---
title: "The Fate of the Furious: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-fate-of-the-furious/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-fate-of-the-furious"
critics_score: 60
critics_reviews: 25
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Fate of the Furious (2017): what the critics said

Critics' score 60 from 25 reviews: 9 positive, 10 mixed, 6 negative.

The reviews lean towards qualified enjoyment of The Fate of the Furious, with praise clustering around its outlandish car action and comic performances. Critics repeatedly single out Jason Statham’s timing and physical comedy, while his pairing with Dwayne Johnson provides a welcome source of humour. Even several detractors find individual stunt sequences entertaining. For the more enthusiastic critics, the scale and invention of the action compensate for thin character development and an increasingly unlikely plot.

The spread is wide, however, and the reservations concern more than realism. Critics fault the length, heavy exposition and dour treatment of Vin Diesel’s storyline; several also find the family relationships less convincing. Variety admires the precision of the spectacle, whereas Vulture finds that the action overwhelms an already overloaded film. Charlize Theron divides opinion too: Deadline finds her sidelined, while The Wrap considers her committed performance a steadying presence.

## Radio Times — Alan Jones

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 2017. 

The review is strongly positive, describing the film as a thrilling rush. It singles out the franchise’s exhilarating, high-octane energy for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/fast-furious-8-review-a-charming-exhilarating-stupid-rip-roaring-pure-rush-of-adrenaline/)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2017. 

Gleiberman calls the film a dazzling, smartly crafted action spectacle, despite its excesses and occasional weak elements. He especially praises the precision and flamboyance of its action set pieces.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/the-fate-of-the-furious-review-vin-diesel-dwayne-johnson-1202026947/)

## The Guardian — Gwilym Mumford

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2017. 

The critic finds it a big, dumb action movie that remains fast, furious and frequently fun, though character moments are relatively thin. Jason Statham’s snark and hand-to-hand action stand out, especially in a goofy plane fight.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/10/the-fate-of-the-furious-review-fast-furious-8-vin-diesel-dwayne-johnson-helen-mirren)

## Empire — Chris Hewitt

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2017. 

Hewitt finds the film an enjoyably over-the-top ride, though its exposition-heavy scenes and Vin Diesel’s dour storyline are weaker. He singles out Jason Statham’s charismatic, quip-filled turn as the film’s MVP.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fast-furious-8-review/)

## Screen Daily — David D'Arcy

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2017. 

The standfirst highlights the film’s new additions and witty flourishes. The review’s full verdict and specific praise are unavailable in the accessible text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-fate-of-the-furious-review/5116674.article)

## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Rating C+. 12 April 2017. 

Vishnevetsky finds the film listless and overlong despite its nominally entertaining spectacle. He praises the opening drag race’s direction but criticizes the handling of the Manhattan car-swarm sequence.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-listless-fate-of-the-furious-could-have-used-that-f-1798191098)

## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward

Rating 3/3/3. 12 April 2017. 

The review finds the franchise still has fuel, though its relentless escalation raises questions about how much bigger it can get. It praises Dwayne Johnson’s commanding presence and comic impact, while noting that bigger isn’t always better.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/fast-and-furious-8)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2017. 

Lane finds the film’s spectacular stunts entertaining, while poking fun at the franchise’s macho preoccupations. He singles out the submarine sequence as a standout spectacle, though he thinks Charlize Theron made a stronger impression in *Mad Max: Fury Road*.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/04/24/a-quiet-passion-and-the-fate-of-the-furious)

## Time Out — Tom Huddleston

Rating 3/5. 9 April 2017. 

The critic finds the film enjoyable, though unsurprising. The returning gang is singled out as part of the franchise’s appeal.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/fast-furious-8)

## Total Film — Jamie Graham

Rating 3/5. 11 April 2017. 

The critic calls it an oversized, delightfully daft action thrill ride, best enjoyed without expecting realism or gravitas. They praise the huge, close-up car-action set pieces and F. Gary Gray’s handling of the carnage.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/fast-and-furious-8-review/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2017. 

DeFore finds the installment familiar and overstuffed, but expects it to satisfy fans. He praises the prison escape sequence and a late burst of action comedy.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/fate-furious-review-992298/)

## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole

Rating 1.5/4. 12 April 2017. 

The critic finds the film tedious and argues it pushes the franchise into loud, overblown inanity. He especially faults its sanding down of character histories and the relationships that previously gave the series’ absurdity emotional weight.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-fate-of-the-furious/)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2017. 

Chang finds the film a frustrating, decadent entry that has lost the franchise’s thrill. He praises the outrageous car action but faults the weak chemistry among the stars and the betrayal of the series’ emotional core.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-fate-of-the-furious-review-20170413-story.html)

## Vulture — Emily Yoshida

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 2017. 

Yoshida finds the film an incoherent, overloaded entry that loses the franchise’s ensemble balance after Paul Walker’s absence. She praises the Havana opening race and especially Jason Statham’s comic performance, but says the action mostly overwhelms the film.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/the-fate-of-the-furious-movie-review.html)

## Paste — Jason Rhode

Rating 9.0. 17 April 2017. 

The critic calls the film a great, gloriously entertaining motion picture. He praises its inventive action and the charismatic cast’s lively interactions.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-fate-of-the-furious/fate-of-the-furious)

## NME

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the film an absurd but highly entertaining spectacle, despite minimal character development and Vin Diesel’s overly serious performance. The action sequences are singled out as wonderful, especially the outlandish car chases and set pieces.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/fast-and-furious-review-2017-the-rock-2044147)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 79/100 (inferred from the text). 

The headline indicates a positive verdict, saying the film deserves major box-office success. The accessible page does not reveal what the critic specifically praises.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-fate-of-the-furious-deserves-to-make-all-of-the-money-review-vin-diesel-dwayne-johnson-20170409/)

## The Ringer — K. Austin Collins

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2017. 

Collins finds the film to be unabashedly dumb fun, despite uneven writing and familiar story turns. He singles out the comedic chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, along with the spectacular cascade of cars from a New York parking tower.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2017/04/14/pop-culture/fate-of-the-furious-fast-furious-8-review-d11bd9f16c1d)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2017. 

Hammond finds the sequel entertaining despite its increasingly outlandish plot. He praises the breathless, inventive stunt sequences, while faulting the one-dimensional story and Theron’s sidelined role.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2017/04/fate-of-the-furious-review-vin-diesel-charlize-theron-video-1202067300/)

## The Skinny — Josh Slater-Williams

Rating ★★★. 12 April 2017. 

The review finds the film entertaining but weighed down by an unremarkable villain and muddled family values. It singles out Jason Statham’s solo action sequence as the film’s most entertaining moment.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/fast-and-furious-8)

## Digital Spy — Tom Eames

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2017. 

The critic finds it a messy, over-the-top entry that falls short of recent installments but remains entertaining. They praise the spectacular action and stunts, while faulting the disjointed plot and misplaced comedy.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a825636/fast-furious-8-review/)

## Den of Geek — Don Kaye

Rating 2.5/5. 13 April 2017. 

Kaye finds the film perfunctory, with its story and characters stretched thin despite the franchise’s familiar appeal. He praises the cast chemistry and spectacular action, especially the remote-controlled car chase through New York.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-fate-of-the-furious-review/)

## /Film — Josh Spiegel

Rating 4/10. 14 April 2017. 

The review finds the film’s action entertaining but says the family dynamics and character choices strain credibility. It praises the Hobbs and Shaw pairing while faulting the film for wasting Charlize Theron.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/550375/the-fate-of-the-furious-review-the-family-is-running-on-fumes/)

## Consequence — Dominick Suzanne-Mayer

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 2017. 

The critic finds the film entertaining in stretches but overlong, dour, and less cohesive than its predecessors. They praise the cast’s banter and the New York unmanned-car action sequence, while faulting the thin villain and bloated story.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2017/04/film-review-the-fate-of-the-furious/)

## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2017. 

The critic finds the film overlong, convoluted, and implausible, with the series going through the motions. Charlize Theron’s committed villain performance provides a welcome center of gravity, and the Manhattan car sequence has impressive visuals.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-fate-of-the-furious-review-vin-diesel-charlize-theron/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-fate-of-the-furious.md