Summary
The disappointing run of a 2014 video game movie makes theFast & Furiousfranchise’s lucrative and perpetual success at the box office all the more impressive. Since the original 2001 entry,The Fast & The Furious -which alone was a big hit with audiences -the franchise has expanded into a $7.4 billion cinematic behemoth. To this day,theFast & Furiousfranchisecontinues to develop exponentially, seeking even more mileage withupcomingFast & Furioussequels and spinoffsdespite already having ten original series installments and one spin-off movie made in its name across two-plus decades.
That said, the franchise pursued a divisive premise change to maintain relevance with audiences over the years, seeking exceedingly unbelievable, higher-octane installments with each release. ByFast Five, theFast & Furiousfranchise stopped being about street racingand geared itself toward large-scale action heist films. The overall premise change was a frustrating move away from the grounded storylines and character arcs of the franchise’s initial movies - butit’s hard to deny that the decision transpired in its best interest. If its gross numbers and prevalence today aren’t proof enough, then the failure of one $203 million action movie surely is.
2023
$340,000,000
$714,567,285
2021
$200,000,000
$719,360,068
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbes and Shaw
2019
$760,732,926
2017
$250,000,000
$1,235,534,014
2015
$190,000,000
$1,511,986,364
Fast and Furious 6
2013
$160,000,000
$789,300,444
2011
$125,000,000
$629,975,898
2009
$85,000,000
$359,347,833
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
2006
$157,794,205
2003
$76,000,000
$236,410,607
The Fast and the Furious
2001
$38,000,000
$206,458,372
Fast & Furious
The Fast & Furious franchise revs through the adrenaline-fueled lives of Dominic Toretto and his crew of street racers turned global heroes. From the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles to the bustling cities and remote outposts worldwide, they take on high-stakes heists, espionage, and the underground world of street racing. Bound by loyalty and driven by the need for speed, they confront mercenaries, corrupt officials, and personal vendettas all in the name of their found family.
Need For Speed
Cast
Need for Speed, directed by Scott Waugh, follows a street racer framed by an associate and imprisoned. Upon release, he enters a high-stakes race from New York to Los Angeles seeking revenge, while his former partner places a bounty on him, triggering a dangerous cross-country pursuit.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' 2014Need for Speedmovie wasn’t a total box office fail, pulling more than triple its production budget of $66 million and earning $203 million worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo). However,its low critical and domestic appeal proved that making a blockbuster franchise based on carsand street racing is easier said than done. Domestically,Need for Speedgrossed less than its production costs, scraping in $43 million. In addition,Need for Speedfailed to impress its critics and general audiences, as indicated by its mediocreRotten Tomatoesscores of 23% and 56%, respectively.
…it failed hugely, demonstrating how hard it is to see a street racing film franchise prevail as tremendously asFast & Furioushas.
As did earlierFast & Furiousmovies,Need for Speedblended a crime story with street racing and pure car culture. As a bonus,Need for Speedwas attached to the eminent video game franchise of the same name, which boasts over 100 million units sold and has generated upwards of $2.7 billion in life-to-date sales (viaElectronic Arts). Ideally,Need for Speedwould’ve capitalized on its exciting premise and the video game franchise’s strong following. Yet it failed hugely, demonstrating how hard it is to see a street racing film franchise prevail as tremendously asFast & Furioushas.
TheNeed for Speedvideo game franchise consists of 24 installments.
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What Went Wrong With The Need For Speed Movie
Need for Speed’s Script Was Nowhere Near As Dazzling As Its Cars
AlthoughNeed for Speed’scars and stunts were easy on the eyes,critics and audiences couldn’t get down with its uninspired script and characters. The movie starredBreaking Bad’sAaron Paulas Tobey Marshall in a spiritless story that found him seeking revenge on a wealthy man who framed him for involuntary manslaughter, Dino Brewster’s Dominic Cooper, by besting his efforts in a high-stakes race. Ultimately, how it handled its story and the players within it came across as nonsensical and ill-thought-out for most, no doubt complicating plans for futureNeed for Speedinstallments.
At one point in 2015,aNeed for Speedsequelwas surprisingly confirmed amid plans to makeNeed for Speeda major international film series. Yet, it’s now been nine years since the announcement, suggesting that the project has gone dormant or, even worse, that the plans were scrapped altogether. TheFast & Furiousfranchise at least got to build on its street racing premise before switching gears to something more easily sustained, but forNeed for Speed, it barely got off the ground before any hope for the franchise turned sour.
