The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
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A troubled youth is sent to live in Tokyo and finds himself immersed in the city's underground drifting scene.
The story
After a reckless race in Arizona leads to legal trouble, high schooler Sean Boswell is sent to live with his father, a U.S. Navy lieutenant in Tokyo. There, he encounters a vibrant underground drifting community. Sean quickly becomes involved in the local scene, befriending a local named Twinkie and meeting the mysterious Han Lue. However, his involvement leads to a confrontation with Takashi, the formidable 'Drift King.' To settle a debt after a disastrous first race, Sean must work for Han while mastering the art of drifting to navigate the dangerous world of Tokyo's street racing.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a reckless race in Arizona, Sean Boswell is sent to Tokyo to live with his father. He joins the local drifting scene and befriends Twinkie and Han Lue. After a confrontation with the 'Drift King' Takashi over Neela, Sean loses a race and must work for Han to repay the debt. As Sean masters drifting, he becomes a respected figure in the community. Following a series of escalating tensions involving the yakuza and a high-speed chase where Han is seemingly killed, Sean and his father reconcile. Sean eventually challenges Takashi to a final drift on a mountain pass. Sean wins, becoming the new Drift King. The film ends with Sean meeting Dominic Toretto, who acknowledges Han as family.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 104
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Justin Lin
- Writers
- Chris Morgan · writer
- Cast and characters
- Lucas Black · Sean Boswell; Bow Wow · Twinkie; Sung Kang · Han Lue; Brian Tee · Takashi; Nathalie Kelley · Neela Ezar; Sonny Chiba · Kamata; Leonardo Nam · Morimoto; Brian Goodman · Lieutenant Boswell
- Genres
- action; crime; coming-of-age
- Themes
- found family; cultural adaptation; mastery of skill
- Tone and mood
- action-packed; stylish
- Premise and plot tags
- car culture; underground racing; action-thriller
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its driving sequences but criticism for its screenplay and acting performances. However, it has gained a more favorable reputation over time, particularly among car enthusiasts and as a highlight of the franchise.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 38% · scale: percentage · review count: 141
- Production trivia
- The film was the first in the franchise to feature an international filming location.; The studio hired a 'fall guy' to act as the director when police arrived in Tokyo without permits.; The film used almost 250 vehicles, cutting up 25 and destroying more than 80.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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