Over the course of 25 years and 10 movies (plus the Hobbs & Shaw spin-off), the Fast and Furious franchise has given us many memorable lines that fans quote to this day. Whether it’s the promise of a 10-second car or Dom Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) many lessons about “family,” there’s something in every movie to add to the list. However, the best quote in the Fast and Furious series comes from the very first movie, 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, in an exchange between Dom and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker). Not only does it outline the mentality of the character; it sums up everything that’s fun about one of the biggest action franchises of all time.
‘The Fast and the Furious’ Lives a Quarter-Mile at a Time
In the first movie, Brian infiltrates the underground racing world in order to get into the crew of Dom, leader of a gang of rev-heads who use their driving skills to perform high-speed robberies. After saving his life, Brian is brought into Dom’s world, and in one moment of honesty, he opens up about why he does what he does. “I live my life a quarter-mile at a time,” he says. “Nothing else matters: not the mortgage, not the store, not my team and all their bulls***. For those ten seconds or less, I’m free.”
It’s not just a moment of honesty from him, it’s the first glimpse of a connection between the future best friends and brothers-in-law. In the future, the pair will team up and become as close as brothers, but at that moment, Brian is a cop trying to trap Dom, only to be confronted with a kindred spirit. Brian is seduced by the scene, and quickly falls for Dom’s sister, Mia (Jordana Brewster). This moment of connection becomes another reason for Brian to become conflicted.
Dom Toretto’s Greatest Speech Sums Up Who He Is
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With the Fast and Furious franchise, Vin Diesel would become an action icon. While the movies have grown into massive ensemble spectacles, Dom has remained a constant, appearing in all but one of the main installments and making the character a signature of the series. To remain that popular, you have to have something that keeps people coming back. In this speech, his appeal becomes clear.
Dom is someone drawn to the rush, to the thrill of the chase. Whether that’s hijacking trucks or beating street racers, he is compelled by the power of making quick, life-or-death decisions at 100 miles per hour. It’s an addiction, because it’s at that moment he finds himself untethered from his worries and able to focus on what is in front of him. It’s why his arc throughout the films, going from robbing DVD players to assisting in international espionage, is easier to swallow for fans of the franchise. He is chasing bigger and bigger thrills, always staying true to the mentality that keeps him feeling liberated.
The Appeal of the ‘Fast and Furious’ Films is Encapsulated in One Quote
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- Image via Universal Pictures
- Image via Universal Pictures
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Image via Universal Pictures
Image via Universal Pictures
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Image via Universal Pictures
Image via Universal StudiosThe Fast and Furious movies have always followed the same philosophy – taking the audience from one race to the next, with viewers responding best when the stakes are at their highest. Dom and the universe he exists in mirror each other, which is why he is so important after all these years. For those who turn up for every installment, the draw is the same – to join Dom and his crew behind the wheel, to feel that thrill on the big screen, and leave your own cares behind for a couple of hours.
When Paul Walker tragically passed away during the filming of 2017’s Furious 7, the movie was famously altered to provide a fitting farewell to Brian and his friendship with Dom, which mirrored Walker and Diesel’s friendship in real life. As their characters drive beside each other one last time, Dom’s narration brings this quote full circle: “I used to say I live my life a quarter mile at a time and I think that’s why we were brothers — because you did, too.”
While the 11th movie in the series may still be in development, the Fast and Furious franchise has defined the traditional action movie in the 21st century. Over two decades, people have been drawn to the exhilaration of one last ride, because when you only live your life a quarter-mile at a time, you never know what’s around the next corner.
The Fast and the Furious
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Brian O’Conner
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Mia Toretto
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