Fast Five
Fast Five (also known as Fast & Furious 5) is a 2011 American action thriller film directed by Justin Lin from a screenplay by Chris Morgan.[1] It serves as the fifth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, following the events of Fast & Furious (2009), and marks a pivotal shift toward heist-oriented storytelling with high-octane action sequences.[2] The film stars Vin Diesel as Dominic "Dom" Toretto, Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner, Jordana Brewster as Mia Toretto, Tyrese Gibson as Roman Pearce, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Tej Parker, Sung Kang as Han Lue, Gal Gadot as Gisele Yashar, John Ortiz as Hernan Reyes, and Dwayne Johnson as DSS agent Luke Hobbs.[3] In the story, Dom and Brian, on the run after breaking Dom from custody, relocate to Rio de Janeiro with Mia, who is pregnant with Brian's child; they assemble a team of skilled drivers and thieves—including Roman, Tej, Han, Gisele, and others—to execute a daring $100 million heist targeting a vault belonging to corrupt Brazilian drug lord Hernan Reyes, all while evading pursuit by relentless federal agent Hobbs.[4] The narrative blends intense car chases, ensemble teamwork, and over-the-top stunts, including a famous sequence where the crew uses modified vehicles to drag a massive safe through city streets.[2] Released theatrically in the United States on April 29, 2011, Fast Five was produced by Universal Pictures with a budget of $125 million and achieved massive commercial success, earning $209.8 million domestically and $626.1 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise at the time.[5] Critically, it holds a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 207 reviews, with praise for its thrilling action, charismatic ensemble, and ability to reinvigorate the series despite criticisms of its implausible physics and formulaic plot.[2] The movie's emphasis on family loyalty, multicultural casting, and Dwayne Johnson's debut as the tough antagonist Hobbs helped propel the franchise into a new era of global blockbusters.[6]Narrative Elements
Plot
Former cop Brian O'Conner and his girlfriend Mia Toretto orchestrate a daring highway ambush to free her brother, Dominic Toretto, from a prison transport bus en route to Lompoc Penitentiary, allowing the trio to escape together.[7] Fleeing to Rio de Janeiro to evade capture, they seek a final big score to secure their freedom, driven by their deep sense of family loyalty and the need to build a new life away from constant pursuit.[8] There, old associate Vince recruits them for a job stealing three high-end cars from a moving train owned by corrupt businessman and drug lord Hernan Reyes, whose operations control much of the city's underworld.[7] The train heist begins with Dom and Vince using a modified truck to shear open a freight car at high speed, while Brian and Mia board the train to assist, successfully offloading two cars before a third derails the train in a catastrophic crash.[8] However, the operation sours when Vince betrays them to Reyes' men, leading to a shootout in which Vince is killed and Dom and Brian are captured by Reyes' henchmen.[7] Tortured for information on the stolen cars, they escape after Mia intervenes, and in the process, they discover a computer chip in one of the cars containing evidence of Reyes' vast criminal empire, including the locations of his hidden cash stashes totaling $100 million. After the escape, Mia reveals to Brian that she is pregnant.[8] Motivated by revenge against Reyes—who now hunts them relentlessly—and the opportunity to steal enough money to disappear forever, Dom decides to target the drug lord's fortune stored in an impregnable vault at a Rio police station.[7] Brian takes the lead in assembling a skilled team of drivers and specialists, including Roman Pearce, Tej Parker, Han Lue, Gisele Yashar, Tego Calderón, and Rico Santos, emphasizing the unbreakable bonds of their chosen family as the key to success.[9] Meanwhile, Diplomatic Security Service agent Luke Hobbs arrives in Rio with local officer Elena Neves to apprehend Dom's crew, raiding their favela safehouse in a fierce confrontation that scatters the group but underscores Hobbs' unyielding determination.[7] After Hobbs briefly captures the team, Reyes' forces ambush his operation, killing most of his unit and forcing a temporary alliance when Dom rescues him, as both now share a common enemy in the drug lord.[8] The heist unfolds with the team using decoy maneuvers and coordinated driving to breach the police station and extract the massive armored vault containing Reyes' cash, initiating a climactic street chase through downtown Rio.[9] Dom and Brian attach cables from their muscle cars to the vault, dragging it at high speeds through crowded streets, demolishing vehicles and infrastructure while evading Reyes' armed convoy in a symphony of destruction and precision teamwork. The money spills from the vault during the intense chase, allowing the crew to secure it after outmaneuvering the pursuers.[8] They secure the $100 million, which they split among the crew to fund their new beginnings.[7] In the resolution, Reyes is killed by Hobbs, the team disperses to safety—with Mia's pregnancy already known, looking forward to their future family—while Dom parts ways with Elena, affirming the enduring loyalty that defines their "family."[9]Cast
The principal cast of Fast Five features returning characters from the franchise alongside new additions central to the film's ensemble.[3]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vin Diesel | Dominic Toretto | The skilled driver and leader of the crew, evading authorities after previous events.[3] |
| Paul Walker | Brian O'Conner | A former undercover cop turned ally and family member to the Toretto crew.[3] |
| Jordana Brewster | Mia Toretto | Dominic's sister and Brian's partner, providing emotional grounding for the group.[3] |
| Tyrese Gibson | Roman Pearce | Brian's longtime friend and comic relief among the heist team.[3] |
| Ludacris | Tej Parker | A tech-savvy mechanic and strategist in the crew.[3] |
| Matt Schulze | Vince | A returning member of Dominic's original crew from Los Angeles.[3] |
| Sung Kang | Han Lue | The laid-back driver and snack enthusiast joining the international operation.[3] |
| Gal Gadot | Gisele Yashar | A former Mossad agent turned driver and romantic interest in the team.[3] |
| Dwayne Johnson | Luke Hobbs | A tough Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent introduced as the primary antagonist pursuing the crew, who later becomes an ally.[3][10] |
| Joaquim de Almeida | Hernan Reyes | The ruthless Brazilian drug lord and corrupt businessman serving as the main villain controlling Rio's underworld.[3][11] |