While the idea of family in the Fast and Furious franchise has become something of a running joke in online forums, the fact of the matter is that it is impressive to see how this series has never shied away from that central theme. The last seven films have stayed loyal to that core message, and The Fate of the Furious (which debuts in theaters tomorrow) will seemingly double down on it as the franchise moves forward. So who came up with it? Who was the person who figured out that family would make these films pop? According to franchise star Michelle Rodriguez, it can all be traced back to Dominic Toretto himself -- Vin Diesel. Rodriguez said:
It's something that came out of Vin's mouth when he didn't like the line that was there, and I love how it caught wildfire. At the end of the day the movie is all about that. If you've got no heart to keep together all the blowing up and explosions, nobody really cares
So according to Michelle Rodriguez's recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, we can thank Vin Diesel for the heavy emphasis on family that has carried the Fast and Furious franchise through its good and bad times. Throughout all of the monumental changes that have taken place over the course of this series' existence, and above everything else that has transpired over the course of the last sixteen years, one little ad-lib by Diesel established the idea that anchored the Fast and Furious franchise. From 2001's The Fast and the Furious to Paul Walker's final moments on-screen at the end of Furious 7, that's what it has all been about.
We cannot even begin to stress the importance of family when it comes to the success of this film series. Plenty of other big budget blockbusters have attempted the same level of chaos and carnage accomplished by the Fast and Furious movies, and in all honesty, some franchises have outperformed this series in that regard. However, by keeping the series centered on a simple and (most importantly) universal theme like family, the Fast and Furious films have managed to cast an enormous audience net and maintain a sense of intimacy even when things get chaotic and insane during the car chases.
If you are a newcomer to the world of Fast and Furious movies, then you may not ultimately realize how often that topic gets brought up in conversation during these films. For a lesson in the finer points of family, check out a supercut of Fast and Furious "family" moments below to see for yourself:
This beloved family of heroes will reunite for their eighth adventure when The Fate of the Furious debuts in theaters tomorrow. If you need to get up to speed before checking out the new film, here's everything we know about the new Fast and Furious movie.
