The Fast and Furious series has been a global phenomenon for over a decade. The mix of high octane car chases, adrenaline-pumping music, and family values has kept audiences coming back for more. Whether you're a fan of the movies, there's no denying that they are well-made films.

In this blog post, you will get a closer look at the Fast and Furious series, the best order to watch the Fast and Furious movies, and what makes them so popular.

What Makes Fast and Furious a Box Office Hit

Fast and Furious is one of the most famous movie franchises. The high-octane action, larger-than-life characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense are just a few elements that have made the series a global phenomenon.

Of course, the cars are also major draws for fans. The sleek, custom-built machines are a part of the movies as the actors themselves. Whether they're racing through the streets of Los Angeles or flying off of bridges, the Fast and Furious cars always manage to get our hearts racing.

And not to forget the exhilarating soundtrack by some of the biggest names in hip hop and electronic dance music. Hence, it is no wonder that Fast and Furious is one of the highest-grossing movie franchises. With all of these elements working together, it's easy to see why fans can't get enough of this action-packed series.

Best Movies in the Franchise

Here are some of the best movies under the franchise:

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

The famous Rob Cohen directed the 1st installment. The movie had Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Paul Walker, and Jordana Brewster. The movie follows an undercover police officer who infiltrates a group of street racers to catch a gang of truck hijackers.

The movie was a commercial success, grossing over $200 million worldwide. It was also praised for its high-octane action sequences and unique take on the illegal street racing subculture.

2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

John Singleton directed 2 Fast 2 Furious as a sequel to the 2001 film. The film stars Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Paul Walker, Cole Hauser, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, James Remar, and Devon Aoki.

In this film, ex-cop Brian O'Conner relocates to Miami to start over. He befriends Roman Pearce, played by Tyrese Gibson, as they work undercover with the FBI to infiltrate and expose the notorious Argentinian smuggler Carter Verone in exchange for Brian's freedom. Eva Mendes also plays a significant role as an undercover U.S. Customs agent in the movie.

Fast & Furious (2009)

Director Justin Lin and writer Chris Morgan did a splendid job on this one. Vin Diesel, John Ortiz, Michelle Rodriguez, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Laz Alonso, Gal Gadot, Elsa Pataky, Joaquim de Almeida, and Sung Kang together gave power-packed performances.

In the film, former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) works with his ex-con friend and associate Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the reverse side of the law in a race to find out who has killed someone close to them. With an estimated budget of $85 million, it grossed over $209 million worldwide.

Fast Five (2011)

The Fast Five is the fifth installment in the series. The film stars Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Sung Kang.

The plot follows ex-convict Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel), who assembles a team of racers to steal a shipment of high-tech equipment from a corrupt business person in Rio de Janeiro. It grossed over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the ninth highest-grossing film of all time and the highest-grossing film of 2017.

Furious Seven (2015)

When Fast & Furious 7 was first announced, many fans were skeptical. The sixth movie in the franchise was a disappointment, both at the box office and with the critics. And, given Paul Walker's untimely death, it seemed unlikely that the series could recover.

However, director James Wan proved all doubters wrong, delivering an exciting and emotionally charged film that honored Walker's memory while setting the stage for future sequels. Furious 7 is packed with heart-stopping action sequences. But it's, the film's quieter moments are just as memorable, such as the scenes between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson.

To truly enjoy the movies in this franchise, it is important to know the best order to watch the Fast and Furious movies. While the movies came out in different years, the timelines in the actual movie plot are different. For instance, the Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift movie came out in 2006, but the events in the movie only happen after the end of Fast and Furious 6.