Fans of both Jason Statham and The Fast and the Furious saga will have a lot to celebrate come November, as it’s been revealed by Netflix (via What’s on Netflix) that the first six films in the tremendously successful action franchise will hit the streaming service on the 12th of next month. Debuting in 2001, the long-running series has since become Universal’s most successful one to date, grossing more than $7 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Statham has been a staple in the films ever since the sixth movie, when he made a cameo in the end credits sequence, appearing as Deckard Shaw.
Kicking off with The Fast and the Furious in 2001, the tale of Dominic Toretto and his family – both by choice and blood – became an immediate hit, grossing $207 million against a small budget of $38 million. Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster, the film was based on an article that appeared in Vibe magazine by Ken Li titled Racer X, which delved into the world of underground street racing in New York City. Taking that concept and running with it, director Rob Cohen crafted a fantastically fun movie filled with everything fans have since come to expect from the series, including fast cars, complex characters, and over-the-top heists that push the limits of reality.
While they have never been met with any real critical acclaim, that’s never bothered the franchise’s audience, who have turned out in droves to support their beloved action series, suspending disbelief for a couple of hours in favor of explosions, heart-racing excitement, and so many crashes that the series has destroyed more than 1,500 vehicles since its inception.
What Does the Future Hold for The Fast and Furious Franchise?
Now up to 11 movies including the Hobbs & Shaw spin-off, Fast X premiered in 2023 and grossed $715 million at the box office, and since then there’s been a lot of talk as to what comes next for the billion-dollar franchise. As with any series that gets to that many entries, things have to eventually run their course, and as such, Diesel confirmed earlier this year that the next movie in the main saga will be the last, though that isn’t to say we’ve seen the end of the story, as it makes little sense for Universal to abandon their cash cow while it’s still bringing in a huge amount of money.
Plans are for The Fast and the Furious saga to continue with a variety of spin-offs, the first of which is said to be Hobbs & Reyes starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Momoa, which will work to bridge the gap between Fast X and Fast 11. No release date has been set yet, but with the final movie expected to arrive at some point in 2026, hopefully it comes sooner rather than later now that Johnson’s epic Christmas film Red One is in the can.
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Word is also going around that Fast X writer Zach Dean was tapped earlier this year to write an untitled stand-alone spin-off, but there’s been little news on the project since. A female-led entry was also confirmed in 2019, but like the aforementioned untitled project by Dean, there’s been little movement on that one, either. For now, we’re guaranteed at least two more movies by way of the Hobbs & Reyes film and the final installment in the main saga, but beyond that, everything appears to be up in the air right now. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that things work out for the best, as despite their critical reception, it’s hard to imagine a world without The Fast and the Furious franchise blowing up theaters every couple of years. Be sure to check out the first six films in the franchise when they make their way to Netflix on November 12.
- Release Date
- June 22, 2001
