Every Fast X Main Character, Ranked
Contains spoilers for "Fast X"
The ethos of the "Fast and Furious" franchise is best summed up with one word: family. In the beginning, it was all about fast cars and evading the law. But around the fifth movie or so, the concept of family became the motivating force of the narrative, outweighing any previous allegiance to money or thrills (though the thrills never left).
"Fast X" is one of the most family-centric of all the "Fast" movies, even if it does separate the clan for much of its runtime. Dominic Toretto's (Vin Diesel) abuelita, played by the legendary Rita Moreno, shows up at the start of the film to remind Dom that family matters more than anything. And then there's Dom's son, Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), for whom Dom wants to provide a better life free of all the hardships he's experienced.
"Fast X" is kind of like the "Avengers: Endgame" of the "Fast" universe. The film brings back every member of the family (and some of its enemies) for a battle that stretches across the globe. Consequently, "Fast X" has more characters than any other film in the franchise, including at least one who comes back from the dead. So why not have the whole family duke it out on the page? It's dirty work, but someone's gotta do it. Here is every character in "Fast X," ranked.
17. Aimes
Aimes (Alan Ritchson) is a secondary villain in "Fast X," and he's pretty forgettable. When we first meet Aimes, it's revealed that he now runs The Agency, the government firm once led by Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell). Aimes isn't too fond of Dom and his crew, and he intends to pin a terrorist attack on them, regardless of if they're guilty or not. Aimes eventually puts aside his prejudices and joins their fight, but it's all a lie. He's been working with Dante Reyes (Jason Mamoa), the big baddie, since day one, and his hatred for Dom's family is very real.
Aimes has no discernable personality or any unique traits apart from his astoundingly broad shoulders. Government-funded villains tend to be the least interesting kind in action movies like this, and Aimes adds little to the story. His betrayal of Dom at the end of the film should have been shocking, but instead, it falls flat. To be honest, we'd forgotten he was even around.
16. Roman Pearce
Tyrese Gibson probably has some fans out there, but we're going to tell it like it is. Roman Pearce is the worst member of la familia. He spends most of his time making unfunny jokes and threatening to have a tantrum like a toddler. Every well-rounded group needs a clown to keep things light, but Roman's brand of childish humor (this a forty-year-old man, remember) just doesn't cut it.
For some reason, Roman is allowed to take point on the gang's mission in Rome, which turns out to be a trap laid by Dante, and things don't go so well. It's not Roman's fault that their heist ends with a bomb rolling toward the Vatican, but despite what his best bud Tej says, he's not winning any leadership awards any time soon. Theoretically, Roman is a good driver whose skills add to the team's expertise, but he still hasn't gained favor with us. How can you trust someone who starts eating before Abuelita has finished giving her inspiring speech? Respecting your elders is everything, especially when those elders are played by Rita Moreno.
15. Tej Parker
Tej Parker (Ludacris) is kind of like a less-annoying version of his buddy Roman. Tej and Roman have spent much of the franchise getting into hijinks and generally making fools of themselves. Thankfully, Tej's sense of humor isn't quite as bothersome as Roman's, which is why he ranks further up on this list.
To be fair, Ludacris is good in the role, and he always looks like he's having a wonderful time. It's easy to believe that Tej is just a nerdy guy who loves cars and wants to spend his millions in the most absurd way possible. Tej might be higher up on this list were it not for his association with Roman, which brings his character down a few notches. But you can't separate Roman and Tej, as the duo is like two nutty peas in a pod. At least Tej has the decency not to interrupt Abuelita while she's speaking and the guts to call out his friend when his antics go too far.
14. Ramsey
We first met Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) in "Furious 7," when the family rescued her from a mercenary intent on stealing her highly advanced surveillance program. Ramsey is by far the most technically adept in the group, and for that reason, she's a huge asset. However, Ramsey has remained something of a tangential member of the family, and "Fast X" solidifies this.
She spends most of the film traveling with Roman, Tej, and Han (Sung Kang), putting her in the position of boy wrangler. We still don't know much about Ramsey at this point — apart from the fact she apparently created God's Eye, the surveillance program that keeps giving them trouble, to "help people." This seems pretty misguided, especially if Ramsey has seen literally any science fiction movie, but the "Fast" series is all about second chances, so we can give her a pass for that one.
None of the flaws of Ramsey's character is Nathalie Emmanuel's fault, as she does her best with material that can seem repetitive at times. We'd love to see Ramsey interact with some of the other characters in the franchise or use her skills in a meaningful way, something she hasn't done as of late. Until then, Ramsey isn't topping this list anytime soon.
13. Magdalene 'Queenie' Ellmanson-Shaw
Helen Mirren shows up for one minute in "Fast X," but her appearance is memorable enough that it earns her a spot on this list. Queenie (the mother of the Shaw siblings, in case you had forgotten) meets Dom in Rome after he's saved the Vatican from becoming a pancake. She makes a quip about "Roman Holiday" and tells Dom, "You're no Gregory Peck."
The best thing about Helen Mirren's role in the franchise is this: She has palpable sexual tension with Vin Diesel. She may be the only person in these movies to have real chemistry with Diesel. That's not shade, just a fact! Queenie only has one scene in the film, and she uses that scene to brazenly flirt with her son's former nemesis. In a movie that includes not one but four Oscar-winning actresses, Mirren makes her presence known. If she had more screen time, Queenie would most certainly be higher up on this list, but for now, we've got to make space for a few other badasses.
12. Deckard Shaw
Like his legendary mother, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) only shows up briefly in "Fast X." Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and Han travel to London, where Han decides to meet up with an old friend. Han knocks on Shaw's door and is met with an icy reception. Shaw is still salty because he failed to kill Han back in Tokyo. Shaw eventually agrees to team up with Han once he realizes the enemy of his enemy is his friend and all that, and when he discovers his beloved mother is on Dante's hit list.
Shaw's appearance in the film is short but memorable. If there are two things Statham does well, it's demolish an action sequence and deliver a pithy line, and he does just that in his fleeting chapter. The best moment comes at the end of the scene when the punching bag Shaw is pounding on opens up, and a battered man in his underwear jumps out. We are given no explanation for why Shaw is beating up this poor man, but it's a well-executed gag that somehow makes sense, considering Shaw's fists-over-brains way of doing things. It looks like we'll be seeing more of Shaw in the next film, as he joins the familia to protect his familia, where he'll hopefully kick some more butt.
11. Isabel
"Fast X" is all about keeping it in the family, so it's not surprising that Dom links up with another member of la familia while traversing the globe. Dom first encounters Isabel (Daniela Melchior) at a race in Rio, where he comes face to face with Dante Reyes. Dante challenges Dom to a race, and Isabel, along with Dom's old friend Diogo (Luis Da Silva), joins the chase. Unbeknownst to the other racers, Dante has attached bombs to Diogo and Isabel's car, and Dom chooses to save Isabel instead of Diogo.
The reason Dom makes this choice is exactly what we'd expect — family. Isabel is Elena's (Elsa Pataky) sister, which means she is also Little Brian's aunt. Isabel is understandably upset about her sister's death, and her grief is magnified by the fact that she believes the wrong sister died. Dom reminds Isabel that a cop and a street racer are both traveling down the same road in the end, a lesson he learned from Brian (Paul Walker).
Isabel comes off as a cocky badass at first, but once her bravura falls away, it's clear she's just a sad young woman who misses her big sister. Because there are so many characters in this movie, we aren't given much time to get to know Isabel. But we like what we've seen so far, and her street racing skills, combined with her devotion to her sister, make her a perfect candidate for a new family member.
10. Abuelita Toretto
The first Oscar-winning face we see in "Fast X" is also an EGOT recipient. Blessing the screen with her very presence, Rita Moreno shows up at the family barbecue as Dom's grandmother, acting as an honorary abuelita to the whole "Fast" family. She stands up and gives a speech about the importance of la familia in all things, thus defining the ethos of the entire film in one fell swoop. Later, she has a one-on-one with Dom, reiterating her earlier words and reassuring him that being a father is his greatest accomplishment yet.
Like so many of the characters in this film, Moreno's appearance is brief, but she makes a considerable impact. Each line she delivers has gravitas simply because she's the one speaking it. There is no one else who could have played the matriarch of the Toretto clan, and Moreno's arrival on the scene packs a punch. She may not really do anything in the film, but what she says and how she says it makes all the difference, earning her a respectable spot on the list.
9. Dante Reyes
Dante Reyes is, without a doubt, the most flamboyant villain the "Fast" franchise has ever seen. Dante is the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), a ruthless politician and drug lord whom la familia stole from. Hobbs kills Reyes at the end of "Fast Five," and Dante is still furious about his father's death.
Dante lays out his perspective early on while confronting Cipher (Charlize Theron). "You want to control the world. I just want to punish it," he explains. Dante is a psychopath hellbent on revenge against the family and everyone who has helped them. He's thrilled by destruction for destruction's sake, and anyone caught in the crossfire is just the cherry on top.
Dante is an extremely campy villain, and his flamboyance is illustrated by his snazzy fashion sense and his childlike glee at the chaos he wreaks. You've got to give Jason Mamoa credit for his extravagant performance. The guy holds nothing back. Dante's excessive bravado often works but becomes repetitive by the end of the film. Part of this is because "Fast X" is so character-heavy that Dante seems to take up an inordinate amount of space, especially when an icy Charlize Theron is on standby. Still, Mamoa's big swings are appreciated and, at the very least, entertaining, even if they don't hit their target every time.
8. Mia Toretto
Mia Toretto is probably the most under-utilized character in the "Fast" universe, which is a shame considering what a capable actor they have in Jordana Brewster. Part of the reason Mia is often sidelined in later films is that her husband (played by the late Paul Walker) is still alive but always off-screen. This means Mia is forever rushing off to go see Brian and the kids, leaving before the stunts really begin.
Mia does get to see a bit of action in "Fast X," illustrating that her skills should be put to use more often. Dom and Letty leave for Rome, and Mia stays behind to look after Little Brian (her own kids are presumably safe with Big Brian). When a team of heavily-armed men attacks the house, Mia does an admirable job fighting them off, throwing a series of ruthless punches at her attackers. Mia's brother, Jakob (John Cena), soon joins the fight, and together, they defeat the goons with their Toretto superpowers.
Mia is great in this scene, which makes it even more disappointing that it's the last time we see her in the movie. She's got to go see her off-screen family, and the film suffers for her absence. There are plenty of valid criticisms of how the "Fast" franchise treats its women characters, and Mia's narrative (or lack thereof) is at the top of the list. The reason she is ranked so highly here is down to Brewster, who makes it impossible not to love Mia.
7. Han Lue
When you watch Han Lue on screen, it makes perfect sense why the "Fast" producers retconned the entire timeline to keep him in the series. Han is effortlessly cool, and Sung Kang's serene performance is impeccable. Han spends most of the film trying to evade capture alongside Roman, Tej, and Ramsey in a storyline that is arguably the film's weakest. Although he isn't given much to do (he eats a psychedelic muffin and links up with Jason Statham, basically), his indisputable chill permeates every scene.
Frankly, Han has never been hotter than he is in "Fast X." The rest of the "Fast" world seems to notice this as well because when Han joins a dating app, he's immediately inundated with matches. His friends are surprised by his popularity, but we're not. He's got the goods! His luscious hair, his calm-under-pressure demeanor, and his affable personality are a deadly combination. If he was more involved in the action, Han might even crack the top five. We'd totally swipe right on him, although it looks like he won't be on the apps much longer due to a certain character's surprise arrival at the end of the film.
6. Little Brian
It might seem strange to include a child on this list, but considering how central he is to the story, it would be rude not to. Little Brian (not to be confused with perpetually off-screen Big Brian) is about 8 years old at the time of "Fast X," and he's already learning the tricks of the trade. Dom teaches him how to drift at the beginning of the film, though he doesn't quite have the hang of it yet.
Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry) is a brave kid, which isn't surprising when you consider who his parents are. After Dom and Letty leave for Rome and Mia rushes off to go see her invisible family, Brian gamely shakes off the violent invasion of his house to go on a road trip with his uncle Jakob. Brian overcomes his fear of flying and drops out of an airplane without so much as breaking a sweat. But Brians's most impressive feat comes near the end of the film when he launches himself out of Dante's car and into his father's, taking a very literal leap of faith. Don't underestimate the youngest member of la familia. This kid is going places.
5. Tess
Casting Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson in "Fast X" is one of the best decisions "Fast" producers have made. Larson plays Tess, the daughter of Mr. Nobody, who has been MIA since his plane was attacked in "F9." While Tess's superior, Aimes, isn't a supporter of la familia, Tess follows in her father's footsteps by supporting the Terotto clan at all costs.
Tess flounces around the screen like a kid in a candy shop, enjoying every minute of her mission and the fact that she's underestimated everywhere she goes. (Tess's childlike personality makes sense considering she was partially inspired by Diesel's daughter, Pauline, who is named after Paul Walker.) Tess has a penchant for shoes with spikes on them, though she sadly never gets any kicks in. Nevertheless, she does take down a group of men in a seedy bar, grinning like a schoolgirl the entire time.
The most terrific aspect of Tess's character is that Larson is having a great time playing her, and that excitement shows up in every scene. We'd even go as far as to say that she is a more compelling figure than her father, who definitely couldn't pull off any of those flashy outfits. She's not a card-carrying member of la familia yet, but she's quickly growing on us.
4. Cipher
The best thing about Cipher in "Fast X" is Charlize Theron's frosty performance. The second best thing is that she no longer has those terrible blonde dreadlocks. The third best thing is everything else Cipher does in this movie. Cipher takes part in the two most outstanding fight sequences in the film, which on its own would guarantee her a prized position on this list. Cipher's first fight is with Dante, who steals her men and leaves her for dead. Cipher is nothing if not a survivor, and she arrives at Dom and Letty's missing a few quarts of blood. Later, Cipher trades blows with Letty, who is understandably still angry with her for turning Dom against his family.
Theron kills all of her fight scenes, but it's her line readings that make her the best villain in the "Fast" franchise. "I met the devil tonight. I honestly always thought it was me, so that was disappointing," she says in an unaffected deadpan after her confrontation with Dante. The actors in the "Fast" movies have always been committed to their silly material, but Theron's performance is on another level. While some of her costars seem to think they're in a comedy, Theron's steely gaze leaves no room for ambiguity. She's not here to play. Though she's deadly serious, Cipher always has a twinkle in her eye that indicates that she takes pleasure in being evil. Compared to Mamoa's flashy bombast, Cipher's chilly demeanor is infinitely more watchable. Still, the heart of the "Fast" series is la familia, which is why Cipher can't quite crack the top three.
3. Letty Ortiz
Michelle Rodriguez is one of the most commanding performers in the "Fast" franchise. A bonafide superstar in her own right, Rodriguez pulls off every action sequence with precision and might. No one does indignant strength like Rodriguez, which makes her the perfect ride-or-die counterpart for Dom. In past films, Letty was sometimes sidelined at the expense of male characters like Dom and Brian. Rodriguez actually threatened to leave the series if this gender disparity wasn't rectified.
While "Fast X" doesn't give Letty quite as much action as she deserves, we're glad Rodriguez is still around to kick some butt. While in Rome, Letty does some impressive motorcycle tricks that buy the team time to stop Dante's bomb. Nevertheless, Letty's best work is in her scenes with Cipher, who she still hates with a blinding passion. Their fight scene in the black site is incredible, and Letty puts all of her rage and love for her family into those powerful fists. No one in the series fights like scrappy Letty, and that she's going against Charlize Theron, one of the greatest action stars working today, makes the scene a sight to behold.
Though Dom is her No. 1, Letty's most compelling moments have often been with other women. Her scenes with Mia in "F9" are a good example of this. "Fast X" sees Letty go up against two very formidable women who bring out the best in her. Dom would be nowhere without Letty, and it's best we all remember that.
2. Jakob Teretto
John Cena is the surprise star of "Fast X." Though he was the big bad of "F9," in the "Fast" universe, anything can be forgiven, which is why Dom and Mia's wayward brother, Jakob, returns to the fold. Jakob shows up just in the nick of time, descending on the Toretto house to save Little Brian and Mia from a team of goons. From then on, it's Jakob's job to protect Little Brian at all costs, and he does so with aplomb.
Roman and Tej are the long-standing clowns of the group, but Jakob is the true comedy king of the movie. Although his impromptu road trip with Little Brian is the result of them being in mortal danger, Jakob is sure to make it fun for his nephew. He badly sings along to the cassette tape in his '90s clunker, rocks some stunning gas station outfits, and charms his way through every situation. All of his scenes with Little Brian are delightful, and he carries a large portion of the film with his natural charisma.
Jakob proves he's good for more than laughs in the film's final act, sacrificing himself to save Dom and Little Brian. Whether or not he actually bit the proverbial dust remains to be seen. Few characters genuinely stay dead in this franchise, But Jakob's willingness to give his life for his family gives him (almost) all the points in our book.
1. Dominic Toretto
It was always going to end like this. Vin Diesel is the heart and soul of the "Fast" series, so it's only right he tops the list. As in every blockbuster franchise, each entry in the "Fast" universe has gotten bigger and bigger, and Dom's character reflects that development. For one thing, it appears that Dom has literally gotten bigger since the first movie, with his shiny head and enormous shoulders now filling almost the entire screen.
Dom's status as a father has also heightened the stakes for him. If you thought he would do anything for his family 10 years ago, you haven't seen anything yet. Perhaps it's the intensity of Dom's love for la familia that leads to his physics-defying abilities in this film. Just as the action sequences have become more outlandish over the years, so have Dom's physical strength and infallibility. In "Fast X," he's basically a superhero. The laws of gravity and the frailty of the human body no longer apply to him. His car is his superpower, and nothing can hurt him as long as it's still running.
Action scenes aside, Dom hasn't forgotten about the most important thing in this world — family. "Fast X" may be the most heartfelt movie in the series, and most of this is due to Dom's profound devotion (along with a little dose of Rita Moreno). Vin Diesel has always been an earnest actor, and that's never been clearer than it is here. His bulging muscles hide a tender heart, and there's no one we'd rather see at the head of the table.
Honorable Mention: Gisele Yashar
The very end of "Fast X" introduces (or rather re-introduces) a surprising addition to the "Fast" family. Letty and Cipher escape the black site in Antarctica and seem to be on their own until a submarine emerges from the ice. The hatch opens, and out comes Gisele (Gal Gadot), presumed dead since she sacrificed herself to save Han in "Fast & Furious 6."
We only see her for a split second, so it wouldn't be fair to formally include her in this ranking, but her return from the dead is one of the most shocking moments in a film chock full of legacy characters. We're especially happy to see Gisele back because of what it means for Han, who only went to Tokyo (where he died and then un-died) after he lost her. Plus, Gisele has proven herself to be great on a motorcycle and handy with a gun, two skills the "Fast" crew can always use. In this universe, family never dies — literally.