Where to Watch the "Fast and Furious" Movies: From 2001 to "Fast X"

A Comprehensive Guide to Watching the Fast and Furious Franchise

The Fast and Furious franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences for over two decades. Starting with the 2001 film that introduced the world to high-octane street racing and unforgettable characters, the series has grown into a sprawling universe of movies, spinoffs, and even an animated TV series. With more than 10 main films and several additional entries, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

One of the challenges of watching the franchise is that the release order does not match the chronological timeline of the story. For example, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) is set later in the timeline than the next three movies released after it. Additionally, some characters who appear to die in one film return in earlier stories, creating confusion for new viewers.

To help you navigate this complex web of films, here's a guide on how to watch the Fast and Furious movies in chronological order, starting from the very beginning.

The Original Film: The Fast and the Furious (2001)

The first movie in the franchise, The Fast and the Furious, was inspired by a 1998 Vibe article about illegal street racing in New York City. It follows Paul Walker as Brian O’Conner, an undercover Los Angeles police officer tasked with infiltrating a heist crew led by Vin Diesel’s character, Dominic “Dom” Toretto. The film also introduces Michelle Rodriguez as Letty Ortiz and Jordana Brewster as Mia Toretto, Dom’s sister.

This movie grossed $208.1 million worldwide and laid the foundation for the entire franchise. You can stream it on Prime Video or Netflix.

The Sequel: 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

The second installment, 2 Fast 2 Furious, expands the world of the franchise, introducing new characters like Tej Parker (Ludacris), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), and Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes). The story follows Brian O’Conner as he returns to the world of street racing in Miami, where he gets involved in a mission to take down a drug dealer.

With a worldwide gross of over $236 million, the film helped solidify the franchise’s popularity. It is available on Netflix or Prime Video.

Fast & Furious (2009)

Also known as Fast & Furious 4, this film is the fourth in the series but is set directly after the first two. It features Vin Diesel as producer and marks the first appearance of Gal Gadot as Gisele Yashar. The movie takes place across the U.S., Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, following Brian and Dom as they reunite after a murder brings Dom back to the U.S.

It earned over $360 million worldwide and is available on Prime Video or HBO Max.

Fast Five (2011)

This film marks a shift in the franchise, moving from street racing to action-packed heists. Dwayne Johnson makes his debut as Agent Luke Hobbs, and the movie sees the main gang plan a heist to steal $100 million from a corrupt businessman. Filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Fast Five grossed over $626 million and is available on Prime Video or Netflix.

Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

In Fast & Furious 6, the crew takes on a mission from Hobbs in exchange for their amnesty and ability to return to the U.S. The film features Luke Evans as Owen Shaw and grossed over $788 million. It was also the final film featuring Paul Walker before his tragic passing in November 2013. You can watch it on Prime Video or Netflix.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

This third film in the series is actually the sixth in chronological order. It follows Lucas Black as Sean Boswell, a high school student sent to live in Tokyo. The movie introduces Sung Kang’s character, Han Seoul-Oh, and grossed nearly $159 million worldwide. It is available on Prime Video or Netflix.

Furious 7 (2015)

Furious 7 became one of the highest-grossing films of all time, earning over $1.5 billion worldwide. It features Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw, the brother of Owen Shaw, and marks Paul Walker’s final film appearance. You can stream it on Prime Video or Netflix.

The Fate of the Furious (2017)

This film is the first since Tokyo Drift to not feature Paul Walker. It stars Charlize Theron as Cipher, a cyberterrorist who turns Dom against his team. The movie grossed over $1.2 billion and is available on Prime Video.

Spinoff: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

This spinoff focuses on Dwayne Johnson’s Agent Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw as they team up to stop terrorists. It grossed over $760 million and features Idris Elba and Helen Mirren. You can watch it on Prime Video or Netflix.

F9 (2021)

F9 (also known as F9: The Fast Saga) centers on the team’s efforts to stop Dom’s brother, Jakob, played by John Cena. The film made over $728 million and is available on Prime Video.

Fast X (2023)

The tenth installment, Fast X, sees Dom protecting his family from Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa. The film grossed over $719 million and is set to have a sequel in 2025. It is available on Prime Video or Peacock.