When the driver fires off a shotgun, you practically feel the buckshot flying past Brian’s head.
8. ‘2 Fast 2 Furious’: All Aboard
“Boat. Car. Boat. You’re not going to do what I think you’re going to do?” Of course he is. This isFast & Furious, so if there’s a boat someone needs to catch, they’re pull some “realDukes of Hazzardshit,” hit the gas, and jump their car right aboard. The scene also lays the groundwork for Roman’s later transformation from concerned passenger to the gang’s reliably terrified loudmouth. It lacks the explosions and ambitious ridiculousness of the climactic set-pieces of the later films, but for an early entry, it tips pretty high on the insanity scale.
7. ‘Fast Five’: The Great Train Robery
Long past the days of trucker heists and street races, but not quite to the skydiving out of airplanes and racing submarines. What’s in between? An old fashioned train heist upgraded with swaggy cars.Fast Fivemarked the franchise’s shift from action-packed street racing dramas to explosive tentpole set-piece spectacles and the film’s first big sequence was the perfect way to set the tone. Dom, Brian, Mia and Vince all get moments to shine as the standard heist turns south due to some hidden agendas motivating the job. It’s got stylish, enviable getaway cars, a death-defying dive off a cliff, and it lets the audience know right off the bat thatFast Fiveis taking theFuriousfranchise to the next level.
6. ‘Fast Five’: Vault Heist
How do you take the kings and queens of street racing and give them a challenge? Strap a giant vault to their cars and set every crooked officer in Brazil on their heels. This is the standout action beat fromFast Five, the film where Justin Lin perfected the format and reached the perfect balance between heist thrills, tentpole action, and the core family unit (with a little bit of street racing for good measure). Not to mention adding Dwayne Johnson into the mix, which was a critical move for the growht of the franchise. The vault heist doesn’t just throw cars at a bigger, badder vehicle, it gives the team a real challenge and set of identifiable obstacles that demonstrate just what makes them the best driving crew in the world. And on top, it gives them a cleverOcean’s Elevenstyle sneaky strategy that leaves the film on a rare firmly feel-good ending.
5. ‘Furious 7’: Building Jump
What do you do when you’re trapped on the top floors of the skyscraping Etihad with a murderous enemy opening fire? You gun it right out the window and soar through two buildings to safety, naturally. And you definitely have Vin Diesel grunt “It’s time to unleash the beast” first. By this time in the franchise, the cars are downright exquisite fantasy material, this particular gem being one of a very few in the world, and the feats the team pulls off with them are equally as impressive. “Cars don’t drive!” yells Brian in panic as they gun it toward the edge of the building. Wrong again, Buster. Cars do whatever Dom Toretto wants them to do.
4. ‘Fast & Furious 6’: The Never Ending Runway
The endless runway heard round the world.Fast & Furious 6straight up is not interested in reality or science as we know it. Gravity? What gravity? Force of impact? No thank you. The family officially makes their transition to superhero strength in this film and while the film is dodging the rules physics, it bucks geography at the same time with an interminable tarmac that hosts the finale set-piece. A gigantic cargo plane lands, taxis, and attempts take off for a full thirteen minutes, never halting the full-speed ahead inertia. Estimates for the length of the runway this sequence would require range from 15-30 miles, but either way it’s firmly in the realm of fantasy since the longest paved runway in the world tops out at about 3.5 miles.
3. ‘Furious 7’: Skydiving Cars
Here’s the craziest thing abut the iconicFurious 7skydiving sequence – it’s only the beginning of a near-fifteen minute action scene that sees Brian rescue Ramsey, fight Tony Jaa, sprint of the side of a bus as it falls of the edge of a cliff, and land on the roof of Letty’s car. Then the sequence ends with Dom driving full-speed off a cliff. It’sa lot, but it works because director James Wan keeps the action clean and easy to track, moving fluidly from one beat of the set-piece to the next by always escalating and evolving the action.
