Fast and Furious 9, the ninth instalment in the most popular Fast and Furious Saga is finally on its way to release.
It released in the US and Canadian cinemas on Thursday, while it will be exclusively released in other countries later this year.
Actor Vin Diesel remembered his life before the first chapter of the fast and furious film was released, two decades ago.
“I’ll never forget being at an airport in Mexico, the movie hadn’t come out yet, it was maybe April of 2001,” he recalls.
“Paul [Walker, his co-star] and I were sitting on the floor, with our bags to the side, about to board a commercial flight back home. We had just flown down there for the MTV Spring Break thing.
“And I remember him leaning over to me and saying, ‘Take all of this in, take in the fact that people are walking over our legs, almost kicking our bags and not paying any attention to us’. I said, ‘Why?’ And he said, ‘Because after this film comes out, there too will go our anonymity’.”
The entire film is set in Los Angeles and revolves around the world of illegal street racing.
It introduced the world to Dominic Toretto (Diesel), the leader of a criminal heist group that LAPD officer Brian O’Conner (Walker) tries to insinuate.
Ever since the franchise has grown a lot in its eight sequels. There were action scenes that were more or less like the Mission: Impossible films.
The widening scope of the movies means the plot lines and car chases have become increasingly imaginative, and audiences have kept coming back for more.
Due to the pandemic, many films got delayed. Most headlines focused on the fate of the next James Bond film, No Time To Die. But the ninth part of the Fast and Furious franchise also suffered an equal loss to the global box office.
Comcast Corp’s Universal Pictures postponed the May 2020 release to give fans the chance to safely watch F9 on a big screen in a crowd, director Justin Lin said.
In the ninth chapter, Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are living a quiet life with a young son when they are asked to help thwart a dangerous plot.
The movie offers the seat-rattling car chases the franchise is famous for, and ups the drama when a rocket propels a car into space.
Moreover, Dom must “come to terms with whatever acts of the past to have hope for the future,” Lin (Director) said, a theme that may resonate with audiences who are frustrated because of the pandemic.
The film also brings back beloved character Han (Sung Kang), who was killed off in the third Fast movie, sparking a fan outcry.
Furthermore, John Cena will be seen as a villain, and rapper Cardi B would give a cameo appearance. Overseas ticket sales are nearing $300 million.
About 20% of US theatres remain closed, and some still limit capacity.
It is predicted that the F9 will bring in $50 million to $70 million domestically in its opening weekend.
Therefore, breaking the record set by the May release – A Quiet Place Part II.
Many theatres are also offering advance screening, discounts and other promotions as a part of an industry-wide cinema week, this week.
Advertisements for new movies are helping spread the word that theatres are open.
