In Hollywood, substantial careers are said to have legs — but in Vin Diesel’s case, it’s wheels.
Ever since the shiny-domed tough guy burned rubber as the breakout star of 2001’s “The Fast and the Furious,” Diesel’s Dom Toretto, the hulking chief of a ring of car thieves, has been the bread and butter of Diesel’s career.
This Friday’s “Fast Five” is the fifth installment of the rubber-burning franchise.
The gravel-voiced actor skipped the first sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” had a cameo in the next, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” and returned to star in “Fast & Furious,” which reignited the franchise. Here’s a peek in the rearview:
“The Fast and the Furious” (2001)
Plot: Cars go vroom as undercover cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrates street racer Dom Toretto’s (Diesel) hijacking truck ring and falls for his sister Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster).
Also starring: Modified Honda Civics
Box-office domestic gross: $145 million
“2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003)
Plot: O’Conner, no longer a cop, is busted by the FBI and watched by customs agent Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes). He’s also forced to infiltrate gangster Carter Verone’s (Cole Hauser) crew to get his record cleaned. He partners with childhood buddy and ex-con Roman “Rom” Pearce (Tyrese Gibson).
Also starring: Modified Nissan Skyline, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and a Mitsubishi Eclipse
Box-office domestic gross: $127 million
“The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006)
Plot: Street-racing teen Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) is sent to Tokyo to be with his military dad after a crash. There he meets military brat Twinkie (Bow Wow), who introduces him to underground drift racing. They tussle with the Drift King (Brian Tee).
Also starring: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Box-office domestic gross: $63 million
“Fast & Furious” (2009)
Plot: O’Conner, now with the FBI, needs to infiltrate a heroin ring run by the mysterious Braga (John Ortiz). Dom comes out of hiding as he searches for the killer of his lover Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).
Also starring: Nissan Skyline GT-R, Chevrolet Chevelle
Box-office domestic gross: $155 million
Ever since the shiny-domed tough guy burned rubber as the breakout star of 2001’s “The Fast and the Furious,” Diesel’s Dom Toretto, the hulking chief of a ring of car thieves, has been the bread and butter of Diesel’s career.
This Friday’s “Fast Five” is the fifth installment of the rubber-burning franchise.
The gravel-voiced actor skipped the first sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” had a cameo in the next, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” and returned to star in “Fast & Furious,” which reignited the franchise. Here’s a peek in the rearview:
“The Fast and the Furious” (2001)
Plot: Cars go vroom as undercover cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrates street racer Dom Toretto’s (Diesel) hijacking truck ring and falls for his sister Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster).
Also starring: Modified Honda Civics
Box-office domestic gross: $145 million
“2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003)
Plot: O’Conner, no longer a cop, is busted by the FBI and watched by customs agent Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes). He’s also forced to infiltrate gangster Carter Verone’s (Cole Hauser) crew to get his record cleaned. He partners with childhood buddy and ex-con Roman “Rom” Pearce (Tyrese Gibson).
Also starring: Modified Nissan Skyline, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and a Mitsubishi Eclipse
Box-office domestic gross: $127 million
“The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006)
Plot: Street-racing teen Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) is sent to Tokyo to be with his military dad after a crash. There he meets military brat Twinkie (Bow Wow), who introduces him to underground drift racing. They tussle with the Drift King (Brian Tee).
Also starring: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Box-office domestic gross: $63 million
“Fast & Furious” (2009)
Plot: O’Conner, now with the FBI, needs to infiltrate a heroin ring run by the mysterious Braga (John Ortiz). Dom comes out of hiding as he searches for the killer of his lover Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).
Also starring: Nissan Skyline GT-R, Chevrolet Chevelle
Box-office domestic gross: $155 million
