Believe that watching the Fast and Furious movies in chronological order is just a straightforward ride from beginning to end? Think again. With 10 films (and counting), along with a spin-off, the timeline of this blockbuster Vin Diesel series is surprisingly complex, featuring numerous unexpected twists and turns.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain how to watch the Fast and Furious movies in chronological order as well as by their release dates, starting from the very first installment up to the newest, Fast X.
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How Many Fast and Furious Movies are There?
The Fast and Furious franchise boasts a lineup of 12 films, two short films, and an animated series. The main story arc is anticipated to wrap up with Fast and Furious 11, also referred to as Fast X: Part 2. Despite the conclusion of the primary narrative, additional spin-offs and related projects are likely to follow.
How Long to Watch All Fast and Furious Movies
Embarking on a Fast and Furious Movies in Chronological Order marathon will consume nearly an entire day. If you plan to watch the whole series over a weekend, be prepared to dedicate close to 23 and a half hours to experience the full Fast and Furious saga.
How to Watch the Fast and Furious Movies By Release Date
- The Fast and the Furious (2001)
- The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003 – short film)
- 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
- Fast & Furious (2009)
- Los Bandoleros (2009 – short film)
- Fast Five (2011)
- Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
- Furious 7 (2015)
- The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- Hobbs & Shaw (2019 – spinoff film)
- F9 (2021)
- Fast X (2023)
- Fast X: Part 2 (TBA 2026)
Fast and Furious Movies in Chronological Order
1. The Fast and the Furious (2001)
The timeline kicks off with the debut film of the franchise, “The Fast and the Furious,” released in 2001. The plot is relatively simple, featuring Paul Walker as undercover officer Brian O’Conner, who is tasked with dismantling a gang of car thieves led by Vin Diesel’s character, Dom Toretto.
Brian delves into the world of illegal street racing, becomes friends with Dom, starts a romantic relationship with Dom’s sister Mia Toretto, portrayed by Jordan Brewster, and eventually prioritizes these newfound relationships over his law enforcement duties.
This initial film also introduces Michelle Rodriguez as Letty Ortiz, Dom’s love interest, a character who becomes a mainstay in the Fast and Furious movies.
2. The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
“The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious” explains the journey of Brian O’Conner as he evades authorities, traveling from Los Angeles to Miami prior to the events of “2 Fast 2 Furious.” This six-minute short film, which lacks dialogue and includes a few racing scenes, isn’t crucial to the main storyline but remains a part of the Fast and Furious movies.
3. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
The sole film in the Fast and Furious franchise that doesn’t feature Dom Toretto is 2 Fast 2 Furious. This installment brings Roman Pearce, played by Tyrese Gibson, and Tej Parker, portrayed by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, into the mix.
The plot centers on Brian O’Connor and Pearce, who go undercover to dismantle a drug cartel in return for having their criminal records cleared—a mission they successfully accomplish.
Additionally, the film introduces a new romantic interest for O’Connor, Monica Fuentes, played by Eva Mendes. Fuentes makes a brief reappearance in Fast Five.
4. Los Bandoleros (2009)
The second short film in the Fast and Furious franchise, titled *Los Bandoleros*, is set between the events of *The Fast and the Furious* (Fast 1) and *Fast & Furious* (Fast 4), although its precise spot in the series’ timeline is not explicitly defined.
This 20-minute film, penned and helmed by Vin Diesel, takes place in the Dominican Republic, where Dom is in hiding following the incidents of Fast 1. Throughout its brief runtime, *Los Bandoleros* delves into themes of an oil conflict, political corruption, and a daring prison escape, ultimately leading to a heartfelt reunion between Dom and Letty.
5. Fast & Furious (2009)
Don’t mix up *The Fast and the Furious* with *Fast & Furious*. The latter is the fourth mainline movie in the series but takes place before *Tokyo Drift* (the third film) when considering the Fast and Furious movies in chronological order.
This sequel to the first film occurs five years later, featuring Dom and Brian reuniting to dismantle a drug cartel and seek revenge for Letty’s supposed demise.
Dom ends up getting arrested and sentenced to prison, but as he’s being transported, Brian, Mia, and Tego Leo (played by Tego Calderon) intervene to stop the prison bus.
*Fast & Furious* also marks the debut of Gal Gadot’s character, Gisele Yashar, which was the *Wonder Woman* star’s first significant movie role.
6. Fast Five (2011)
Frequent series director Justin Lin’s third installment in the Fast and Furious Movies in Chronological Order significantly upped the ante with enormous action sequences and a star-studded cast, including Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs.
Following the events of Fast & Furious, Dom, along with Mia and Brian, escapes from a prison transport and heads to Rio de Janeiro.
The familiar pattern emerges: they steal and race highly modified street cars while evading yet another government agency, this time featuring Luke Hobbs and the DEA. In a mid-credits surprise, Eva Mendes’s character, Monica Fuentes, returns to reveal that Letty is still alive.
7. Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
“Fast & Furious 6” kicks off with Dom and his crew still evading the authorities. Meanwhile, Hobbs is determined to dismantle a mercenary operation headed by Owen Shaw, played by Luke Evans.
Hobbs entices Dom to join the mission by presenting a photo of Letty, who Dom thought was dead, and promising him and his team a pardon in the U.S. As expected from the **Fast and Furious**, the plot is filled with high-octane car chases and explosive action scenes.
Despite the chaos, the crew manages to come out on top, allowing the saga to continue. A post-credits scene teases the arrival of Jason Statham’s character, Deckard Shaw, into the series.
8. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
The most unconventional entry in the Fast and Furious Movies in Chronological Order is the third installment, which is set between Fast & Furious 6 and Furious 7. Directed by Justin Lin, this film features a brief appearance by Dom but primarily focuses on teenage street racers Sean Boswell (played by Lucas Black) and Twinkie (portrayed by Shad “Bow Wow” Moss).
Han Lue, a key character in the series, takes on the role of Sean’s mentor. Despite being a pivotal part of the Fast and Furious Movies in Chronological Order, this movie earned only $62 million at the box office, making it the least successful in the franchise.
9. Furious 7 (2015)
The highest-grossing entry in the Fast and Furious franchise so far is “Furious 7,” which raked in over $350 million. No other movie in the series has surpassed the $250 million mark. Critically, it stands out with an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best-received film in the series, followed closely by “Fast Five.”
“Furious 7” continues the storyline from “Tokyo Drift,” featuring Deckard Shaw, portrayed by Jason Statham, as the primary antagonist. Directed by James Wan, known for his work on “Saw,” “The Conjuring,” and “Aquaman,” this film is also notable for being the last to feature Paul Walker’s character, Brian O’Conner, due to Walker’s untimely death during production.
The movie concludes with a heartfelt tribute to Brian/Walker. For those looking to watch the Fast and Furious movies in chronological order, “Furious 7” plays a crucial role in the series’ timeline, bridging events from earlier films and setting up future storylines.
10. The Fate of the Furious (2017)
In the chronological order of the Fast and Furious movies, Fast 8 comes right after Fast 7, aligning both in real-world release and the series’ fictional timeline. Fast 8 boasts an impressive lineup, featuring Charlize Theron, Russell Crowe, Scott Eastwood, and Helen Mirren.
They join the franchise’s mainstays Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Statham. This installment not only delivers the series’ signature high-speed chases, explosive action, and betrayal but also delves into themes of cyberterrorism and the looming threat of nuclear conflict.
11. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw (2019)
The sole standalone film in the Fast and Furious series so far features Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw. These characters, who formed a camaraderie after breaking out of prison together in a prior installment, are now on a mission to save the world from a lethal virus.
The spinoff also introduces the iconic Idris Elba as the antagonist, super soldier Brixton Lore. In 2020, Johnson revealed he was developing a sequel to Hobbs and Shaw, although he promised not to return to the main Fast and Furious movies due to ongoing disputes with Vin Diesel. As a result, there are currently no plans for a sequel.
For those looking to watch the Fast and Furious Movies in Chronological Order, it’s important to note where this spinoff fits into the timeline.
12. Fast and Furious 9 (2021)
The latest installment in the Fast and Furious Movies before Fast X, directed by Justin Lin, sees Dom and his team facing off against Jakob Toretto, Dom’s long-lost brother portrayed by John Cena.
This film reunites almost all the key characters from the series and introduces fresh faces like Cena, Michael Rooker, and Cardi B. The storyline centers around Project Aries, a device designed to control the world’s weapon systems, posing a new global threat. True to the franchise’s style, the team manages to thwart the scheme, with Roman and Tej even launching a Pontiac into space as part of their daring mission.
13. Fast X (2023)
“Fast X” is positioned as the penultimate installment in the Fast and Furious movie series. In this film, Dom faces the challenge of defending his family against a fresh adversary, Dante, portrayed by Jason Momoa. Dante seeks retribution for his father’s demise in “Fast 5.”
source: Gamerode
