Part of what makes the Fast and the Furious franchise so compelling is the seamless integration of practical stunts and CGI, creating breath-taking sequences that often blur the line between reality and unreal car sheets. What fans may not realize is just how much work goes into creating these moments on screen.
While CGI technology has advanced, and has given filmmakers the ability to craft impossible scenarios, the Fast & Furious films remain committed to using practical stunts whenever possible. This combination gives the films a visceral quality that audiences can feel, making them more grounded than other action-packed blockbusters. When they do use CGI, it’s carefully blended with live-action footage to enhance the realism of the stunts.
One of the most memorable examples of this balance comes from 2015’s Furious 7, where Dom (played by Vin Diesel) drives a car out of one skyscraper, soars through the air, and crashes into another building. This scene may seem like pure CGI magic, but in reality, much of it was achieved with practical effects. Real cars were sent rocketing through the air using ramps, and actual stunts were filmed on set. CGI was used to extend the shot and add elements like glass shattering and debris falling from the building, but the real action was created using practical effects. This mix has us on the edge of our seat in a believable state made more authentic because of its foundation in reality.
Nick, from Smooth Learning Driving School, commented on the scene, saying, “Through my time as a Central Coast driving school instructor, I have only met one person capable of pulling off something similar to the movies, and when Vin Diesel jumped a car between skyscrapers in Furious 7, both our jaws hit the floor. This is really great stuff.”
It’s this type of dedication to practical stunts that gives the franchise its staying power. While audiences have grown used to seeing CGI-heavy films that can sometimes feel weightless or cartoonish, Fast & Furious blends in enough real-world physics to keep things grounded. The filmmakers ensure that cars are flipped, exploded, or even driven out of planes in the real world. Take, for example, the scene in Fast & Furious 6, where Dom’s crew attempts to take down a massive cargo plane. The cars were real, and the stunts were carefully coordinated to have the vehicles chase down the plane on a long runway. There were certainly enhancements made through CGI, but much of the action was real, involving real cars moving at breakneck speeds.
The result is a sequence that feels visceral, where the audience can almost feel the rumble of the engines and the tension in the air. This method of blending practical stunts with CGI, rather than relying entirely on one or the other, gives the film a sense of weight and consequence. When you see a car crash or a dangerous stunt, you know there’s a real person behind the wheel, orchestrating the action. It’s not all just pixels created in post-production.
However, the movies are not afraid to push the boundaries of belief. As the films have developed, they faced the critical aspects of their action sequences, often exaggerating what could be done on screen. While earlier films such as The Fast and the Furious focused more on street racing, later films such as F9 introduced major stunts including sending cars into space. In this case, the use of CGI is justified, as no production crew can pull off a space launch involving muscle cars. Even today, filmmakers try to keep the plot as action-oriented as possible, using CGI to complement rather than dominate the racing scenes.
Take the parachuting car scene in Furious 7, where Dom and his crew literally drop their cars out of an airplane and land them on a mountainous road to carry out a rescue mission. While CGI was used to show the planes and enhance the background, real cars were actually dropped from the plane. Stunt drivers then maneuvered the vehicles down the mountain, navigating hairpin turns at extreme speeds. This hybrid approach gives the audience a true sense of danger and excitement because the stakes feel real, even in a world as over-the-top as the Fast & Furious universe.
Vin Diesel, who plays Dom Toretto, has a lot to say about the franchise’s commitment to action. He and the rest of the cast are known for their ability to do as many of their own stunts as they can, adding a layer of realism to the shows. In fact Diesel has been involved in some of the movies most iconic highlights, including the street racing scenes that started it all. His love for the cars and practical stunts is obvious, a major reason for the franchise lasting so long.
