It all started with an undercover cop investigating a street racer in the hopes of exposing hijackers. Today, the once small team has expanded its network into dozens of characters to reach all over the world and beyond. Fast and Furious has attracted fans for decades with its fast action sequences and beautiful cars. The franchise has earned a reputation for some as being a brainless thrill ride with eye candy for both men and women.

What the franchise lacks in sophisticated plot it makes up for in heart, as the main character, Dom (played by Vin Diesel) always puts his family first. As the films continue, it seems like the focus on family is only becoming stronger. While Dom gives some heartfelt speeches and powerful one-liners, the word "family" seems to be the most dominant; it was said twice in the first film, but by the eighth film, it was said 14 times by seven characters. To date, the word "family" has been said approximately 51 times throughout the whole franchise. That may seem like a lot (at least until compared to the near 150 close-ups on half-naked women). The films seem to say the word a lot, but the sometimes mixed messages that Fast and Furious sends, what does the franchise actually have to say about family?

More than Blood Relatives

Fast and Furious cast walking towards us
Universal Pictures

Dom's family includes a hodgepodge crew off all different backgrounds and personalities. While the first of many Fast and Furious movies carries a romantic element, the film primarily focuses on the relationship between Dom, the illegal street racer, and Brian, the undercover cop. By the end of the film, Brian turns on his training to protect the ones he loves. Even if they do not share the same blood or legal ties (although that does come later when Brian marries into the family), the sacrifices and risks each take for one another make them family. As the franchise grows, Dom expands his team to include all kinds of off-the-grid criminals and government officials, and even brings some old enemies into his family team. Even though Dom's crew comes from places around the world, their loyalty to each other binds them together.

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Current events and media in all forms draw more attention to extenuating family circumstances as time goes on. As the traditional nuclear family becomes less typical, there may be more resources available now than ever to help people who come from unfortunate circumstances and abusive family backgrounds. Movies like Fast and Furious with these honorary-style families can offer encouragement to those still finding their place.

Family Unity and Contention

Fast and Furious Corvette String Ray
Universal Pictures

Family can be a person's greatest strength, weakness, or a little bit of both. Perhaps no franchise takes this to an extreme quite as much as Fast and Furious does. Dom's family saves him from prison, world threatening villains, deceptive spies, and even himself. In a practical sense, the team's growing numbers and diversity provides a range of specialties and skill sets. The adrenalin junkie drivers, tech specialists, mechanics, incognito spies, and government leaders each have an essential part to play in Dom's missions. Aside from their skill sets, their unity allows them to communicate and act as one in tight situations. On top of that, they show their dedication and loyalty by protecting one another and leaving no team member behind.

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On the other hand, the road to becoming a unified team is never easy. When planning meetings become personal rather than objective, this family's ability to work together tends to break down. Additionally, because Dom's love for his family is so obvious, antagonists easily use these relationships against him. In The Fate of the Furious, Cipher, a cyber-terrorist, blackmails Dom into doing her dirty work by holding Dom's son hostage. In the newest movie, F9, Dom goes head-to-head against his brother, Jakob. Few things scare Dom more than seeing his family in danger, but overall his peaceful and joyful moments with family off-screen seem to out weigh the risks during the movies.

Justification and Boundaries in Fast and Furious

Vin Diesel doesn't have sleeves in F9: Fast and Furious
Universal Pictures

Dom uses his family both to justify immoral acts and to keep from going too far. A great example of this is The Fate of the Furious. Dom justifies helping Cipher and hurting countless people in order to save one person he loves, his son. In a way, his family pushes him beyond his usual moral limits. However, by the end of the movie, Dom's family frees him and his son from Cipher, and they pull him back to the right side. These moral dilemmas give Fast and Furious the heartfelt emotions behind the mindless action, making family an essential part of the Fast and Furious experience.

Family Values vs. Family's Value

Fast and Furious
Universal Pictures

In many ways, Fast and Furious does not reflect the family values that are usually present within family-focused films. The main characters of the film, former and active criminals, often work around the law, swear, drink, and lash out violently. Critics accuse the franchise (especially in its early movies) of objectifying women and submitting them to the male gaze, making them eye candy with little effect on the plot. Even though the films focus on family, it may not always be "family friendly" in the traditional sense of the word. But we cannot deny the emphasis on family, especially in the more recent films, if 'family' is defined as generally just people who would sacrifice for each other.

Fast and Furious focuses on the family from an adult perspective, rather than showing idealistic relationships in cheesy Hallmark fashion. This adult perspective resonates with the franchise's audience and adds variety to films about family. The themes of irreplaceable loyalty, love, and unity that comes from family and close relationships resonates with viewers from families old, young, big, and small.