The Ultimate Fast & Furious Movie Order Guide: Chronological Vs. Release (Updated For 2025)

Trying to navigate the high-octane, globe-trotting world of the Fast & Furious franchise can feel like driving a souped-up Honda Civic through a labyrinth of plot twists and timeline jumps. With eleven feature films, two short films, and a major spin-off, the saga has become a sprawling epic that often confuses new viewers and even longtime fans. This ultimate guide, updated for late 2025, cuts through the confusion, providing you with the only two definitive ways to watch the entire series: the simple release order and the complex, but rewarding, chronological timeline.

The key to understanding the Fast Saga lies in a single, massive retcon that occurred after the third film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which fundamentally shifted the entire franchise’s continuity. Whether you prefer to follow the story as it was originally told or experience the narrative in its true in-universe sequence, we have the complete, up-to-date list, including the latest news on the final installment, Fast 11.

The Complete Fast & Furious Saga: Release Order (The Easiest Way)

For the vast majority of viewers, watching the Fast & Furious movies in the order they were released is the simplest and most traditional approach. This method allows you to experience the franchise's evolution, from its street-racing roots to the physics-defying, blockbuster heist films they are today. Following the release order also preserves the original viewing experience, including the major timeline shift that surprised audiences at the time. This list includes all main installments and the major spin-off, Hobbs & Shaw.

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• 1. The Fast and the Furious (2001): The film that started it all, introducing Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel).
• 2. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003): Brian O’Conner teams up with Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej Parker (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges) in Miami.
• 3. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006): A standalone entry featuring new protagonist Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) and introducing Han Lue (Sung Kang).
• 4. Fast & Furious (2009): The first film to bring back the original core cast, setting up the saga’s new direction.
• 5. Fast Five (2011): The pivotal film that transformed the series into a heist franchise, adding Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Luke Hobbs.
• 6. Fast & Furious 6 (2013): Continues the international heist theme and features the return of a presumed-dead character.
• 7. Furious 7 (2015): Introduces Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) and serves as the emotional farewell to Paul Walker’s character, Brian O’Conner.
• 8. The Fate of the Furious (2017): Also known as Fast & Furious 8, it features Charlize Theron as the cyber-terrorist Cipher.
• 9. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019): The first official spin-off, focusing on the unlikely pairing of Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw.
• 10. F9 (2021): Also known as Fast & Furious 9, it introduces Dom's estranged brother, Jakob Toretto (John Cena), and brings back Han.
• 11. Fast X (2023): The beginning of the end, introducing the formidable villain Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), the son of Fast Five's antagonist.
• 12. Fast & Furious 11 (TBD 2026): The final main installment, expected to conclude the story arc that began in Fast X.

The Fast Saga in Chronological Timeline Order (The True Story)

The single most confusing element of the Fast & Furious franchise is its chronological timeline. The filmmakers intentionally placed Tokyo Drift (the third film released) much later in the story to allow Han Lue's character to participate in films 4, 5, and 6, before finally meeting his fate. This required the events of Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and Fast & Furious 6 to all take place before Tokyo Drift. If you want to experience the narrative in the order it actually occurred for Dom Toretto and his family, this is the definitive list.

This timeline also includes the essential short films, which bridge the gap between main installments and provide crucial context for characters like Brian O'Conner and Dom Toretto.

The Chronological Timeline, Step-by-Step:

1. The Fast and the Furious (2001): Brian and Dom's first meeting.
2. The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious (Short Film, 2003): Shows Brian O'Conner fleeing Los Angeles and heading to Miami.
3. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003): Brian's adventure in Miami.
4. Los Bandoleros (Short Film, 2009): Written and directed by Vin Diesel, this film shows Dom Toretto in the Dominican Republic and sets up the events of Fast & Furious (2009).
5. Fast & Furious (2009): The return of the original crew.
6. Fast Five (2011): The Rio heist that forms the Family.
7. Fast & Furious 6 (2013): The team takes down Owen Shaw.
8. Furious 7 (2015): The main events of this film begin immediately after the mid-credit scene of Fast & Furious 6, where Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) attacks Han.
9. The Fate of the Furious (2017): Cipher's introduction and the team's confrontation with her.
10. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019): This spin-off is generally placed here, as it doesn't significantly impact the main saga's continuity.
11. F9 (2021): The film that finally explains the full context of Han's "death" and his return, allowing the character to rejoin the main narrative.
12. Fast X (2023): The direct sequel to F9, setting up the final confrontation.
13. Fast & Furious 11 (TBD 2026): The grand finale.

A Note on Tokyo Drift's Placement: In the chronological timeline, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) takes place between *Fast & Furious 6* and *Furious 7*. The post-credits scene of *Fast & Furious 6* is the moment Deckard Shaw appears and seemingly kills Han Lue, which is the same moment shown in Tokyo Drift. Therefore, the events of Tokyo Drift are essentially happening concurrently with the end of the timeline's middle section, just before the events of Furious 7 begin.

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The Future of the Fast Saga: Fast 11 and Beyond

The Fast Saga is barreling toward its conclusion, with the eleventh main installment, currently referred to as Fast & Furious 11 or Fast X: Part 2, set to be the final chapter of the main Dom Toretto storyline. Director Louis Leterrier has confirmed that filming is expected to begin in late 2024, with a revised theatrical release now anticipated for 2026, pushed back from its original 2025 date.

The final film is expected to pick up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of Fast X, which left Dom Toretto and his son, Little Brian, in a perilous situation, and the rest of the Family scattered and in danger. Jason Momoa's charismatic and dangerous villain, Dante Reyes, is confirmed to return, promising a spectacular and emotional conclusion to the battle for the fate of the world.

Potential Spin-offs and Thematic Entities

While the main saga is ending, the Fast universe is far from over. Universal Pictures is actively developing several spin-offs to expand the franchise's topical authority:

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• Hobbs Spin-off: Dwayne Johnson is set to star in a new, currently untitled film centered on his character, Luke Hobbs, which will bridge the gap between Fast X and Fast 11. This film is expected to bring the character back into the main narrative fold.
• Female-Led Spin-off: A long-rumored project focusing on the female characters of the franchise, such as Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Cipher (Charlize Theron), and Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), remains a possibility for future development.
• The Rock vs. Vin Diesel: The public feud between Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel appears to be resolved, allowing for the continuation of the Hobbs character and the possibility of a final on-screen reunion between Hobbs and Toretto.
• Controversial Spin-off: Some fans also consider the 2002 film Better Luck Tomorrow, directed by Justin Lin, to be a canonical prequel, as it features the character Han Lue (Sung Kang) before his appearance in the Fast Saga.

Ultimately, whether you watch by release date or chronological timeline, the Fast & Furious saga is a testament to the power of family, loyalty, and, of course, pushing the limits of automotive physics. Choose your path, grab your Corona, and enjoy the ride!