The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Sean Boswell travels to Tokyo to dodge a jail term, living with his estranged father in a city far from his usual life. He lands in a rough neighborhood where the thrill of speed hides behind every corner. There he discovers a clandestine world built on drifting, where drivers slide cars sideways through tight corners to outmaneuver rivals. Quickly outmatched, he toils to prove himself, learning the rules of a street sport that values precision, balance, and nerve over raw horsepower. Along the way he forms uneasy alliances, faces rival crews, and struggles to keep his past from wrecking his chance at a new start. He also discovers a new circle of allies who help him survive the underground today.

Released in 2006, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift was directed by Justin Lin. It stems from an original screenplay by Chris Morgan and Gary Scott Thompson, sending the franchise to Tokyo for drift racing and vibrant street culture.

Worldwide, the film earned about $158.96 million on an $85 million budget, delivering a solid box office performance and helping sustain the franchise's global appeal across multiple markets and fans around the world and fueling future installments in the series.

Tokyo Drift helped popularize drift racing as a cinematic motif and pivoted the franchise toward a global setting. It introduced Han Lue as a fan favorite and showcased neon Tokyo streets, street racers, and customized cars that influenced car culture discourse. Fans adopted the look and stances seen on screen.

Critical reception was mixed, praising the action sequences and new setting but noting a thinner plot. Themes include loyalty, belonging, risk, and freedom. It marks a deliberate shift that keeps the action front while expanding the series to a global stage and the series evolves into a global force today.