Synopsis:
Dominic Toretto must protect his crew and family from Dante Reyes, the son of drug lord Hernan Reyes, seeking revenge for the loss of his family’s fortune from the heist in Rio de Janeiro.

Editing: Dylan Highsmith, Kelly Matsumoto, Laura Yanovich, Corbin Mehl
Music: Brian Taylor

Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jason Momoa, John Cena, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Brie Larson, Alan Ritchson, Daniela Melchior, Scott Eastwood, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Rita Moreno, Leo Abelo Perry

Director: Louis Leterrier
Screenplay: Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin
Story: Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin, Zach Dean
Based on: Characters by Gary Scott Thompson
Cinematography: Stephen F. Windon

At this point, with ten films in the series, Fast & Furious has found its audience and knows what people expect: outrageous car sequences, quippy banter, barbeques, NOS, and talk about the importance of family.
With Fast X billed as the first part of a two (or possibly three)–part finale, it won’t win over anyone not already invested in Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew, but it does shake things up with the franchise’s most interesting antagonist to date.

A few years after the events of F9, Dom is hosting another famous barbeque, settled with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry). Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) are sent to Rome on an Agency mission that quickly goes sideways when Dante (Jason Momoa)—son of Fast Five’s Hernan Reyes—frames the family for a terror attack. With the Agency turning on them, the crew is split up and on the run while Dom faces an enemy intent on making him suffer.

Fast X is a blast. It mixes bruising hand-to-hand brawls with the series’ trademark vehicular insanity. While there isn’t a single top-tier franchise moment, there are plenty of “did they really just do that?” beats as Dom weaponizes his car in new ways and fights get surprisingly gnarly. The film often plays like a best-of reel—callbacks, homages, reused locales and footage—telegraphing that the endgame is underway.

At the core is Dom piecing together Dante’s motivations, a choice that maximizes screen time for Jason Momoa, who delivers the series’ best villain to date. Comparisons to the Joker will fly; Momoa oozes charisma and slips between sinister and childish on a dime. Smart, unhinged and stylish, his performance feels worthy of the saga’s final big bad.

The larger ensemble gets limited time by comparison. Roman, Tej, Ramsey and Han are mostly comic relief on a misadventure thread, while Letty contends with an Agency black site. Newcomers Brie Larson and Alan Ritchson serve as opposing Agency forces, often present to dispense exposition and foreshadowing.

Charlize Theron’s Cipher finally gets her hands dirty—think Fury Road/Atomic Blonde energy—and her clash with Letty (as teased in trailers) is a highlight and her most enjoyable turn yet.

Jakob (John Cena) returns a changed man: reconciled with Dom and charged with protecting Little Brian. The once-gruff superspy now leans into affable himbo vibes à la Peacemaker. It’s jarring at first, but it works.

This entry leans heavily on (or more obviously reveals) CGI. A few shots break the illusion—cars or even Vin Diesel himself reading as digital—which disappoints given the franchise’s practical pedigree. Whether that’s tied to Justin Lin departing before Louis Leterrier took the reins or not, here’s hoping the next chapter hews closer to earlier entries. A late reveal also undercuts some of the film’s emotional stakes.

When the credits hit—after a big internal “WTF”—I was bummed to wait for the next chapter. Which, honestly, is exactly what you want from part one of a finale. The pieces are set for a grand send-off, and if the series keeps delivering performances like Momoa’s, the last ride should be a great one.

Ashley Hobley attended an advance screening of Fast X thanks to Universal Pictures Australia and Reading Cinemas.