The Definitive Fast & Furious Viewing Order: How To Watch All 11+ Movies Chronologically (Updated 2025)

Deciphering the timeline of The Fast Saga is arguably more complicated than pulling off a vault heist in Rio de Janeiro. For over two decades, the franchise has continually twisted its own chronology, jumping forward and backward in time, making a simple marathon viewing a headache for new fans and veterans alike. As of December 2025, with *Fast X* having set the stage for the finale, understanding the true viewing order is essential to follow the complete journey of Dominic Toretto and his family.

This comprehensive guide cuts through the confusion, providing the definitive chronological order for all 11 mainline films, two official short films, and the spin-off. We'll ensure you know exactly where *The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift* belongs, why the timeline is so messy, and what the latest updates are for the highly anticipated final installment, *Fast & Furious 11*.

The Complete Fast & Furious Chronological Viewing Order

The biggest mistake a new viewer can make is watching the films in their release order. The franchise famously retconned its own timeline to allow fan-favorite characters, like Han Lue, to return after their supposed death in *Tokyo Drift*. This chronological list is the only way to experience the story as it was meant to be told, following the narrative arc of Brian O'Conner, Dom, and the entire crew.

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• 1. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

  The film that started it all. It introduces us to street racer Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and undercover LAPD officer Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) in Los Angeles. This establishes the core "family" dynamic and the world of illegal street racing.

• 2. The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

  This six-minute official short film bridges the gap between the first two movies. It shows Brian O'Conner as a fugitive, fleeing Los Angeles and earning money through street races across the United States before arriving in Miami.

• 3. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

  Brian O'Conner teams up with his childhood friend Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and ex-con Tej Parker (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges) in Miami to take down a drug lord. Dom is absent from this installment, which is a key reason for its placement early in the timeline.

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• 4. Los Bandoleros (2009)

  Another essential short film, directed by Vin Diesel himself. This 20-minute prequel to *Fast & Furious* (2009) shows Dom Toretto living as a fugitive in the Dominican Republic. It introduces the character of Han Lue and sets up the events that lead to the fourth movie.

• 5. Fast & Furious (2009)

  This movie officially reunites Dom and Brian after years apart following a tragedy. It marks the beginning of the franchise's shift from street racing to global espionage and high-stakes action. It also features the return of Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez).

• 6. Fast Five (2011)

  Often cited as the best in the series, *Fast Five* is the true turning point where the crew becomes an international team of professional criminals/heroes. It introduces Luke Hobbs (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), a Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent, as an antagonist who eventually becomes an ally. The famous vault heist takes place in Rio.

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• 7. Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

  The team works with Hobbs to take down a skilled mercenary organization led by Owen Shaw. The film ends with the team receiving pardons and returning to the United States. Crucially, a mid-credits scene ties directly into the next film, *Tokyo Drift*, by showing the death of Han Lue.

• 8. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

  This is the movie that breaks the release order. Although released third, its events take place after *Fast & Furious 6*. The mid-credits scene of *Fast & Furious 6* reveals that Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) was responsible for Han’s "death" in Tokyo. This repositioning was done to allow the characters of Dom, Brian, and Letty to continue their story before addressing the consequences of *Tokyo Drift*.

• 9. Furious 7 (2015)

  The film picks up immediately after *Tokyo Drift*, with Deckard Shaw seeking revenge for his brother Owen Shaw. This installment features the emotional final appearance of Brian O'Conner following the tragic death of actor Paul Walker, and it officially brings Deckard Shaw into the family's orbit.

• 10. The Fate of the Furious (2017)

  Dom is blackmailed by cyber-terrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) and turns against his team. This movie further solidifies the team as a globe-trotting counter-terrorist unit, introducing Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) and his organization.

• 11. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

  This is the first official spin-off, focusing on the unlikely pairing of Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw. While it’s not essential to the main saga’s plot, it is set after *The Fate of the Furious* and expands the universe, introducing new characters and threats.

• 12. F9: The Fast Saga (2021)

  Dom and Letty are living a quiet life until a new threat emerges: Dom's estranged younger brother, Jakob Toretto (John Cena). The film features the return of Han Lue, explaining how he survived the crash in *Tokyo Drift*, and even takes the action to space.

• 13. Fast X (2023)

  The first part of the final trilogy/two-part finale. The main antagonist is Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), the son of the drug lord Hernan Reyes from *Fast Five*. Dante seeks revenge on Dom and his family for his father’s death, setting up a massive cliffhanger for the next film.

Why The Timeline Is So Confused: The Tokyo Drift Paradox

The confusion surrounding the *Fast Saga* timeline stems almost entirely from the third film, *The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift*. When it was made, the studio didn't know if Vin Diesel would return, so the film focused on a new protagonist, Sean Boswell, and a new location, Tokyo. The character of Han Lue was introduced and killed off in this film.

However, when Dom and Brian returned for *Fast & Furious* (2009), the studio decided to bring Han back due to his popularity. To make this work, every subsequent film—*Fast Five*, *Fast & Furious 6*, and *Furious 7*—became prequels to *Tokyo Drift*. This allowed the main cast to continue their adventures with Han until *Furious 7* finally brought the timeline back into chronological alignment by directly addressing the events of Han's "death." This narrative juggling act is why the chronological order is now the definitive way to experience the story.

The Future of The Fast Saga: Fast & Furious 11 and Spin-offs

The main saga, often referred to as "The Fast Saga," is set to conclude with a final film, which is currently known as *Fast & Furious 11* or *Fast X: Part 2*. The conclusion of *Fast X* left fans with multiple cliffhangers, including the fate of several key characters and the return of a major figure from the franchise's past.

As of December 2025, the release date for *Fast & Furious 11* is still a moving target. The film, which is expected to be directed by Louis Leterrier, has faced delays. While it was once tentatively scheduled for April 2025, current industry rumors and reports point toward a potential release sometime in 2026 or even as late as April 2027. This uncertainty means the final chapter of Dominic Toretto’s story is still a couple of years away, giving fans plenty of time to rewatch the entire saga in the correct chronological order.

Beyond the main saga, the franchise is actively developing its cinematic universe. There are multiple spin-off projects in various stages of development, including a sequel to *Hobbs & Shaw* and a potential all-female spin-off film. These projects will continue to expand the world of high-speed action, focusing on characters like Luke Hobbs, Deckard Shaw, Cipher, and the next generation of racers.

The Fast & Furious Films in Release Order (For Reference)

If you're purely interested in the order the films hit theaters, here is the simple release order. Remember, this order will create significant timeline confusion between films 3 and 7, as the story jumps backward for several installments before catching up.

1. The Fast and the Furious (2001)
2. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
3. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
4. Fast & Furious (2009)
5. Fast Five (2011)
6. Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
7. Furious 7 (2015)
8. The Fate of the Furious (2017)
9. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) (Spin-off)
10. F9: The Fast Saga (2021)
11. Fast X (2023)

Whether you're following the journey of Brian O'Conner, the evolution of Dominic Toretto's "family," or the high-octane stunts involving the DSS and international terrorists, the chronological viewing order is the only way to fully appreciate the complex narrative of The Fast Saga. Start your engines and prepare for a marathon of epic proportions!