Film

The Fate of the Furious

Name: The Fate of the Furious
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Released: 2017
Cast: Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson

The eighth Fast & Furious film trades street racing for globe-trotting espionage as Dom Toretto turns against his crew for a mysterious woman. It's a two-hour adrenaline rush that embraces its own absurdity—nuclear submarines, zero-gravity physics, family drama spoken at shouting volume. For those who want spectacle without apology.

TMDb rating

3.4

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want big, sincere set pieces and a crew that bickers like family, and you don't mind logic being bent until it snaps.

Skip it if you find over two hours of engine-revving swagger wearing thin, or you tire of characters who talk about loyalty more than they show it.

What it asks of you: Settle in for a long haul of tire-squealing sequences and quieter moments in between, with the tone leaning jokey rather than grim.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Mad Max: Fury Road2015

Pure kinetic storytelling: two hours of chases, explosions, and vehicular mayhem shot with such clarity and invention you'll forget dialogue exists. Practical stunts meet impossible action design.

But Minimal plot, minimal character development—it's structure without narrative, which some find exhausting rather than exhilarating.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation2015

Tom Cruise at his most physically committed, performing real stunts in real locations. Espionage with the same world-threatening stakes and globe-hopping energy as Fate, but tighter and smarter.

But More cerebral than Fate—if you want pure spectacle over plot coherence, the spy mechanics can feel like they're getting in the way.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation poster

Aquaman2018

James Wan directs underwater action with the same commitment to visual overload: impossible physics, neon colour palettes, and Jason Momoa as a charismatic lead. It knows exactly what it is and commits fully.

But Wildly uneven tone swings between earnest mythology and self-aware camp, and the plot threads don't always hold together.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Fate of the Furious

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Bullet Train2022

Jason Statham reunites with the espionage-action mode Fate left him in, but the film demands he be funny and vulnerable—the inverse of Deckard Shaw.

David Leitch (who co-directed Atomic Blonde) creates contained chaos: a 2-hour action thriller aboard a train where Jason Statham and Brad Pitt collide. Every frame designed, every action earned. Genuinely clever.

But Dialogue-heavy, dependent on character wit rather than spectacle. If you came for explosions, you'll find snark instead.

John Wick2014

Jason Statham's co-star proves why: methodical, balletic action choreography that makes every punch count. Lean, propulsive, and genuinely inventive where Fate relies on spectacle.

But Slower burn, smaller scale, and a lower body count—the opposite of Fast & Furious' maximalism in almost every way.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit2014

Spy thriller with Dwayne Johnson's charisma front and centre in a supporting role. Similar geopolitical stakes and globe-trotting as Fate, executed with actual suspense.

But Forgettable plot, generic action sequences, and Chris Pine's earnestness doesn't match the movie's ambitions.

Furious 72015

The previous entry, more focused and coherent than Fate, with better pacing and genuine emotional weight from the late Paul Walker. The action feels less bloated.

But Some see it as the start of the franchise losing its grounding—if Fate felt too much, this is where that began.

Baby Driver2017

Edgar Wright's film has the same year as Fate but operates in a different universe: heist action where music and movement synchronize, and style is inseparable from substance.

But Obsessively stylized to the point of distraction—some find it flashy rather than functional, prioritizing look over feel.

Fast Five2011

Arguably the best in the franchise: when it pivoted to ensemble heist spectacle. Still grounded enough to care, inventive enough to dazzle, with genuine chemistry between leads.

But If you've moved on from the series, this entry won't recapture what made you love the first films—it's the gateway drug to Fate, not an antidote.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves2023

Both prioritize crew loyalty and betrayal within a high-stakes adventure framework, but this one understands that relationships require vulnerability, not just explosions.

A heist-adventure film with ensemble chemistry and surprising emotional stakes. Light-hearted, gorgeously designed, focused on crew dynamics and character arcs that actually matter.

But Fantasy setting and whimsy will alienate those who want grounded action; some found it too broad and cheerful for its own good.