Release Date: April 29, 2011 (2D theaters and IMAX)
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Justin Lin
Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Elsa Pataky, Joaquim de Almeida, Dwayne Johnson
Rating: N/A
Premise: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of returning all-stars from every chapter of the explosive franchise built on speed in "Fast Five." In this installment, former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law. Dwayne Johnson joins returning favorites Jordana Brewster, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Matt Schulze, Tego Calderon and Don Omar for this ultimate high-stakes race. Since Brian and Mia Toretto (Brewster) broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first.

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For the first time since 2005 we've got a studio's attempt to start the summer box-office season early - in April. And unlike that year chances are great that they'll succeed this time.

Last year, Fast and Furious surprised many when it demolished the existing April opening weekend record by getting out of the gate with almost $71 million! That is easily the best opening weekend the franchise has posted so far and helped it become the biggest flick of the series as well. Here's how the FF films have fared so far:

The Fast and the Furious - $144,533,925
2 Fast 2 Furious - $127,154,901
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift - $62,514,415
Fast and Furious - $155,064,265


Tokyo Drift was the only one without any returing stars from the original (excluding a cameo at the end) and that shows. The reunion of all the stars in the fourth film paid off big time, but legs weren't that great. Both F&F sequels before it at least pased the multiplier of 2.5, whereas Fast and Furious didn't ebven make it to 2.2. Of course a large part of that was the frontloading, but it also shows that WoM wasn't THAT great.

Now next year's sequel won't have one big advantage that the predecessor had. It won't be a long-awaited cast reunion because, well, that has already happened. It's a smart move to bring Tyrese back, though. However what it will have are two other things.

First, while it is not in 3D, it will have IMAX theatres to boost its gross. It'l have IMAX all to itself for three weeks until Pirates 4 is released.

Second, it will have a new big star in it. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson might not be a buge draw by himself, but in a film like this I'm sure he does add something. Moreover, it'll be the first big action blockbuster in a while until then so the first weekend will be terrific in any case. However it wll be slaughtered throughout May. Its predecessor didn't even have nearly as much competition. Facing Thor in its second weekend, Pirates in its fourth and The Hangover 2/KFP2 in its fifth won't help its legswhich could be even worse the the fourth film's.


My predictions:

Opening Weekend - $71.5 million

Total Gross - $150 million

Opening Weekend - $72.5 million

Total Gross - $155 million

It's going to be BIG, but it won't get the level of buzz or attention the last one got. I still expect a big opening for it especially with IMAX, but with that clusterfuck known as Summer 2011 right on it's tail I wouldn't be suprised if it didn't reach $150M.

:My Predictions:
$74M OW/ $152M DOM

70/145

I can see this breaking 80M OW but then not get a 2 multiplier.

So summer will officially in April for the first time? I know Fast and Furious also did $70m+ and has the April record, but this will be the first time where we have such a heavyweight releasing in the last weekend of April and have this continuation into May with Thor following it.

I'm still going with the assumption that Scream 4 is starting off the summer. Madea will overperform, and then Fast Five will keep the early summer going. We could see three $40 m + openings in a row imo...

There was an appearance from Madea in 2009's I Can Do Bad All by Myself, but this will be the first big Madea movie since Madea Goes to Jail in February 2009, which opened to $41 m.

I think both Scream and Fast Five could open to $60 m +.

Trailer Is Here - http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/fast-fi ... 1#belowNav.

WOW! I have to admit this movie looks like a stupid, crazy fun time and I can't wait how all these awesome action scenes look in IMAX. Hopefully this will be better than the last, because I'm actually getting kinda excited about seeing this.

Yeah, April looks abnormally strong next year and this should probably do over 70 opening weekend. I can see Scream 4 doing 50+.

Looks great with the action shots. I still think that the movie is going to be the usual storyline. There is also a hint of "We do this one last job and then we disappear".....Could it mean what I am thinking ?

that was awesome.

900 mil, easily.

They'll be making a film about their "last job" until their all in their 50's. This is slowly becoming an older version of Beverly Hills 90210.

All this trailer was missing was Vin Diesel and The Rock brawling... Though I think it's pretty clear from the shot where The Rock bursts through a wall who would win.

73/154

Yeah I liked it, gets the job done. Agree with the $70m+ OW and $150-$160m finish. Scream 4 and this in the one month - insane!

Fast Five OW >>> Thor OW.

This

After seeing all three trailers, this is my level of anticipation...

1. Thor
2. Fast Five
3. Pirates 4

I would not have expected that order before seeing any of the trailers, because I love the Pirates movies.

Definitely an awesome trailer. Might make $80m opening weekend.

Rock vs. Diesel is a huge selling point to non-fans of the franchise like myself. I've caught the other films on tv randomly but this one I'd make the trip to the theater to see.

As for the "new summer" idea, I find the talk kind of silly. When blockbusters started releasing earlier in May they did so to beat the real summer competition and fill a tremendous void in what is most definitely NOT a summer date - virtually every school is still in session. I mean, they release 300 in early March and it does 70m - does that make March the "new summer"? Just kind of silly to me.

80m/150m

77m/145m

I think beating Thor OW and Total is a given now. Its basically a lock.

I have to admit Universal is really putting out an impressive marketing campaign for this movie so far. From those AWESOME t.v spots to the publicity solely around The Rock's debut and his showdown with Vin Diesel. I guess it's because of his sudden return to Monday Night Raw that it feels like he is a red hot commodity right now. I don't understand why I'm so excited to see this movie, but the marketing is really working.

Topping POTC 4 isn't impossible imo opening weekend wise. $100 m opening is potentially possible imo...

I don't see the room for expansion. The Rock, good marketing, Imax can all provide a little expansion, so I can understand the 80m predictions, but I don't see this just getting 30m more. The last installment got most of the audience available, I just don't think there are that many more people willing to jump onto the franchise.