The Fast and Furious franchise is a cinematic titan, boasting an impressive 11 films over two decades and a legion of devoted fans.
Since its explosive debut in 2001, the series has sparked endless debate among viewers: which instalment reigns supreme? Thanks to Rotten Tomatoes, we now have an answer based on audience reviews.
Utilising their Tomatometer, the website ranked the films from highest to lowest-rated. The results may stun some fans, particularly when it comes to the top five. However, it’s no shocker that Fast and Furious 7 clinched the top spot with a stellar 82% rating, reports the Mirror US.
This film marked a poignant turning point for the franchise due to the untimely death of star Paul Walker. Production began in September 2013 but was halted following Walker’s tragic car accident, and the film is a touching tribute to his memory.
When filming resumed, Walker’s brothers stepped in to finish his remaining scenes. Released in 2015, the film features the emotional track See You Again and was a box office sensation, ranking as the fourth highest-grossing film ever at the time.
A glowing five-star review praised the film, saying: “Definitely one of the strongest films in the franchise and, in my opinion, the best, this film has an incredible amount of action balanced out perfectly with the level of emotion and love put into this film by all involved and the fan base itself after the passing of the amazing Paul Walker.”
The reviewer added: “This film will go down in history as one of the greats with perhaps the most heartwarming ending ever to a film that will bring anyone to tears who knows the full meaning behind the scene.”
Trailing closely behind in second place is the 2011 blockbuster Fast Five, with Fast and Furious 6 securing the third spot. Both films boast an all-star cast, including Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, and Eva Mendes, ensuring a captivating on-screen experience.
On the other end of the spectrum, the 2009 film Fast and Furious, also known as the fourth instalment, ranks at the bottom. This movie follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and FBI agent Brian O’Conner (Walker) as they join forces to avenge the brutal murder of Toretto’s lover by taking down a ruthless drug lord.
Before we hit the end of the list, in fourth place is Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw, followed by The Fate of the Furious, F9 The Fast Saga, and the original film that kick-started the franchise, The Fast and the Furious, which holds the seventh spot. Coming in at number eight with a modest 56% overall score is the latest instalment, Fast X, closely trailed by The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, while 2 Fast 2 Furious rounds off the list in tenth place.