The Fast & Furious franchise is an epic, action-filled journey of more than ten films chronicling the adventures of former street racer Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his found family. The series has taken many different forms over the years, from a simple street racing saga to a high-stakes spy thriller. But, for movie fans who haven’t hopped aboard the Fast & Furious train yet, the expansive franchise could be a bit intimidating.
For prospective fans of the Fast Saga, jumping in on the films isn’t as simple as watching them in release order. Despite the franchise’s relatively linear timeline, certain films are out of order. Anyone who wants to catch up on Dom Toretto’s and his family’s exploits will want to watch the Fast and Furious films in this order.
Updated on February 26, 2025, by Michael Colwander: The Fast Saga continues on, all speed no brakes. With a new Fast and Furious movie set to premiere in 2026, along with other spinoffs in development, it’s worth refreshing this guide for anyone planning their first watch of the series or their 50th.
The Fast and the Furious is the Natural Starting Point
In The Fast and the Furious, Paul Walker stars as Brian O’Conner, an undercover cop who infiltrates a street racing gang led by Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel). Obligated to bust their gang for robbing passing trucks, Brian surprisingly finds himself torn between his loyalty to the police department and his burgeoning love for the Torettos. Eventually, Brian must make a difficult choice that will alter the course of his life forever.
Although The Fast and the Furious doesn’t introduce many of the franchise tropes, it perfectly sets up the following films. Ironically, the movie is much slower than its successors, though it includes plenty of riveting street races and other action sequences. The Fast and the Furious is a perfect place to start watching the franchise, as it introduces several important characters in addition to its two lead characters, including Jordana Brewster’s Mia Toretto and Michelle Rodriguez’s Letty Ortiz.