Back in 2001, The Fast and The Furious appeared to be just a cheap cash in on the hot fad of street racing. But it somehow rose above expectations, becoming a phenomenon which has spawned six films in the past 14 years — with the seventh, Furious 7 hitting theaters this weekend. In that time, it has undergone changes in cast, direction and genre.
If you want to cram, here’s what to watch and what to skip:
Fast and Furious 6
The latest F&F is easily the most enjoyable. Fast and Furious 6 is over two hours of non-stop action sequences, all of which are masterfully shot and creative. It’s like watching a kid play with his Hot Wheels & G.I. Joes, but instead as a multi-million dollar film. The plot is delightfully dumb popcorn fare, with our team of renegade drag racers recruited by the CIA to take down their evil European doppelgangers (who have recruited the supposedly dead Letty, now suffering from amnesia). I don’t think 6 is just the best F&F movie — it might be the best movie of all time.
Fast Five
Shedding the street racing facade, Fast Five is a pure heist film — whose team happens to be made of past Fast & Furious characters. Like 6, the action is a spectacle of the finest quality — set in the visually stunning Rio streets. Vin Diesel and The Rock desperately try to out-muscle each other, and the winner is the audience. Their fight is something out of The Avengers, despite nobody having superpowers.
The Fast And The Furious
The film that started it all. A crime drama set in the high-stakes world of underground racing and highway piracy. It’s a harmlessly entertaining introduction to the characters that builds to a great climax (a highway battle that might be the most tense scene in the franchise), even if it feels hilariously dated style-wise.
 The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift
The black sheep of the family. Aside from a single cameo from Vin Diesel, every recognizable cast member is notably absent from this side-story. But director Justin Lin makes up for it, putting the neon-colored street races on glorious display. Ignore the humans. This is an inspirational tale of an American muscle car that learns how to drift Tokyo streets.
Fast & Furious
The triumphant return of Vin Diesel after a three-film absence. Walker is now working with the FBI, and must team up with Diesel to crack down on a team of heroin smugglers. It’s a delicate balance of racing speed, entertaining character work between Diesel and Walker, and grandiose action sequences that doesn’t work perfectly — but still ultimately satisfies.
 2 Fast 2 Furious
Despite having the most iconic dumb title in sequel history, 2 Fast is forgettable. Paul Walker has left the streets of California to tackle drugs in Miami, and he’s left behind just about everything worthwhile about these films. While Tyrese Gibson brings some comic fun to the dynamic, the plot, action and atmosphere all lack the gritty authenticity of the original. Skippable.
Follow Chris Berg on Twitter @Mushroomer25