DVD Corner

The Fast And The Furious: 25th Anniversary 4K UHD Review

The film started a pop culture phenomenon.   

Based on the magazine article “Racer X,” 2001’s “The Fast And The Furious” is the first entry in the action-crime franchise. Set in L.A., the story concerns a crew of thieves and street racers (led by Dominic Toretto). An L.A. cop (Brian O’Conner) goes undercover to work at a garage hoping to infiltrate Dom’s world. Brian finds himself getting a bit too deep undercover as he dates Dom’s sister Mia, forms a bond with Dom, and even helps him in a conflict against a gang leader Johnny Tran.

In celebration of “The Fast And The Furious” and the franchise’s 25th anniversary, it’s interesting to go back and rewatch the first entry to see how it all began. We all know the Furious series has gone on to become one of the most successful franchises of the past 25 years, but the first film is often overshadowed by the over-the-top, big budget, action heavy entries that followed. Surprisingly, the first film has held up quite well over the years. It’s more of a grounded, straight forward cops and robbers action-crime story with plenty of car stunts and racing action. Director Rob Cohen and writers Gary Scott Thompson, David Ayer and Erik Bergquist did a lot of heavy lifting here with the world building and the introduction of many of the franchise’s main characters. The series may have evolved and had better entries like “Fast Five,” but the first is still easily one of the best. On top of that, there’s a real emphasis on thrilling practical effects and real stunts here which is a hallmark of the franchise (although there’s still plenty of CGI to be sure).

Cast wise, this will always be Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker’s franchise. There may be other characters who take center stage at times, but they are the heart and soul of the franchise. Diesel is practically synonymous with Dom (and Riddick) throughout his career. You can’t forget Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster who have both been there since the beginning as well. Rodriguez in particular as Letty has become one of the series most beloved characters.

You can always get a box set of all 9 films, but if you are a Furious collector and are intrigued by the new bonus material and transfer, this disc is worth picking up.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.35:1 2160p With Dolby Vision HDR. How does it look? This new 4K master maintains the look of the original print while having a subtle color upgrade.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? The Atmos track is everything you want it to be. The racing scenes are particularly exhilarating. 

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* Commentary by director Rob Cohen
* New extra “Riding A Legacy: 25 Years Of Fast”- Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Meadow Walker and Neal Moritz talk about revisiting the first film at a Cannes Classic Screening, their bond, memories, and more. Film clips, clips of set footage and past interviews are included.
* 8 deleted/extended scenes with optional Rob Cohen commentary.
* Multiple camera angles-stunt sequence
* Visual effects montage
* Music videos for Ja Rule’s “Furious,” Cadillac Tah’s “POV City Anthem,” and Saliva’s “Click Click Boom.”
* Storyboard-To-Final Comparison
* Speed News Wrap- The cast and crew discuss speed.
* Featurette on editing for the MPAA.
* Movie Magic Interactive- Special Effects
* Tricking Out A Hot Import Car featurette
* “Quarter Mile At A Time”- A featurette on street racing.
* “Dom’s Charger” is all about Dom’s car.
* “Hot Off The Street”- 5 scenes
* “More Than Furious”- Alternate ending.
* “The Making Of The Fast And Furious” featurette.

August 21, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Action Movie, Dominic Toretto, Michelle Rodriguez, Paul Walker, The Fast and the Furious, The Fast And The Furious: 25th Anniversary 4K UHD Review, Vin Diesel