Common Sense Media Review
Third installment has car crashes, violence, and sexism.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
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The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 31 kid reviews
Kids say that this film is entertaining for older kids and provides good action, but many take issue with its sexist portrayals and excessive violence, including car crashes and profanity. While some viewers believe it conveys messages about facing problems head-on, others see it as the worst in the franchise due to its focus on scantily clad women and lack of substantial character development.
- fun action
- sexist portrayals
- excessive violence
- mixed reviews
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, young Sean (Lucas Black) is in fast trouble, racing a bully in order to "win" a girl, which leads immediately to Sean's punishment: He's sent to live with his grumpy father (Brian Goodman), a Navy lifer who lays down strict rules. Sean disobeys immediately, finding a local car scene in Tokyo and a new form of driving called "drift" where the car slides along the pavement sideways. He also makes two new friends, an "Army brat"/charming super-salesman named Twinkie (Bow Wow) and a philosophical crook/playboy, Han (Sung Kang, who plays the same character in Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow, a film that shares and predates the Fast and Furious universe). Encouraged to think through his choices (why does he race? why does he rebel?), Sean becomes a better racer -- and a smarter rebel. He also falls in love with a girl, Neela (Nathalie Kelley), who happens to be attached to the villain, D.K. (Brian Tee). Because D.K. is the nephew of a yakuza member, he has money and a sense of privilege, which means he's determined to take down Sean. They race repeatedly, make mean faces at each other, and compete for Neela's loyalty.
Is It Any Good?
Slick and shiny, this movie is part coming-of-age tale, part auto show, and part parade of girls in high school uniforms. The eye candy in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is generic, but the race scenes are terrific, inventive, and witty (even as they occasionally end in crashes). The script pays some attention to Sean's "outsider" status as a gaijin in Japan, but for the most part, he's another triumphant White American in a "strange" land. Upfront about its cliches (villain is grim, hero confident, girl pretty), the film glories in its gorgeous action sequences. Plot becomes irrelevant, though the pervasive sexism -- car babes treated and traded like objects -- might leave a bad aftertaste.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between Sean and his father. How does The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift parallel the two characters? In what ways are they different?
Do you think the movie's portrayal of Tokyo is accurate? Which cultural aspects seem plausible, and which might be exaggerated for the sake of entertainment? Do you find any of the film's depictions of Japanese people and culture to be offensive?
How are women portrayed? Are they objectified, or do they have power? Does Neela seem three-dimensional, or is she written flatly?
How did the violence in Tokyo Drift make you feel? Was it thrilling, or shocking? Are there any consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 16, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : September 26, 2006
- Cast : Bow Wow , Lucas Black , Zachery Ty Bryan
- Director : Justin Lin
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : reckless and illegal behavior involving teens, violence, language and sexual content.
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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