Ranking the ‘Fast and Furious’ movies on Netflix
Anyone who loves adrenaline, speed, and cars knows exactly what the Fast and Furious franchise means to the world. While many high-octane car movies have come and gone in Hollywood, nothing satisfies the need for speed like this groundbreaking collection. And since Netflix loves a good surprise, midway through August, it dropped seven films from the franchise to ensure you don’t return home still craving more.
Considering this is no ordinary franchise, it’s hard to curate and select just one movie for your day off. And honestly, it’s okay, we get it. To help you ease the delirium of what to watch, here’s a ranking of every Fast and Furious movie currently available on Netflix US.
While Netflix has already made it easy by shrinking the count from 11 to seven, Best of Netflix is about to make things even easier for you. So, in case you’re troubled with too many favourites, smooth the marathon with this one drift.
All you need to do is kick back and unwind because this weekend, your life is going on the fast lane.
Ranking the Fast and Furious movies on Netflix
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (David Leitch, 2019)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw serves as a spin-off for the franchise. And although it’s busy rising through the ranks of Netflix’s most popular movies list, it’s far less of a car movie and way more of an action-adventure. The concept of “family” has been at the heart of the franchise, especially in the main films. However, it feels a bit forced in this instalment. It invariably lacks the Fast and Furious identity and essence, a departure from the themes of street car racing.
While it was a massive commercial success, Hobbs & Shaw was not without its unforgettable drawbacks. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham’s chemistry might be top-notch, but not enough to band them together in the circuit of the best Fast & Furious films.
2 Fast 2 Furious (John Singleton, 2003)
The Fast and Furious rankings have always been of split opinions. But 2 Fast 2 Furious has one of the strongest followings, despite the critical assessment. Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson steal the show. The high-stakes competition is on at all times. 2 Fast 2 Furious originally captures the essence of car culture of the 2000s, serving as the perfect springboard sequel to The Fast and the Furious.
The instalment is unflinching, unhinging, and true to the premise it was launched on. It’s far less about how to save the world and is simply in the DNA of the street-racing spirit we all fell in love with. The film also introduces some key mainstays, Roman Pearce and Tej Parker. It may not have a complex saviour syndrome injected. However, it’s an entertaining, fun family ride.
Fast & Furious 6 (Justin Lin, 2013)
Fast Five was a direct departure from the concept of street racing and a big leap towards heist themes. Fast & Furious 6 lives up to the reputation of its predecessor. It’s much more mission-oriented and largely action-focused. It’s sandwiched between the excellence of what came before and what came after, serving as a perfect synchronisation of two. The endless runway chase was one of the most unforgettable sequences of the film.
Unlike the previous films, this one embraces the overt nature of physics-defying scenes. But the idea of a family remains paramount.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (Justin Lin, 2006)
Conceived as the misfit of the Fast and Furious collection, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift has since come a long way from its original reputation. The film was largely considered a non-conformist, emphasising the absence of the main characters, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. However, this instalment introduced an icon in his own regard, Sung Kang’s Han Lue. His presence was so iconic that he had to be retconned in the future Fast and Furious films.
The film takes place in Tokyo, and we mean it when we say the city reeks of the main character energy. Tokyo Drift single-handedly focuses on the art of drifting in the 2000s. And in case you’re a car enthusiast, you’re clearly in for a show. No CGI effects, no “family” focus, no heists. Just neon cars, cocky players, and real stunts. It’s just a car movie for car lovers. Not to miss out on Sean Boswell’s underdog arc, which is undoubtedly the heart of the film.
Furious 7 (James Wan, 2015)
The heist crew formula was already established well by Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6. But Furious 7 takes it up by a notch with a far more convincing big bad, Deckard Shaw. It takes the high road in more ways than one. You cannot really pinpoint just one high-stakes action and chase sequence. There are plenty that will drop your jaw. But the most crucial element that adds weight to Furious 7 is Paul Walker.
Walker tragically passed away while filming Furious 7, and this instalment carries that emotional send-off that still makes you shed a tear. The film served as a massive turning point from a car-action film, solidifying the idea of family beyond blood, forever in our hearts.
Fast Five (Justin Lin, 2011)
Fast Five was the ultimate turning point for the concept of street racing to heists. Set in Rio de Janeiro, this film introduces Dwayne Johnson, and the idea of found family might have just peaked in this film. The turnaround of the rivalry to respect, the iconic vault-dragging sequence, the fast-paced action scenes, and the idea of freedom away from law – Fast Five culminates in hitting the biggest curveballs of the franchise.
Despite the bet they took, it set a benchmark of its own. Stunning cars, gripping storyline, and an adrenaline push unlike any other. It brought a spin on the old formula, returning with likeable characters and introducing some equally beloved ones. It’s one of the solid instalments often credited with saving the franchise single-handedly.
The Fast and the Furious (Rob Cohen, 2001)
If there’s an example of a perfect launchpad for movie franchises in Hollywood, it is The Fast and the Furious. It was a cultural touchstone that rolled out a franchise that ran for over a decade. And even though we’re two decades down, nothing hits home like the movie that started it all. It made street racing a part of popular culture. The transition from a compelling rivalry to brotherly friendship is the starting point of the concept of family.
The stakes get quite worldly in the latter films; here, it’s much more personal. Far more grounded, the biggest takeaway from the first film lies in its sincerity, simplicity and passion for car culture.