They're dumb movies and some of them are really bad. I have trouble understanding the appeal too until I'm reminded that most people don't care about movies the same way I do. They're happy watching outrageous stunts, jokes about stereotypes and characters they grew up with talking about cheesy stuff like 'family'. It all clicks with them in the same way all that stuff turns me off. Vin Diesel is awesome though and you can tell the movies weren't half-assed (at least the ones with him as the star) so they get some respect from me.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
I don't understand The Fast the Furious franchise's popularity
- Thread starter neoemonk
- Start date
- Status
CadetMahoney
Member
I think what OP is saying is how 1-4 are mediocre but for some reason 5 got greenlit with a huge budget and got Rock involved.
shiftplusone
Member
The story is ridiculous and what they get up to is dumb or hilarious, but there is a genuine respect and reverence for the actual characters that at worst you can at least appreciate what they're doing
Everything about the characters in FF is from a genuine love for the characters they've made but more importantly, the real life friendships between the actors
Everything about the characters in FF is from a genuine love for the characters they've made but more importantly, the real life friendships between the actors
BronsonLee
Member
Yeah I have no clue how that shit happened. It makes no logical sense. But thank god it did
It's also worth pointing out the soap opera style here. We can follow these characters for 15+ years. The first Fast and Furious came when I was 10. So you grow up with these goofy, tropey characters, but you also see them go through significant changes as the years go on, and the movies come out.
Basically, think of it like the MCU for cars.
Pagusas
Elden Member
Because 4 did better than expected and Universal was SEVERELY craving a franchise and knew they had to blow on the flame if they wanted to start a big fire. So they dumped loads of cash into 5 to do everything they could to make it into a tentpole film.
kevo_huevo
Member
SuperStiltzkin
Member
Having watched the first 4 just recently. I thought the racing was kinda boring. I mean, I'm not into racing cars, but the races in those films always seemed to devolve into hitting the NOS button and entering warp drive until someone wins. I'm curious if the races in those old films actually did anything for racing enthusiasts. I can see Tokyo Drift being impressive in terms of racing, but the other films? Not so much.
Fast Five is great because they know that the races are boring. You already know they're gonna win whatever race they enter. So when it came time for them to win some pink slips, they just completely skipped over the race and the crew comes back with newly won cars. The only races in the films past 4 are between the main cast because the only real competition is each other.
4 was a surprisingly big hit. I didn't really like it, but it made ~ $350 million worldwide and generally revitalized the series. Fast Five's budget was ~ $125 million by estimates I've seen, that doesn't seem too crazy given how well the fourth one did.
As for the Rock getting involved, he had kind of a lull there in his career. His starring roles before that were Faster and Tooth Fairy. If anything, Fast Five was a step up.
That saddens me deeply. Should be able to finally see it this weekend though.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
Pilgrimzero
Member
I cannot believe I just saw someone compare Fast/Furious to Avengers. Is this Bizarro World?
BronsonLee
Member
This definitely makes sense. I'm honestly glad it planned out for them.
It's actually a very good comparison, though Fast Five bringing all the characters from previous movies in isn't quite on the same level.
Now, though? Well..
U n i o n 0015
Member
There's no law saying you can't like both. Movies is movies, enjoy what's out there, but let's not be confused; F&F is a pop tart compared to the filet mignon of something like the Raid 2. But sometimes a pop tart is what you crave.
Pagusas
Elden Member
Both are billion dollar franchise.
It's really not that big of a leap at this point. FF movies are essentially super hero movies.
Why is it so crazy to compare the two? Both are excellent ensemble action movies with lots of in-universe lore to them.
Pilgrimzero
Member
Exactly.
SuperStiltzkin
Member
They're more like GI Joe. They're pretty much fighting Cobra in Furious 7. They'll surpass the Avengers in Furious 8 when they get super powers.
Indeed, FF has more heart than the Avengers.
After watching 7, I have to agree that it is a pretty good comparison. While F&F crew aren't quite Hulk/Thor level, but they definitely are not normal human looking at the ridiculous things they pulled off in 7.
They're not just handed things. They're slowly earning those superpowers.
True heroes.
SuperStiltzkin
Member
I think The Rock could take on Thor. Maybe even the Hulk. Possibly even at the same time!
Sho_Nuff82
Member
And they both have Tyrese cracking one-liners.
Wow, Tyrese has been in a lot of billion dollar films.
Bry0
Member
I'm not a huge fan of them either. They just feel so.. over the top. I get that that is the point, but it doesn't really appeal to me. Every scene usually has me rolling my eyes going "Oh, please." Oddly enough I loved John Wick despite that being crazy as well. I think it is something about the presentation of F&F that pulls me out of the movie.
At the end of the day it's largely personal preference, and when it doesn't appeal to you, it can be easy to question how it appeals to others.
At the end of the day it's largely personal preference, and when it doesn't appeal to you, it can be easy to question how it appeals to others.
The leap from street racing movies to super hero heist films was the best thing to happen to this franchise. F&F1 was nice in a "it's Point Break but with cars" kind of way. 2 and 3 suck. 4 was okay and it was the necessary semi-reboot the franchise needed. Fast Five onwards is action bliss.
It is a particularly weird franchise and trajectory. It becomes a bit of a cult phenomenon with the first movie(although not really with cult film fans), cranks up the corniness for a sequel, and then goes off the reservation with the third movie since they couldn't get anyone back. Then in the meantime, Walker and Diesel's careers start to stall so they return to the 4th movie which is(imo) far and away the worst in the series. But it still makes serious bank on the back of the first movie's goodwill with its fanbase. A minor miracle occurs with the 5th movie and Justin Lin figures out how to make a great F&F movie, word of mouth spreads, then the 6th movie makes major bank and here we are now. It's really about as unlikely a franchise as it gets.
It's current popularity is well-earned, but the revisionist love for the earlier films shocks me. It's like people found out they were allowed to love Axe body spray or something.
It's current popularity is well-earned, but the revisionist love for the earlier films shocks me. It's like people found out they were allowed to love Axe body spray or something.
gutter_trash
Banned
it's a franchise that you just watch for fun and turn off your brain.
I'm not a fan but I can see the appeal of movies that include an ensemble cast that fits together
I'm not a fan but I can see the appeal of movies that include an ensemble cast that fits together
Once you step through that door, you're family.
It's a good series for what it is. The trailers don't trick you into thinking it's a different movie. You know what you're getting when you walk in.
darkazcura
Member
You know, it is possible to 'care' about movies and still find great enjoyment in FF.
I've been watching through them from the beginning (finished 4 the other day, preparing for the good ones now). I'm not going to say they're (at least the first four) good movies, but they're brainless entertainment to sit back and enjoy the style. I feel the comparison to Avengers is accurate as I'm watching F&F for same reasons I used to watch Avengers, before they became an exhausting experience that stopped being enjoyable.
Just turn your brain off, ignore attempts at plot and talking about car hardware, and just inhabit the dude-bro mindset, then they're a blast.
Also, Tokyo Dirft has so many anime tropes, which is hilarious.
Just turn your brain off, ignore attempts at plot and talking about car hardware, and just inhabit the dude-bro mindset, then they're a blast.
Also, Tokyo Dirft has so many anime tropes, which is hilarious.
I know right, the FF crew have way better team dynamics.
I don't understand it either op. All the ones I've seen come off as pretty terrible, and even if you liked them, it's hard to imagine getting hyped the 7th time around. I just don't get the majority of gaf's opinions on movies in general. One movie may get criticized for being dumb fun, then another dumb fun movie may be considered beyond critique else "you must hate fun". Idk
jadedm17
Member
Not everyone "gets" everything : i don't "get" soap operas of vampire movies but don't make forum posts about them, I can understand other people will enjoy different things.
For the sake of conversation : They're great action movies with a bunch of ridiculous scenes, awesomely funny dialogue between some great characters, and a few sprinkles or serious heartfelt moments : Its WWE in a movie, over the top and campy but a fun and hilarious ride.
I enjoyed the first three but five onward just really keep upping the ante of ridiculous spectacle.
In a list of my favorite movies I'd include Fight Club, Wall-E, V for Vendetta and Eternal Sunshine.... Next to them would be the last three FF movies, Crank 2 and Speed Racer; Why not both? I enjoy the movie-watching experience, be it alone or with friends, in a movie or at home, serious or mindless fun popcorn flick, I can respect something for what it is. You can not understand them but they are still extremely well made from a technical level.
TemplaerDude
Member
NullPointer
Member
Which part of cars and guns doesn't seem like blockbuster material to you?
CARS man, and GUNS.
JJDinomite
Banned
It's like someone took a six year old playing with hotwheels, listened to him play for a few hours, and made a movie out of it.
- Status