Fast X Here
It’s hard to believe that a franchise that started with stealing DVD players and smuggling truckloads of bootleg merch has evolved into a $7 billion behemoth where cars fly between skyscrapers and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. But here we are. 22 years after Dom Toretto first said the word “family” in a meaningful way, Fast X roars onto screens as the first chapter of the grand finale.
But is it a glorious victory lap or a burnout on the starting line? Let’s break down the chaos.
Picking up directly after the events of F9, Fast X retcons a crucial moment from Fast Five (2011). In Rio de Janeiro, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his team infamously dragged a massive bank vault through the streets, destroying half the city. Among the casualties was the vehicle of Hernan Reyes, a drug lord they killed. However, we learn that Hernan had a son: Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa).
Dante wasn't just a bystander; he was in the car during the heist. He watched his father die and was left scarred, both physically and psychologically. Unlike previous villains who wanted money or power, Dante wants suffering. He is a flamboyant, sadistic, and terrifyingly intelligent villain who has spent the last decade infiltrating every agency Dom trusts. Fast X
The plot kicks off when a seemingly routine mission to steal a computer chip in Rome goes wrong. Dante has hacked the device, turning it into a massive bomb that levels the Eternal City. The world blames Dom and his crew, forcing them to go off-grid. What follows is a global chase from Rome to Rio to Antarctica, as Dante systematically picks off Dom’s family members one by one.
Fast X ends on a brutal, unambiguous cliffhanger—a first for the franchise. After Jakob sacrifices himself to save Little B (driving off an exploding cliff), Dom faces Dante alone on the crumbling Antarctic dam. Dante detonates charges, causing the entire structure to collapse. As Dom’s car plunges into the fiery abyss, he radios his team: “Looks like I’m gonna need some help.”
Cut to black. The final shot shows Dante, bleeding but victorious, walking away from the inferno. It’s hard to believe that a franchise that
However, the mid-credits scene reveals:
The Core Family:
The Shocking Returns (Spoilers):
If you watch Fast X looking for realistic car physics, you have missed the point. The action sequences are designed to make the Mission: Impossible series look like a nature documentary.
The film fully embraces its "superhero" status. Cars are no longer vehicles; they are weapons, grappling hooks, and parachutes. Director Louis Leterrier leans into the absurdity, creating a kinetic energy that keeps you laughing and gasping in equal measure.
The success of Fast X hinges on its ensemble cast. While Vin Diesel continues to grunt the word "family" with the gravity of a Shakespearian actor, the film belongs to the newcomers. The Shocking Returns (Spoilers): If you watch Fast
Also, look for a shocking cameo from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Luke Hobbs in the mid-credits scene. After years of public feuding with Vin Diesel, Johnson’s return sets up the final confrontation perfectly.
Leterrier, known for the Transporter films and Now You See Me, grounds the chaos with slightly more spatial coherence than some predecessors, but the laws of physics remain firmly optional.