Fast X Tops F9, But Franchise Future Remains Uncertain

Fast X has made a grand entrance into the box office, surpassing the opening night box office numbers of its predecessor, F9. However, despite this promising start, the outlook for the Fast & Furious franchise remains unsteady. Fast X marks the beginning of the end for the beloved franchise, as it follows Dom Toretto as he tries to protect his family from the wrath of Dante. The latter is the son of Hernan Reyes, the drug kingpin from Fast Five, who seeks revenge for the death of his father. Fast X boasts the largest cast in franchise history, including newcomers such as Brie Larson, Jason Momoa, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, and Rita Moreno, alongside many returning franchise regulars.

Now that Fast X has made its debut, the numbers are in for its opening night box office. According to Variety, the film earned an impressive $7.5 million in Thursday previews at the domestic box office. By comparison, F9 and the Hobbs and Shaw spinoff made $7.1 million and $5.8 million, respectively, in their Thursday previews.

Fast X's Box Office Outlook Explained

Fast X's opening night box office may have been slightly higher than F9's, but it suggests a less than stellar outlook for the latest film in the domestic market. F9 was released during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when 80 percent of theaters in the United States were closed. With theaters now reopened and pandemic-related concerns largely resolved, Fast X was expected to perform better. However, as reviews suggest, audiences may be experiencing franchise fatigue.

The Fast & Furious franchise tends to fare better overseas, and Fast X is no exception. While its opening weekend box office projections in the United States are only around $60 million, making it the franchise's seventh-highest domestic debut, it is expected to open to a whopping $235 million internationally, making it one of the franchise's biggest openings. However, since the Fast X budget ballooned to $340 million and an additional $100 million was spent on promotion, the film may need to maintain its momentum for several months to generate a significant profit.

Source: Variety