Image via Complex Original
You can’t talk about action heroes without mentioning Vin Diesel, as the strong powerhouse has become synonymous with heart-racing action. His role as dangerous street racer Dominic Toretto has been action-packed and daring, yet heart-warming and believable—just like the franchise itself. He’s the face of a multi-billion dollar Fast & Furious film franchise that’s on its seventh run and shows no signs of slowing down.
With the upcoming release of Furious 7, it’s a good time to reflect on some of Diesel’s greatest Fast & Furious moments. Strap yourself in and enjoy the pulse-pounding display in all its glory.
The Flying Headbutt
Movie: Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Technically, it should be called the “flying, flying headbutt,” as Diesel takes on a foe who is the size of two people. And he does it all while inside a cargo plane. Somewhere Vince McMahon and the WWE are studying this video for new ideas.
The Mid-Air Save
Movie: Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
As lovers, Dom (Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) have a history that features no shortage of action. But the moment that may forever define these two comes when Dom makes a mid-air save of Letty in Fast & Furious 6. Talk about the law of attraction.
Super Punch Out
Movie: Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Hearns vs. Hagler. Tyson vs. Holyfield. Ali vs. Frazier. These are all legendary fights, but do any of them really hold a candle to Toretto vs. Hobbs? For all the explosive excitement that was Fast & Furious 6, watching “The Rock” and “The Diesel” duke it out might just trump any of the film’s car chase action.
Don’t Point
Movie: The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Johnny Tran (Rick Yune) learns the hard way that pointing is bad manners. Dom teaches him as much when Tran gets in his face in The Fast and The Furious. Following a swift left hook from Dom, Tran ends up on his backside, hopefully realizing the error of his ways.
Headlock to Backbreaker
Movie: Fast & Furious (2009)
Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) has a complicated relationship with Dom. While they’re not related, they fight like brothers (emphasis on the word fight). In Fast & Furious, O’Conner thought he’d finally won a battle by locking Dom around the head. Little did he realize that Dom would soon smash him to the floor. Ouch.
Stop, Drop, and Floor It
Movie: Fast & Furious (2009)
Dom’s high school driver’s ed instructor certainly wouldn’t agree to this move, but regardless, it worked out in one of the coolest stunts the series has ever seen. While jetting along in his famed road rocket, the Buick Grand National, Dom and Letty are faced with certain peril in the form of a flaming tanker truck. Of course, he calmly slides the Buick right under the explosion. Amazing.
Splash. Mountain.
Movie: Fast Five (2011)
During Fast Five, Dom saves O’Conner from a train that’s about to go off the rails. But the peril isn’t over yet for either of them when they take a “triple lindy” off a cliff in a vintage roadster. They make a safe touchdown about 1,000 feet later. The car suffers a slightly worse fate.
The Long Jump
Movie: Fast Five (2011)
The Olympics are set for Rio in 2016, but this doesn’t stop Dom from getting an early start on his long jump practice in 2011’s Fast Five. With Hobbs hot on his trail in the Brazilian town, Dom decides to leap from one favela to the next. And he does it all without his track shoes.
Dom Gets Shot, Gets Mad
Movie: Fast & Furious (2009)
If Diesel’s character could be summarized in a two-second clip, this would probably be it. During Fast and Furious, one of the henchmen gets a bright idea to shoot Dom. While the bullet strikes him in the shoulder, it’s Dom’s reaction that’s perfect. Rather than yelping in pain or dropping to the ground, he simply turns around and glares at the gunman. If looks could kill…
Just Hanging Out
Movie: Fast & Furious (2009)
Dom doesn’t always need to shoot, punch, or drive his way to getting what he wants. Sometimes he decides to mix it up and just dangle a bad guy outside the fourth-floor window he just threw him out. And you know what? It works perfectly.