The Fast and Furious franchise began in 2001 with the release of "The Fast and the Furious," directed by Rob Cohen. The film starred Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster, and was a moderate success. However, it was the sequel, "2 Fast 2 Furious" (2003), that catapulted the franchise to new heights. Since then, the series has grown to include nine films, with the latest installment, "F9: The Fast Saga" (2021), grossing over $726 million worldwide.