OVER LAST WEEKEND, the seventh instalment of The Fast and the Furious burst into cinemas, scoring the ninth-largest weekend opening in US cinematic history.
The film’s $147.2 million opening means that in three days, it earned five times what The Shawshank Redemption earned in its entire cinematic run.
Think about that. The seventh instalment of a movie that stars Vin Diesel is now a billion-dollar (domestically) franchise. Only 14 other movie franchises, some of which are really loosely defined, have taken more cash at the box office.
First gear
The franchise dates back to 2001, when a a group of young actors (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordanna Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez) essentially remade Point Break with cars instead of surfing.
It was mildly critically successful and took in $200 million dollars. Two sequels (2 Fast 2 Furious and Tokyo Drift) would be spawned, but Diesel eschewed both (save a cameo at the end of Tokyo Drift) and Walker wasn’t in the third.
Despite being panned critically, Tokyo Drift took in $150 million around the world, showing that the market was still there for the films.
Reboot
In 2009, with Diesel’s other action franchises stalled, the gang got back together for Fast and Furious. The original four essentially rebooted the franchise mid-stream. The result was a brasher, louder and altogether more knowing film.
The franchise is a product of its genre and the film makers accepted that in the fourth instalment and audiences responded, paying a combined $363 million to see the film.
A fifth film arrived in 2011, but this time it had The Rock. The former wrestler came on board as a US Marshal tracking the now-globetrotting crew. This film was somehow more ridiculous and over-the-top than its predecessors. And also much better.
Fast Five took $626 million at the box office worldwide and 2013′s sixth version would take $789 million.
Why so fast?
The immense reaction to the seventh film can be put down to a number of reasons. First, the tragic death of Walker a year and a half ago.
Diesel posted this video on Monday that’s been viewed 25 million times:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153307953268313&set=vb.89562268312&type=2&theater
And while that is undoubtedly a factor, and the marketing which played up to the end of the franchise, the films were making money before the death of Walker.
So, what is it?
David Burke of Universal Pictures Ireland, who distribute the film here, says it’s down to a number of things:
“We believe that Fast and Furious is truly a homegrown franchise. The success of the series can be attributed, amongst other things, to a combination of diverse and entertaining characters; ground-breaking action sequences and incredible locations as well as the central theme of family that runs throughout the series. F
“Fast and Furious fans are amongst the best in the world with over 55 million fans on Facebook illustrating its popularity as one of the most beloved franchises on social media.”
Action packed
In a world awash with action movies, why does this franchise rise above the rest? Freelance journalist and film critic Joe Griffin says that the film manages to balance sentiment and action.
“There’s no shortage of action films, of course, but few action stars are as sincere as Vin Diesel. The films handle his bromance with Paul Walker and the theme of a surrogate family with utter seriousness, which often descends into corniness, but is also quite winning and innocent.
Additionally, they are quite well made. They’re glossy as a music video, are more colourful and bright than competing franchises, the action is choreographed with panache, and (unlike many action films) the car chases and fight scenes are never over-edited to the point of incoherence.
“Many other franchises – especially Transformers – are edited to within an inch of their lives and just look like toys spinning in a washing machine. In the F&F films, the directors have a good sense of the geography of the screen, when to give momentum, and when to drop in a bit of slow motion.”
That is something that Esther McCarthy, who reviews films for Newstalk’s Moncrieff show and The Sunday World, agrees with.
She says that the films are, while over-the-top, well made and fun.
“They’ll never win awards, but they are well made. If you’re doing big stunts in exotic places and it looks good, it is good film making.
“Number five was the turning point. I think The Rock is a superstar. Vin Diesel ditto. He’s great at what he does. These people are not thespians, they’re movie stars.
“The movies are giving people pleasure so good on them. There will be worse movies made this summer than Fast 7.
“There is a weak point in this one is that the action sequences are CGI heavy. You want to believe The Rock is driving a car at a helicopter.”
Walker and the women
The Paul Walker death is another factor that undoubtedly helped the box office of this film. That death, which came when the film was 70% complete, gave the film huge goodwill, McCarthy says.
“He was such a charismatic actor and people feel like they have lost a potential movie star. They handle it beautifully and judged it really well.”
Another factor is that the films are not just for men. BoxOfficeMojo reports that 51% of the first weekend audience was male. That means that a sizable female audience is on board for the ride.
“There’s a movie called John Wick coming out and it’s really good but uber violent,” says McCarthy.
“The violence [in The Fast and the Furious] is 12A and it’s not too violent. They have a broad appeal. There is a really large female audience and there’s a sense of humour. It’s not pitched squarely at men.”
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