How the Fast & Furious franchise launched a car into orbit for its ninth installment

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The ninth mainline entry in the Fast & Furious saga, F9, pushes the franchise to new heights—literally. By sending characters into space via a rocket car, the film leans into its signature preposterous action, while exploring the fractured history of the Toretto family and a global threat involving advanced weaponry.

Directed by Justin Lin, who returned to the franchise after helming several previous entries, F9 arrived in 2021 following multiple delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the release of the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw. The film centers on Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, who is forced out of retirement to confront his estranged brother, Jakob, portrayed by John Cena. Jakob acts as a rogue agent working with a financier to activate Project Aries, a device capable of hacking any computer-controlled weapons system on Earth.

The narrative structure weaves between the present-day mission and flashbacks to 1989, revealing the tragic death of the Toretto brothers' father during a stock car race. This history serves as the emotional anchor for the conflict, as Dom and Jakob clash over their shared past. The film’s production was a massive undertaking, with filming locations spanning London, Edinburgh, Tbilisi, Los Angeles, and Thailand. The stunt work, a hallmark of the series, remained central, even as the plot ventured into increasingly hyperbolic territory, such as the use of high-powered electromagnets and orbital satellite combat.

Critically, the film received mixed reviews, with a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While some critics found the plot and revision of established tropes lacking, the consensus praised Lin’s direction and the film’s commitment to spectacular, over-the-top set pieces. Despite the mixed reception, F9 was a commercial success, grossing $726.2 million worldwide and becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2021. It set several pandemic-era box office records, proving that the franchise’s blend of diverse casting, high-octane stunts, and family-centric melodrama continued to resonate with global audiences.

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