The Truth Behind the 6 Craziest Stunts in the Fast and Furious Franchise

Facts On Film

1 Mar 202406:59

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the craziest stunts from The Fast and the Furious franchise, focusing on six jaw-dropping moments. From dropping cars out of planes in Furious 7 to a Camaro landing on a yacht in Too Fast Too Furious, the video delves into the real-life execution of these incredible stunts, many of which were done with minimal CGI. It highlights dangerous yet impressive sequences like dragging a bank vault through city streets and launching a car through skyscraper windows. The behind-the-scenes insight reveals the technical brilliance and audacity that define these action-packed scenes.

Takeaways

🚗 The Fast and the Furious series is known for its outlandish stunts, many of which are done for real despite their craziness.
🪂 In Furious 7, cars were dropped from planes for real, involving months of planning and complex safety measures for skydivers and crew.
🛥️ In Too Fast Too Furious, a Chevy Camaro was launched onto a yacht using a real car and a specially built ramp, though the crash itself was recreated using dummies and explosives.
🚓 Fast and Furious 6 featured a real 56-ton British battle tank, and over 250 cars were destroyed for the massive tank scene, with some elements enhanced by CGI.
💥 Fast 5's iconic bank vault heist was done largely for real, with custom-built steerable vaults dragged through city streets, smashing through buildings and vehicles.
🚀 F9 pushed the limits by sending Roman and Tej into space in a Pontiac Fiero, with input from NASA to ensure some scientific realism for the stunt.
🏙️ Furious 7's Abu Dhabi skyscraper jump involved real cars crashing through glass walls, though replicas were used to avoid destroying a rare $3.4 million Lykan Hypersport.
🔧 Several stunts in the franchise, such as the tank flip and Roman's flying squirrel-like leap in Fast 6, required a combination of real action and CGI.
🔒 To execute Fast 5's vault stunt, special effects teams built multiple vault models, including one with a central axle to achieve the 'rolling' effect.
💡 Many of the series' stunts, despite seeming impossible, were executed with minimal CGI, demonstrating the team's dedication to practical effects and real action.

Q & A

What was the reasoning behind using real cars in the Furious 7 parachute stunt?
-The Furious 7 team chose to drop real cars from planes to avoid over-reliance on CGI, making the stunt feel more authentic. Stunt veteran Spiro Razatos convinced the director to do the stunt for real after using too much CGI in earlier films.
How did the crew ensure the parachute car stunt was filmed safely in Furious 7?
-The crew faced challenges such as preventing debris from damaging cameras, which were mounted in safe positions. They also carefully planned the drops, coordinating with skydivers to capture the shots while minimizing risk.
Was the iconic yacht landing scene in 'Too Fast Too Furious' done with real cars?
-Yes, the jump of a Chevy Camaro onto a yacht was 100% real, though no one was inside the car at the time. The team used dummies as stand-ins for the characters Brian and Roman.
What safety measures were taken during the Fast and Furious 6 tank chase scene?
-During the Fast and Furious 6 tank chase, a real 56-ton British battle tank was used. Although some parts relied on CGI, the scene involved real destruction of 250 cars, and safety protocols were implemented to ensure that no one was hurt during the stunt.
How did the filmmakers achieve the vault heist sequence in Fast Five?
-In Fast Five, the production team built a steerable vault to give the stunt crew control during the chase. They used custom-made vaults to smash through buildings and create realistic destruction without relying on CGI.
How was the rocket car scene in F9 inspired?
-The rocket car scene in F9 started as a joke about Dom's crew racing on the moon. However, director Justin Lin explored the scientific possibilities by consulting with NASA, which inspired the final sequence of launching a Pontiac Fiero into orbit.
Was the tower jump scene in Furious 7 done with real Lykan Hypersports?
-No, the production team used replicas of the Lykan Hypersport for the tower jump scene to avoid damaging the real $3.4 million car. They built fiberglass replicas powered by Porsche engines to perform the stunts.
Why did the filmmakers use replicas of the Lykan Hypersport for the tower jump scene?
-Due to the high cost and limited availability of the Lykan Hypersport, the team built replicas using fiberglass and Porsche Boxster powertrains to perform the stunt, ensuring the real cars were not destroyed.
How did the filmmakers of Fast and Furious 6 integrate both real stunts and CGI?
-Fast and Furious 6 used a mix of real stunts and CGI, particularly during the tank chase scene. While 250 cars were destroyed in real life, certain physics-defying moments, like Roman flying from the tank, were enhanced with CGI.
What challenges did the stunt team face when filming the Furious 7 parachute car drop?
-The biggest challenges included avoiding damage to the cameras and ensuring the cars did not get stuck while being dropped. Coordinating skydivers to capture footage safely among the falling cars added to the complexity.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Dropping Cars from Planes in Furious 7

This paragraph details the daring stunt in *Furious 7* where cars were parachuted out of planes for real. Veteran stunt coordinator Spiro Razatos pushed for practical effects over CGI. The scene involved mounting cameras in difficult positions, organizing complex logistics, and brave skydivers jumping alongside cars to capture footage. Despite the dangerous setup, including flying debris and a skydiver losing footing, the stunt was successfully executed over Colorado’s mountains, contributing to a memorable action sequence.

05:01

🚤 Landing a Car on a Boat in Too Fast Too Furious

In *Too Fast Too Furious*, a climactic stunt involved launching a Chevy Camaro onto a moving yacht. The sequence required months of planning, complex rigging, and careful testing. A custom ramp and pulley system helped ensure the car hit the yacht without damaging the expensive boat. Though the jump was real, two dummies stood in for the characters during the crash. The final shots combined practical effects and mock-ups, delivering a thrilling conclusion to the movie’s high-speed action.

🛡️ Tank Mayhem in Fast and Furious 6

This paragraph covers the destruction wrought by a real British Chieftain battle tank in *Fast and Furious 6*. The scene, initially meant for CGI, became a blend of practical effects, with 250 cars destroyed along a Spanish highway. Ridiculous moments like Dom’s Marvel-esque rescue of Letty and Roman’s flight from the tank added absurdity to the carnage. However, much of the destruction was achieved with the real tank and limited CGI, making for one of the most chaotic sequences in the franchise.

🏦 Dragging a Bank Vault in Fast Five

The action in *Fast Five* took a turn when Dom and Brian drag a massive bank vault through a city. Director Justin Lin aimed to minimize CGI, leading the team to build steerable vault props. The vault was pulled through real streets, smashing into buildings and cars. One vault was even designed to roll for a destructive bank-breaking shot. The stunt was highly dangerous, involving stunt actors dodging the vault in real-time. The sequence culminated in a dramatic bridge chase with even more destruction.

🚀 Rocket Car in Space in F9

The idea of sending a Pontiac Fiero into space in *F9* began as a joke but eventually turned into a serious stunt. The production team consulted NASA to ensure the sequence had a scientific basis, asking questions about fuel, pressure suits, and space survival. Characters Roman and Tej’s launch into orbit was made more believable by scenes of the car’s modification and the scientific backing provided by NASA, adding realism to an otherwise outlandish sequence.

🏙️ Skyscraper Jump in Furious 7

One of the most iconic stunts in *Furious 7* was the skyscraper jump in Abu Dhabi. Although the team filmed on location, the car jumps were shot in Atlanta, using replicas of the $3.4 million Lykan Hypersport. Fiberglass versions of the car were launched through glass walls in a controlled environment to avoid risking the real hypercar. CGI was then used to stitch the real footage with the cityscape, creating a breathtaking visual of the car leaping between skyscrapers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Stunts

Stunts are daring physical feats or actions typically used in films to create excitement and spectacle. In the context of 'The Fast and the Furious' franchise, stunts are a core element that pushes the boundaries of realism, with many scenes involving dangerous and thrilling actions, like dropping cars from planes or launching a car onto a moving boat.

💡CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery)

CGI refers to the use of computer graphics to create images in movies and other media. The script mentions how the 'Fast and Furious' franchise often blends real-life stunts with CGI to amplify the action, such as using CGI to enhance scenes like the tank flip or the vault heist, while still striving to keep many stunts as real as possible.

💡Furious 7

'Furious 7' is the seventh installment of 'The Fast and the Furious' series, known for its ambitious stunts. The video script highlights the movie’s real-life car drop from planes, a meticulously planned stunt involving skydivers and precise camera placements. The film balances practical stunts with CGI effects to create an intense viewing experience.

💡Bank Vault Heist

The Bank Vault Heist is a famous scene from 'Fast Five' where characters drag a massive vault through the streets of Rio. The sequence is a turning point for the franchise, signaling its evolution from car racing films to high-octane action movies. The stunt involved building steerable vaults to achieve real destruction and was praised for limiting the use of CGI.

💡Roman and Tej's Rocket Car

In 'F9', Roman and Tej are launched into space in a rocket-powered car, an over-the-top sequence meant to push the limits of believability. The scene, while humorous, also required input from NASA to ensure some level of scientific realism. This moment exemplifies the franchise’s willingness to mix comedy and extreme action.

💡Skyscraper Jump

The skyscraper jump from 'Furious 7' is one of the most iconic stunts in the franchise, where a car is driven through two buildings in Abu Dhabi. Though CGI was heavily used, real cars were driven through glass windows during filming. This stunt encapsulates the franchise’s trademark of combining practical effects with digital enhancements for breathtaking results.

💡Tank Carnage

The 'Tank Carnage' sequence from 'Fast & Furious 6' involves a real FV 4201 Chieftain tank wreaking havoc on a highway. This scene combines real-life destruction, as 250 cars were damaged, with CGI elements that defy the laws of physics. The over-the-top nature of this stunt showcases the franchise's love for blending practical stunts with digital trickery.

💡Car Drop from Planes

In 'Furious 7', cars are dropped from airplanes, a stunt that was performed without relying too much on CGI. Skydivers jumped alongside cars to capture the shots needed. The scene highlights the franchise's dedication to real stunts while maintaining safety and using minimal digital effects for authenticity.

💡Fast & Furious Franchise

The 'Fast & Furious' franchise is a series of action films centered around car racing, heists, and high-octane stunts. The video highlights how the franchise has evolved, incorporating more elaborate and extreme stunts with each movie, balancing practical effects with CGI. The franchise is known for its global appeal and focus on family, action, and spectacle.

💡Parachuting Cars

In 'Furious 7', the team parachutes cars out of planes, marking one of the most daring and dangerous stunts performed. The crew spent months planning this sequence to ensure safety, and cameras were mounted in hard-to-crush locations to capture the action. This stunt exemplifies the franchise’s push for practical, awe-inspiring moments.

Highlights

The Fast and Furious franchise is known for outlandish, crazy stunts, many of which are done with practical effects rather than just CGI.

In Furious 7, cars were parachuted from planes for real, involving months of planning and brave skydivers jumping to capture the footage.

In Too Fast Too Furious, a Chevy Camaro was launched onto a yacht using a custom-built ramp and pulley system, while using dummies instead of actors for safety.

Fast and Furious 6 featured a real British battle tank (FV 4201 Chieftain), which destroyed 250 cars along a three-mile stretch of road.

The bank vault heist scene in Fast Five involved a real vault being dragged through a city, requiring custom-made vaults and innovative steering methods.

The vault destruction in Fast Five used special effects, such as an axle through the middle of the vault to give it a rolling effect.

In Fast Five, real stunt actors were used to dodge the vault, adding a level of danger and realism to the scene.

In F9, the rocket car scene had input from NASA to ensure some scientific plausibility, such as fuel requirements and the use of underwater diving suits.

The idea of launching a car into space in F9 originally started as a joke but was later developed into a serious plot point with real scientific inquiry.

The skyscraper jump in Furious 7 featured a car driving through glass windows, though not in Abu Dhabi; it was filmed in Atlanta on a sound stage.

To avoid damaging a $3.4 million Lykan Hypersport, six replicas were built using fiberglass and powered by a Porsche engine.

Practical effects were still heavily used in Furious 7’s skyscraper jump, with real glass and steel enclosures built for the car to smash through.

In the vault heist scene, cranes were used to turn giant props into pendulums, creating a chaotic yet controlled environment for destruction.

Many of the most iconic stunts, like the tank scene and skyscraper jump, involve a mix of real stunts with minimal CGI to enhance the realism.

The Fast and Furious franchise has continually pushed the boundaries of practical effects, combining real stunts with CGI for safety and spectacle.