Top 10 Fast and Furious Street Races
Top 10 Fast & Furious Street Races
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Racetracks? Where these drivers are going, they don't need racetracks. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Fast & Furious street races. For this list, we’ll be looking at the best less-than-legal driving showdowns across the long-running action franchise. If you haven’t seen the first eight “Fast & Furious” films, beware of spoilers ahead.
#10: The Fiery Showdown in Cuba
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“The Fate of the Furious” (2017) At the beginning of “The Fate of the Furious”, Dom's Cuban cousin loses his run-down Chevy to the imposing Raldo. Dom can win it back...if he races with his cousin's second-rate vehicle. After throwing NOS into the Chevy, he keeps up with Raldo’s Crown Vic as they race through the colorful streets of Havana. But when Raldo’s ally intentionally crashes into Dom’s car, things look grim. Fortunately, Dom is able to use NOS, throw his car in reverse, and win by a hair...all while his engine is on fire. Dom and Raldo’s race was an exciting showdown that took full advantage of Havana’s beautiful scenery. Even after eight films, the franchise can still make street races feel fresh.
#9: Tag Team Pink Slip Race
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“2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003) Brian and Roman desperately needed two new cars. So, they put their vehicles' pink slips on the line to challenge a pair of tough drivers to a tag team race. In the first leg, Roman falls behind after his opponent plays dirty. When it's Brian's turn to go, he plays a near-fatal game of chicken with the opposing driver to make up for lost ground. Although his crazy maneuver is effective, he still has to pull out all the stops to eke out a narrow win. The high stakes and huge disadvantages Brian and Roman faced made this race an absolute nail biter. This scene’s brilliant setup and execution turned a battle for pink slips into a standout sequence.
#8: Auditioning For a Drug Lord
“2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003) FBI officials agree to clear Brian and Roman’s criminal records if they help bust drug lord Carter Verone. To get close to the twisted kingpin, they have to first prove their worth by outdriving several rivals. Since the fastest way to their destination is a highway, Roman and Brian must weave in and out of busy traffic at ludicrous speeds. The duo dodge cars and drive through tight gaps with ease. They get such a commanding lead that Brian drives in reverse just for fun. It's hard not to smile when you see how much fun our heroes are having. The pure joy they get from dominating drivers makes this exciting race even more enjoyable to watch.
#7: Brian & Dom’s Tense Rematch
Auf Dino-Spurensuche mit Brian Switek
“Fast and Furious” (2009) In the fourth “Fast and Furious” film, Brian once again has to win a race in order to infiltrate a criminal empire. But this time around, he has to compete against a determined Dom. Brian drives into oncoming traffic and ignores red lights just to keep up. Every time a crash blocks his way, he's forced to take extremely risky shortcuts. At the same time, Dom makes dangerous driving decisions and fends off an extremely aggressive driver. The horrific crashes and insane offroad tactics all build up to Brian and Dom speeding down one last quarter mile to determine a winner. The thick tension and sense of danger surrounding this race made it impossible to look away from its exciting conclusion.
#6: A Harsh Drifting Lesson
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“The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006) Although “Tokyo Drift” doesn't feature many familiar faces, the new characters impressed us with their drifting skills. One of the best displays of this driving technique occured when protagonist Sean challenged cocky Yakuza member DK to a race in a parking garage. After Sean gets an early lead, he attempts to drift around a corner at high speed. Unfortunately, he figuratively and literally hits a wall. His opponent easily glides around the tight corner without missing a beat. The rest of the race shows us more impressive and practical drifting from DK while Sean hilariously damages his car trying to catch up. This lopsided race was ultimately a fun way to cement Sean and DK’s rivalry while being a great introduction to drifting.
#5: Million Dollar Quarter Mile
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“Fast Five” (2011) Before taking on yet another organized crime boss, Roman, Dom, Han and Brian decide to have a friendly street race...for a four-million-dollar prize. The incredible bounty inspires all the drivers to speed down the streets of Rio as fast as they can. Although Roman gets a cheap head start, his friends quickly catch up. Since they’re all driving identical Dodge Chargers without modifications, no one has an advantage. The winner had to beat everyone with raw driving talent alone. While this race doesn't have insane conditions or canisters of NOS, its light tone and surprisingly heartwarming finish made it memorable. It also made us wish we had friends that could casually toss around a few million dollars.
#4: The Original Street Race
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“The Fast and the Furious” (2001) A multibillion-dollar franchise began with this historic street race. Brian is a new driver to the underground scene that wants to prove himself. So, he puts his car’s pink slip on the line to race the legendary Dominic Toretto. As the race kicked into gear, audiences were treated to an excellent blend of practical stunt driving and top-of-the-line visuals...for the time. The scene also chose to abandon music and fully rely on driving sound effects to underscore the action. This made us feel like we were in the car with the drivers. Although Brian doesn’t win the race, he gets Dom’s attention. And while this scene may look a little dated today, this quarter mile race left audiences wanting more.
#3: A Quarter Mile to Freedom
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“The Fast and the Furious” (2001) Throughout the first “Fast and the Furious”, Brian was secretly investigating Dom on behalf of the authorities. But he became a part of his target’s family instead. Despite their close connection, the movie ends with Brian racing to catch Dom. The duo speeds down a quarter mile that ends at an active railroad crossing. While Brian races for his job, Dom drives for his freedom. The sheer emotional weight of this scene would’ve been enough to make it memorable. But it’s only after they barely avoid a speeding train that this scene becomes iconic. When Dom crashes his car, Brian hands over his keys and looks the other way. Instead of fulfilling his duty, Brian chooses to help his new family.
#2: A Treacherous Mountain Race
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“The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006) After Sean hones his drifting skills, he and DK have a rematch on a mountain road at night. The loser must leave Tokyo forever. Their elevated racetrack made for a one-of-a-kind and dangerous set piece. Every time they drifted around a tight corner, they risked falling off the mountain. The bitter rivals kept the race exciting by constantly exchanging the lead. The action becomes even more tense when DK tries to ram Sean off the mountain. Unfortunately for the Yakuza member, his dirty tactics eventually lead to him totaling his car. When Sean drifts around his opponent’s wreckage and into victory, we can finally catch our breath. The unique setting and pulse-pounding driving elevated this grudge match into one of the franchise’s best races. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Brian’s Last Ride “Furious 7” (2015) Dom Catches Up with Letty “Fast & Furious 6” Brian’s Toyota Supra vs. a Ferrari “The Fast and the Furious” (2001)
#1: Jumping the Bridge
“2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003) Our top pick doesn't have dramatic weight or significant plot relevance. It's just a pure showdown between Brian and three other drivers to see who’s best. Like the first film, the race begins by dropping background music and underscoring the action with realistic sound effects. At the same time, the colorful cars and personalities of the drivers makes the scene feel larger than life. And when Tej forces the racers to jump over a huge gap, the race soars into the over-the-top action territory that fans have grown to love the series for. The lengthy sequence is supported by tight stunt driving and fast paced editing. Through a combination of sleek action, low stakes and campy fun, this race earned its first-place finish.
