Hey, Everybody! In honor of “The Fast and the Furious,” franchise, today we’re examining the previous seven films that have raced through the worldwide box office since 2001. These films have earned a worldwide box office total of $3.9 billion, from budgets totaling $759 million. That’s an average of about $557,142,857 per film, on average budgets of about $108,428,000. Obviously, such earnings have made the series one of the highest grossing motion picture franchises in history.
Before we go look into the “Fast and the Furious” rear view mirror, lets look at the trailer to the upcoming April 17 release of “Fate of the Furious.”
Whew, that was good, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to disappoint!. So, without further ado, let’s look at The Fast and Furious series of films.
Furious 7 (Released April 3, 2015)
This $190 million dollar budget earned a massive $1,516,045,911 worldwide. This includes $353,007,020 domestically, and $1,163,038,891 internationally Thus, the domestic box office only represented 23% of its total gross.
Fast and Furious 6 (Released May 29, 2013)
This film cost $160 million to make, and earned $97,375,245 on 3,658 screens on its opening weekend, which won the box office for the fifth time in the six releases. The picture also enjoyed a $26,620 per screen average, which was the highest in the series. Furthermore, it earned $238,679,850 domestically and $550,000,000 internationally (both of which were the highest in the series) giving it a worldwide total of $788,679,850. Clearly, this picture’s performance insures the future of the franchise.
The fifth film in this series cost $125 million to make. The hike in budget was clearly rewarded, because the film won the box office on its opening weekend by making $86,198,765 on 3,644 screens, which is a phenomenal $23,655 per screen average. The picture went on to earn $209,837,765 domestically and $416,300,000 internationally, giving it a worldwide box office total of $626,137,675. By this point in the series, it became apparent that the Fast and Furious series was earning far more money internationally than domestically, as Fast Five was the third consecutive film in the series to do so.
Fast and Furious (Released April 3, 2009)
The fourth edition of the Fast and Furious series smartly moved its release date up by 2 1/2 months, in order to capture more box office dollars when there isn’t nearly the competition that there is in June. The move worked, because the $85 million dollar budgeted film won its opening weekend by making $70,950,500 on 3,401 screens, giving it an astounding $20,500 per screen average. The film went on to make $155,064,265 domestically and $201,100,000 internationally, giving it a worldwide total of $363,164,265. For the second time in a row, the foreign box office surpassed the domestic take, which said quite a bit at the time, because this film had the largest domestic box office total in the series to date.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (Released June 16, 2006)
With an $85 million dollar budget, the third installment of the series signaled the first financial dip in the series. This picture earned only earned $23,973,840 on 3,027 screens, which is a meager $7,920 per screen average. Furthermore, the film only mustered $62,514,415 domestically. However, it did earn $95,953,877 internationally, making it the first picture in the series to have its foreign box office surpass its domestic take. In total, Tokyo Drift earned $158,468,292 worldwide.
2 Fast 2 Furious – (Released – June 6, 2003)
The second edition of the Fast and Furious series had a $76 million dollar budget, which is double than the first. This picture also won its opening weekend by making $50,472,480 on 3,408 screens, which is a $14,810 per screen average. The film made $127,154,901 domestically, and another $109,195,760 domestically, totaling $236,350,661 worldwide.
With a budget of $38 million, the first installment of the series won its opening weekend by making $40,089,015 on 2,628 screens, which is a $15,254 per screen average. The film went on to make $144,533,925 domestically and another $62,750,000 internationally, totaling $207,283,925. Clearly, such a start would guarantee a sequel.
Okay friends, that’s what I have for you today. As always, I thank you for lending me your eyes. Please check out my podcast, “Limping on Cloud 9.”