This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Ever since their saga started on the streets of L.A.’s underground racing scene, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have overcome impossible odds to outsmart, out-nerve and outdrive every foe. Yet when the team took down a nefarious kingpin back in Brazil, they had no idea his son Dante (Jason Momoa) was watching from the shadows. More lethal than any other enemy they’ve faced, Dante now rises as a terrifying new nemesis who’s fueled by revenge and determined to shatter their family and destroy everything and everyone that Dom loves. From London and Brazil to Antarctica and Rome, new alliances are forged and old enemies resurface. But everything changes after Dom discovers his eight-year-old son is Dante’s ultimate target.

For in-depth thoughts on Fast X, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Fast X offers a fine uptick in quality over the already dazzling accompanying Blu-Ray, making it one of the standout discs in recent months. The amount of raw texture the picture is able to wring out is extremely impressive, and the film handles the different aesthetics with tremendous consistency. The opening of the film recreates the time period of Fast Five with a shift to shooting with actual film before being converted for the digital output that matches the modern Fast X veneer. The attention to detail in this regard is appreciated, and it helps make this a more visually inviting ride. The modern footage digs deep with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores which are complemented with natural skin tones.

The Dolby Vision and HDR expands the depth of the color spectrum and enriches the hues to a place of unparalleled nuance and vibrancy. You can take a look at any of the locations visited in this outing and be knocked sideways. In addition to the environments, there are spectacular colors present in the numerous vehicles that define what is so fun about this franchise. The highlights in the film are more defined with whites more pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Black levels are robust, staying deep and inky with great detail. Elements in the film taking place in shadows are more vivid and finely delineated than the Blu-Ray. This 4K UHD presentation proves itself the ideal presentation with strong gains in clarity and color. The Blu-Ray is a worthy option, but Universal has delivered another top tier transfer on this latest 4K release.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a room-shaking Dolby Atmos presentation that brings forth the power you expect from the franchise. Dialogue is presented clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the competing sonic elements. When the action does kick in (which doesn’t take long), the low end is engaged in an unforgettable way that will have you vibrating in your seat. The roar of the engines, crashes, explosions, gunfire and more provide a full-tilt soundscape that engages all of the speakers. The overhead channels serve to complement the other channels rather than take on the main load, which adds a nice sense of dimension to the mix.

Ambient details are plentiful and quite effective in the rear and overhead channels. The soundscape allows for an expansive experience suitable for one of the top action franchises in the world. Sounds are appropriately rendered with distinct directionality from the more kinetic action scenes to interpersonal moments of dialogue. The implementation of music envelopes the room with great fidelity and a deep low end. Universal has done a nice job with their audio for this release. There are optional English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Louis Leterrier delivers an informative commentary track in which he discusses how they executed the throwback opening, the themes of this installment, bringing new faces into the family, the importance of leaning into improvisation, how they pulled off certain stunts and more.

Gag Reel: A five-minute collection of flubbed lines, joking around on set, failed stunts and more that is pretty funny.

This Is Family: A seven-part documentary totaling 35 minutes which takes you behind-the-scenes of the production as it details the new and returning faces, the execution of some major action sequences, surprises in the narrative and more.

Fast Breaks – Scene Breakdowns with Louis Leterrier: An eight-minute piece in which the director breaks down how they pulled off some of the impressive action sequences in the film.

Xtreme Rides of Fast X: A 13-minute featurette which takes you on a tour of some really dazzling cars.

Belles of the Brawl: A seven-minute look at the badass women of the series and the fight sequences they had to execute in this outing.

Tuned Into Rio: A five-minute look at the global aspect of the series which finds the characters racing in Brazil.

Jason Momoa – Conquering Rome: A three-minute look at what went into bringing the character of Dante into the story and what it means for the overarching narrative.

Little B Takes The Wheel: A three-minute look at what went into bringing the character of Little Bryan into the story and how important it was to the cast and crew.

A Friend In The End: A minute-and-a-half look at the epic cliffhanger of the film.

Music Videos

- “Toretto” by J Balvin (3:16)

- “Angel Pt. 1” by Kodak Black & NLE Choppa (Featuring Jimin of BTS, JVKE & Muni Long) (3:05)

Final Thoughts

Fast X comes at a point in the franchise when things were starting to feel a bit stale, but thankfully this entry injects some life into it and stands as one of the most entertaining entries in some years. While we are still of the opinion this series needs to go out on top soon rather than slowly fade away with a whimper, we cannot deny how much fun this one offered. Jason Momoa is pure energy and charisma every moment he is on screen, and he is a large part of why this entry works so well. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation and an impressive array of supplemental features. If you are a fan of the series, this is a highlight from the back half of the run. Recommended

Fast X will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and DVD on August 8, 2023. The film is currently available to own on Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.