A movie series started as street racing but grew into a global action saga. Whenever fast cars roar on screen, many think of the Fast and Furious Movies. This franchise has thrilled fans for over twenty years and earned more than $7 billion at the global box office. Yet the story jumps around in time which confuses many viewers. This guide shows the best way to watch Fast and Furious Movies in order so you can follow every twist and every race.
How to Watch Fast and Furious in Order
Many fans ask what order do the Fast and Furious movies go in. There are two viewing orders: release order and chronological order.
The Fast and Furious timeline is not the same as the release order, due to one sequel being set later in the story. The Fast and Furious chronology was altered because Tokyo Drift (the third film released) actually takes place after the sixth film in the story timeline.
To avoid confusion, the best Fast and Furious order is the chronological order of events. Watching in chronological order lets you follow the saga’s story as it unfolds. We’ve listed all Fast and Furious movies in chronological sequence below (including two short films that tie into the story). If you prefer the original Fast and Furious movie order by release, we’ve also provided a release-order list later on.
Note: We are not including the animated series Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, as it’s not part of the main saga’s narrative.
Fast and Furious Movies in Chronological Order
Below is the Fast and Furious list in the chronological story order. This is how to watch Fast and Furious in order for the full narrative experience. We’ve included where to watch each entry for your convenience.
1. The Fast and the Furious (2001)
This is the first Fast & Furious movie. An undercover cop, Brian O’Conner, infiltrates Dominic Toretto’s street racing crew in Los Angeles. It introduces Dom’s “family” including Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Paul Walker), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), and Mia (Jordana Brewster).
Where to watch: Peacock (streaming) or rent on Amazon.
2. Turbo Charged Prelude (2003 short film)
A short film that connects the first movie to the second. It shows Brian on the run from law enforcement after letting Dom go. There’s no dialogue, just a series of street races as Brian heads from LA to Miami.
Where to watch: YouTube
3. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Brian resurfaces in Miami and teams up with childhood friend Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson). They go undercover to take down a drug lord in exchange for clean records. This installment is the only one without Dom Toretto. It introduces Roman and Tej (Ludacris) to the Fast and Furious saga.
Where to watch: Peacock, or rent on Amazon.
4. Los Bandoleros” (2009 short film)
A 20-minute short film directed by Vin Diesel. It takes place just before the fourth movie (Fast & Furious). Dom is hiding out in the Dominican Republic and reunites with Letty. The short sets up an oil heist and shows how Han (Sung Kang) joins Dom’s crew.
Where to watch: Vimeo (official upload).
5. Fast & Furious (2009)
Not to be confused with the first film’s title, this is the fourth movie (sometimes called Fast & Furious 4). Dom and Brian reunite after five years to investigate a drug cartel and avenge the death of one of their own. This film reintroduces the core crew and ends with Dom being arrested. (Brian and Mia then break him out in the finale.) It also marks Gal Gadot’s debut as Gisele.
Where to watch: Peacock, or rent on Amazon.
6. Fast Five (2011)
Dom’s crew heads to Rio de Janeiro after busting him out of custody. They plan a massive heist, stealing a drug lord’s money from a vault. Fast Five is a fan-favorite caper that transitioned the series from street racing to globe-trotting action. It also adds Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Luke Hobbs, a federal agent chasing the team.
Where to watch: Peacock, or rent on Amazon.
7. Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Dom and the crew are in hiding, but Hobbs recruits them to take down a dangerous mercenary team led by Owen Shaw. In return, Hobbs offers them full pardons. The team discovers Letty is alive (she has amnesia and is working with Shaw). Big action set pieces ensue, including a tank chase and a plane runway climax. The end credits reveal that the events of Tokyo Drift are about to unfold next.
Where to watch: Peacock, or rent on Amazon.
8. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
Although it was the third film released, Tokyo Drift is the eighth in story order, set after Fast & Furious 6. Teenager Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) gets caught up in the drift-racing scene in Tokyo. He meets Han (Sung Kang), a fan-favorite character. Han’s apparent death in this film is later revealed to be connected to events in Fast & Furious 6. Dom Toretto also cameos at the end.
Where to watch: Peacock, or rent on Amazon.
9. Furious 7 (2015)
Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), the older brother of Owen Shaw, seeks revenge on Dom’s team for comatizing his brother. The crew reunites to face Shaw and recover a powerful hacking device called “God’s Eye.” Furious 7 was Paul Walker’s final appearance (he tragically died during filming), and the movie ends with an emotional farewell to Brian O’Conner. It became the series’s biggest critical and commercial success, and Furious 7 holds an 82% Rotten Tomatoes score and grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide.
Where to watch: Peacock (streaming) or Max, or rent on Amazon.
10. The Fate of the Furious (2017)
Dom is coerced by a cyberterrorist, Cipher (Charlize Theron), into betraying his family. The team, including Hobbs and a now-friendly Deckard Shaw, must stop Cipher’s plan which involves nuclear weapons. This film ups the ante with submarine chases and big betrayal twists. In the end, Dom’s crew prevails and Cipher escapes to fight another day.
Where to watch: Peacock, or rent on Amazon.
11. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019 Spinoff)
A spinoff focusing on Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). The unlikely duo teams up to stop a genetically enhanced villain, Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), who has a deadly virus. Expect over-the-top action and comedy as Hobbs and Shaw bicker their way through saving the world. (This story takes place after Fate of the Furious and doesn’t heavily affect the main saga’s plot.)
Where to watch: Rent or buy on services like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, etc. (not currently on a subscription streamer).
12. F9: The Fast Saga (2021)
Dom and Letty are retired, but the crew is called back into action to stop a world-threatening device. The twist: the villain is Jakob Toretto (John Cena), Dom’s estranged younger brother. F9 brings back fan favorites (even Han, who was thought dead, returns) and pushes the stunts to new heights. Roman and Tej literally launch a car into space in one sequence. By the end, the family reconciles with Jakob, and peace is restored…for now.
Where to watch: Peacock, or rent on Amazon.
13. Fast X (2023)
The latest film is the first of a two-part finale for the saga. Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) emerges as a new enemy seeking revenge on Dom’s family for the events of Fast Five. Dom must protect his crew and family from Dante’s elaborate vengeance plan. Fast X ends on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next installment.
Where to watch: Peacock (with subscription) or rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video.
Fast and Furious Movies in Release Order
For reference, here are all Fast and Furious movies in the order they were released in theaters. If you want to experience how the series evolved over time (or just watch the Fast and Furious movies in order 1-9 by release), follow this list:
- The Fast and the Furious (2001)
- 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
- Fast & Furious (2009)
- Fast & Furious 5 (Fast Five, 2011)
- Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
- Furious 7 (2015)
- The Fate of the Furious (Fast & Furious 8, 2017)
- Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (spinoff, 2019)
- F9: The Fast Saga (Fast & Furious 9, 2021)
- Fast X (Fast & Furious 10, 2023)
Two official short films, “Turbo Charged Prelude” (2003) and “Los Bandoleros” (2009), tie into the above movies. They were bonus content and not wide theatrical releases.
If you watch all these Fast and Furious movies in order, be ready for a marathon. Bingeing the entire saga (1 through Fast X) takes over 23 hours which is almost a full day! You might want to split your marathon across a couple of days for maximum enjoyment.
How Many Fast and Furious Movies Are There?
As of 2025, there are 11 feature films in the Fast & Furious franchise (including 10 main saga films and one spinoff). In addition, the series has 2 short films (“Turbo Charged Prelude” and “Los Bandoleros”) that expand the story between the early movies. That makes 13 official film entries if you count everything.
There’s also an animated series (Fast & Furious: Spy Racers), but it’s a separate side story aimed at a younger audience. The animated show is not part of the main movie continuity, so you can skip it when watching the Fast and Furious movies in chronological order.
What is the 3rd Fast and Furious Movie?
The 3rd Fast and Furious movie (by release date) is The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which came out in 2006. It was the third film released, after 2 Fast 2 Furious. However, in the story’s chronological timeline, Tokyo Drift actually takes place much later after the sixth movie in the series.
This is why Tokyo Drift appears as the 8th entry in the chronological order list above. If you’re watching the Fast Saga in story order, don’t watch Tokyo Drift third; save it until after Fast & Furious 6 to follow the Fast and Furious timeline properly.
Which Fast and Furious Movie is the Best?
Fans have different opinions on the best Fast and Furious film, but two installments often get special mention. Fast Five (2011) is widely praised for reinvigorating the franchise with its heist-style plot and the debut of Dwayne Johnson’s imposing Hobbs character. Many view Fast Five as one of the best Fast and Furious movies for its perfect mix of outrageous action and team camaraderie.
Others point to Furious 7 (2015) for its emotional weight and high stakes. Furious 7 earned an 82% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is one of the highest of the series. It became a worldwide blockbuster. It also features a heartfelt goodbye to Paul Walker’s character, which resonated with audiences. In short, Fast Five and Furious 7 are often regarded as the franchise’s peak, though every fan has their own favorite in this fuel-charged saga.
Future of the Fast & Furious Saga
The Fast & Furious saga isn’t over yet. The main story is expected to conclude with one final movie. Fast X: Part 2 (essentially Fast & Furious 11) is in development and planned for 2026 as the grand finale of the main saga. This sequel will likely pick up from Fast X’s cliffhanger and bring closure to Dominic Toretto’s long-running story.
Meanwhile, the Fast & Furious universe is set to continue expanding with spinoffs. Dwayne Johnson is returning as Hobbs in an upcoming standalone Fast & Furious film that will bridge the events of Fast X and its sequel. (In Fast X, a mid-credits scene featuring Hobbs hints at this next chapter.)
There’s also an all-female Fast and Furious spinoff project in development, led by a team of female writers. These new projects will explore different characters and storylines in the Fast universe even after the main saga ends.
In Summary
To experience the Fast and Furious movies in order for the full story, follow the chronological list above. You’ll witness the evolution of the “family” and understand the Fast and Furious chronology without getting lost. With the right order and a bit of nos (and popcorn), you’ll be all set for a thrilling ride through all Fast and Furious movies.
Enjoy the marathon, and remember: “We live our lives a quarter mile at a time!”
FAQs About Fast and Furious Movies
1. In what order should I watch Fast and Furious?
You can watch them in chronological order, starting with The Fast and the Furious (2001) and ending with Fast X (2023).
2. Why is Tokyo Drift out of order?
Tokyo Drift is set later in the timeline, after Fast & Furious 6, which is why it feels out of order by release date.
3. How do you watch the Fast and the Furious series?
You can follow either the release order for nostalgia or the chronological order for the story’s proper timeline.
4. What is the best way to watch Fast and Furious movies in order?
The best way is to follow the chronological timeline, starting with The Fast and the Furious (2001) and ending with Fast X (2023).
5. Should I watch Fast and Furious in release order or chronological order?
Watching in chronological order makes the story flow more smoothly, but releasing in order gives you the original viewing experience.
The Tech Junction is the ultimate hub for all things technology. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the ever-evolving world of technology, this is your go-to portal.
